Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

[LeftFrank]

I have searched and searched and cannot find the answer to my dilemma.

I have an older Vintage Rails that I'm trying to install. It has only 3 wires: Red, White, and Bare.

I tried tying the red and white together and attaching to the switch (hot), while soldering the bare to ground (volume pot shell).
No sound.

Is this the proper way to wire. If not, what is?
This is for one position on a Strat, with the other 2 pups being the Fender stock SCs.

Thanks! Frank

 

[jeremy]

Re: Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

welcome to the forum!!

the bare wire always goes to ground. as for the red and white wires, one is hot and one goes to ground. not sure which is which to be in phase with the fender pups. try white to the switch and red to ground?

 

[BigRigGuitarMama]

Re: Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

Red is hot white is ground. If out of phase with the Fenders reverse the red and white wires.

 

[LeftFrank]

Re: Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

Thanks.

How would I know if its out of phase with the Fender pups?

 

[BigRigGuitarMama]

Re: Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

It will sound weak and nasally (When combined with another pickup). Hard to explain but you can definitely hear something isn't right. When selected by itself it will sound fine but with 2 pickups you can hear if it is in phase.

Pretty sure that with Fenders you will wire the Duncan white to hot and red to ground. Hope this helps you out.

 

[LeftFrank]

Re: Older Vintage Rails: how to wire?

Wired successfully!

White went to hot (switch), and red and bare went to ground.
All pickups sound good (although the VR is a bit louder than the Fender SCs).

Just thought I'd pass this on in case anyone else might have the same question.

And just to confirm the wiring, someone from SD Technical Support emailed me with the correct wiring technique.

 

[falcopryor]

Just got an older VR and needed this. Thanks!