Need Advice for Cool Rails & Trembucker on American Strat

[stratvet]

Hi, I'd appreciate any wisdom on 2 choices I need to make for my American Deluxe Strat (Maple Neck & Fretboard; Alder Body; S1 Switching).

I'm looking for tone that will range from heavy blues (raunchy, with a biting edge) to classic rock (NOT scooped-out metal!) both on the heavier side (Hendrix, Zep, Stones) to more etherial (early King Crimson, Floyd from Dark Side to Animals) as well as being able to achieve the softer side of things (Intro to Stairway, etc.). Also: want STRONG & CLEAR Low-End (HATE muddiness there) as well as SOLID Mids AND Top-End-- want everything!!! ha ha but seriously, when playing chords, every single note should be distinct & ring out with no fuzziness, muddiness or ambiguity . . .

I'm pretty much decided on Cool Rails (Neck model) @ the Neck position as well as @ the Middle; but my remaining 2 questions are:
[1] Should the Cool Rails @ the Middle position be the Neck model or the Bridge model?
[2] For the Bridge position, would I do best with TB-4 [JB Model]; TB-14 [Custom 5]; TB-5 [Custom]; TB-PG-1 [Pearly Gates]; or Pearly-Gates Plus [slightly hotter wind than TB-PG-1 & Alnico V instead of Alnico II] ???

Of course, if anyone has any OTHER suggestions for Bridge-position TB's that are NOT listed above, I'd be VERY grateful for that input as well!!!

Thanks so much-- I am relying HEAVILY on the guidance of this community, because truthfully, I'm lost !!!

 

[stuey222]

Re: Need Advice for Cool Rails & Trembucker on American Strat

on #1, I'm pretty sure they make a middle position cool rails. From what I've heard the JB has a bit of a muddy low end. Have you looked at the screaming demon at all?

 

[stratvet]

Re: Need Advice for Cool Rails & Trembucker on American Strat

Hi, thanks for the response-- but I don't think they make the Cool Rails in a middle-position model . . . at least, the only ones I've ever found on the Seymour Duncan website & among all the sellers on ebay, etc., have been just Neck & Bridge models--

As for Screamin' Demon, I've never heard one on a Strat, but I do have a Babicz Octane which has Pearly Gates @ the Neck & Screamin' Demon @ the Bridge-- granted, it's a MUCH different guitar than my Strat (hollow instead of solid; mahogany body & neck instead of alder & maple; rosewood fretboard instead of maple) but I've never liked the Screamin' Demon on that guitar-- I almost never use it at all, & when I do, it's always in combo w/ the Pearly Gates-- to me, it just sounds 'too thin' -- but perhaps it would be very much different on a Strat? Do you have one on a Strat of yours? what's it sound like?

Thanks again, I do appreciate the input!

 

[stuey222]

Re: Need Advice for Cool Rails & Trembucker on American Strat

Could be the hollow thing, I don't really know, but IMO Screamin Demons sound pretty good in a strat or strat-type body. Have you looked at any other TBs? I know there's a 59, and an APS2 one at least. Those sound like they would be more suited to what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[stratvet]

Re: Need Advice for Cool Rails & Trembucker on American Strat

I thought about a TB-1 ['59] but began to consider the TB-14 [Custom 5] cause I heard the latter described as "a higher output SH-1 ’59 with a deeper bottom end and expanded output" so I figured the TB-14 would be like a '59, but better [remembering that whoever made that quote is just one man's opinion-- although it MAY have come from somewhere on the Seymour Duncan website (???? - if anyone out there recognizes it?) Same source went on further to describe the TB-14 Custom 5 as "fuller than an SH-5 [Duncan Custom] with softer highs, more bass, and slightly less output. It’s got a great rhythm sound and a beautiful, deep singing lead tone. Clean sounds are rich and full with enhanced presence."

The APS2, though, that's one I've NEVER considered-- my fault-- I just overlooked it! I'm going to go check out the info & sound samples on the S.D. website now . . .

Thanks again-- you also have me thinkin' about how to get to hear the Screamin' Demon on a Strat now!