Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

RogerMexiko

RogerMexiko

New member
Have an opportunity to get a set of p- Rails for 125. Have a LP with JP wiring. Would the p-Rails be a good fit in general?

Would us for mostly blues/jazz.

Offer has a short fuse so I need some quick +/- please.
 
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Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

I don't know about the fit, but P-rails are amazing. Get them even if you don't use them right away. You'll need a switching system for selecting the 4 modes. I used two slide switches and I know of one guy who used a rotary switch. A lot of people use the Triple shot mounting rings. I put a set in my Jazzmaster and really like them. It's not quite the same guitar but you probably won't be disappointed.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

RogerMexiko said:
Have an opportunity to get a set of p- Rails for 125. Have a LP with JP wiring. Would the p-Rails be a good fit in general?

Would us for mostly blues/jazz.

Offer has a short fuse so I need some quick +/- please.
Click to expand...

I think if you get P-Rails, you'll end up re-doing the wiring. JP has the right idea, but P-Rails don't just need splits, they need coil selection, and you get a really good trick out of them by allowing series/parallel switching of the coils in each pickup (Parallel gives you a more PAF-y low-gain tone, series is hot, like hot-hot). If you don't mind making the same selection for both pickups, the Triple Shots scheme can be replicated on two DPDTs, leaving you two more switches for things like phase and series/parallel, giving you all the tricks of both wiring systems.

That said, buy the P-Rails even if they sit in the box for a while waiting for another guitar to put them in. They are amazing pickups, give you a lot of good sounds, you won't regret it even if you have to buy another guitar just to put them in.
 
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Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

Liko said:
I think if you get P-Rails, you'll end up re-doing the wiring. JP has the right idea, but P-Rails don't just need splits, they need coil selection, and you get a really good trick out of them by allowing series/parallel switching of the coils in each pickup (Parallel gives you a more PAF-y low-gain tone, series is hot, like hot-hot). If you don't mind making the same selection for both pickups, the Triple Shots scheme can be replicated on two DPDTs, leaving you two more switches for things like phase and series/parallel, giving you all the tricks of both wiring systems.

That said, buy the P-Rails even if they sit in the box for a while waiting for another guitar to put them in. They are amazing pickups, give you a lot of good sounds, you won't regret it even if you have to buy another guitar just to put them in.
Click to expand...

+1

Either change your wiring harness or save them for a different guitar. I have P-Rails & Triple Shots in my SG and I use the neck pickup in parallel about 2/3 of the time. The remaining third is split pretty evenly between the P-90 and rail coils; I almost never use the neck in series because it's just too loud / hot. For the bridge I use series, parallel, and P-90 pretty evenly; I rarely use the bridge rail by itself. If I use both pickups, they're both in parallel or both rail coils.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

bought them and installed with JP wiring, lovin 'em...will get some triple shots down the road. They replaced TB-5 and Air Norton, fine pickups looking for a new home.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

The Triple Shots will open up a whole new world with the P-Rails. Get them soon!
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

I wired mine with two slide switches. I get single coil rails only, P-90s only, humbuckers in series and humbuckers in parallel. The big advantage to the Triple Shots is that they do the same thing only individually by pickups. My switches change both pickups at the same time. The most versatile way to go is with the Triple Shots.

Yes, I absolutely love the P-90 mode.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

Seems like the bridge p-rail is upside down. I would think the rail should be back at the bridge. Anyone use them this way?
When I get a chance I'll flip my bridge and hear what happens.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

I put mine in the way the factory suggests (note the "Seymour Duncan" logo on them. The rails go towards the center with the P-90's on the outside. It works great. Here's a pic of the installation. There's nothing to prevent you from putting the pickup the other way, though.

PickguardR931x699.jpg
 
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Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

RogerMexiko said:
Seems like the bridge p-rail is upside down. I would think the rail should be back at the bridge. Anyone use them this way?
When I get a chance I'll flip my bridge and hear what happens.
Click to expand...

You can install them either way if you want, but it's only possible to get close to the Strat bridge / middle quack with the rails on the inside. I'm not sure about yours, but my bridge rail is bright to the point that I've never wanted to reverse it.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

rgand said:
I put mine in the way the factory suggests (note the "Seymour Duncan" logo on them. The rails go towards the center with the P-90's on the outside. It works great. Here's a pic of the installation. There's nothing to prevent you from putting the pickup the other way, though.
Click to expand...

Not sure you were interested or if you even care, but P-Rails are available as a shop floor custom with the logos reversed if you prefer the rails on the outside.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

dystrust said:
You can install them either way if you want, but it's only possible to get close to the Strat bridge / middle quack with the rails on the inside. I'm not sure about yours, but my bridge rail is bright to the point that I've never wanted to reverse it.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply. I guess if I want a quack like a strat I will use my strat. The neck P90 is favorable for much of my stuff the neck p-Rails does a good job at other stuff the B + N is also quite usefully. Just haven't figured out quite what to do with the bridge just yet.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

dystrust said:
Not sure you were interested or if you even care, but P-Rails are available as a shop floor custom with the logos reversed if you prefer the rails on the outside.
Click to expand...
I wasn't aware of that. I'm pleased with the sound of mine the way they are but it's nice to know you could get them made the other way. I'm sure there are those who would really appreciate that.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

I tried both orientations for both pickups, and settled on the standard (rails in). Basically, this all came down to the fact that the P90 setting is 90% of my use of the P-Rails, so why compromise that by moving both/either towards the center? This is particularly the case for the bridge P90, where I want that bite/spit!


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Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

dystrust said:
Not sure you were interested or if you even care, but P-Rails are available as a shop floor custom with the logos reversed if you prefer the rails on the outside.
Click to expand...

You can also order them without a logo, or take the existing logos off.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

VinceT said:
Hey, rgand, just wanted to say I still love the look of that build - nice job!
Click to expand...
Thanks. It's my go-to guitar, now. Versatile without being too complicated. I also find myself using the P-90's most of the time.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

RogerMexiko said:
Seems like the bridge p-rail is upside down. I would think the rail should be back at the bridge. Anyone use them this way?
When I get a chance I'll flip my bridge and hear what happens.
Click to expand...

There was a thread on here where it was pointed out that is by design. Something about putting the rail next to the bridge makes the rail too thin and bright and not useful while moving the P-90 out takes away some clarity/bite. Have to find the original thread to recall the exact words. But the orientation is by design for sonic reasons.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

I use the 'rails in' configuration as well. I also use the P-90 coils for 90% of the time. The others are different combinations (both rails on at once is a good sound, too). But I really dig the P-90 sound.
 
Re: Need some quick advice - should I go for p-Rails with JP wiring on a Les Paul?

After a short time with the P-Rails I have found for me there strong point versatility. The P-90 alone is very good so is the rail and the combination of the two completely unique. But for a P90 tone alone I prefer the Bluesbucker. I have no equivalent to the rail.for comparison. Great pickups, really a brilliant development. Will try them with some triple shots when time allows. Thanks to all for the help and advise.
 
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