Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
- Thread starter GuiTim3
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roseblood11
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
I'd use a good strat style single coil with alnico.5 magnets, because that's an important sound that the P-rails can't produce. Maybe a little hotter than a vintage pickup (Texas Special?), because it should work in parallel with the P-rails in P90 mode.
Or a pickup with P90 sound and construction, but shaped like a strat pickup.
I'd use a good strat style single coil with alnico.5 magnets, because that's an important sound that the P-rails can't produce. Maybe a little hotter than a vintage pickup (Texas Special?), because it should work in parallel with the P-rails in P90 mode.
Or a pickup with P90 sound and construction, but shaped like a strat pickup.
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
I’d say you want something that has some balls. My P-Rails are the hottest pickups I own, and I think that many single coils would just get lost in comparison.
I’d say you want something that has some balls. My P-Rails are the hottest pickups I own, and I think that many single coils would just get lost in comparison.
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
That may be going a bit overboard. But then again, it may be quite awesome.
That may be going a bit overboard. But then again, it may be quite awesome.
gregory
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
I think this is going overboard...
To me, there's nothing worse than having to fish around for a good sound that requires fiddling with a bunch of switches, unless the guitar is relegated for studio work.
I would think the 6-way Freeway should more than suffice by itself.
I think this is going overboard...
...but then again I don't like the thin tinny sound of a Seymour Duncan split rail, nor combining a coil from a different pickup with a Seymour Duncan split rail (unless the coil is extremely hot), nor anything out of phase (as in out of phase, which is completely different from Strat quack) for that matter.
To me, there's nothing worse than having to fish around for a good sound that requires fiddling with a bunch of switches, unless the guitar is relegated for studio work.
I would think the 6-way Freeway should more than suffice by itself.
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gregory
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
Or just go with a SSL-6 Custom Flat. It will compete well with the P-Rails and have a good Stratty sound on its own.
Or just go with a SSL-6 Custom Flat. It will compete well with the P-Rails and have a good Stratty sound on its own.
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
Actually, I think a six way switch would be perfect with triple shots and P-Rails. If you think about it, the P-Rails, which are usually used in a HH configuration, have the triple shots to give you the four sounds from each pickup and then a three way switch to select bridge, neck, or both. On the other hand, a typical SSS/HSS/HSH configuration is bridge, bridge+center, center, neck+center, neck. With the six way switch you could have the ability to have all six of the one-and-two-pickup combinations available.
Actually, I think a six way switch would be perfect with triple shots and P-Rails. If you think about it, the P-Rails, which are usually used in a HH configuration, have the triple shots to give you the four sounds from each pickup and then a three way switch to select bridge, neck, or both. On the other hand, a typical SSS/HSS/HSH configuration is bridge, bridge+center, center, neck+center, neck. With the six way switch you could have the ability to have all six of the one-and-two-pickup combinations available.
gregory
New member
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
I can do the iterations, but most of them aren't worth bothering over. Same goes with some of the positions in a 5-way in an HSH or HSS depending on the pickups being used.
That said, I did propose 7 hopefully worthwhile variations on an HSH using a 5-way and one push pull that didn't involve cartwheels in order to get directly to the core tones. Again, whether any more than 3 of those 7 are worth a damn will depend on the pickups chosen.
I can do the iterations, but most of them aren't worth bothering over. Same goes with some of the positions in a 5-way in an HSH or HSS depending on the pickups being used.
That said, I did propose 7 hopefully worthwhile variations on an HSH using a 5-way and one push pull that didn't involve cartwheels in order to get directly to the core tones. Again, whether any more than 3 of those 7 are worth a damn will depend on the pickups chosen.
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Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
You are a WILDMAN Majewsky! I do have a 3 HB SG that now has the Freeway switch & it's great: all combinations! Three P-rails with Tripleshots is even too much for me; the number of combinations approaches 3 digits, a recipe for paralysis & a massive headache! Thanks for your input nonetheless.
Re: Optimal 3rd PU for P-Rails
I'm with Gregory: mid PU is kind of thin & lackluster sounding. I'm into classic rock & blues and already have a Brent Mason that is outstanding at achieving the expected tones. This Swamp Ash would be an experiment in discovering new & distinctive sounds while maintaining reasonably matching volume & pick dynamics.
I'm with Gregory: mid PU is kind of thin & lackluster sounding. I'm into classic rock & blues and already have a Brent Mason that is outstanding at achieving the expected tones. This Swamp Ash would be an experiment in discovering new & distinctive sounds while maintaining reasonably matching volume & pick dynamics.
