P Rail pickup covers

[oislas]

Does Seymour Duncan make chrome pickup covers for the P Rail pickups? I can’t find them anywhere.

 

[Artie]

I doubt it. This would probably be a DIY project with an open-frame cover, a blank insert, a Dremel tool, and some handywork.

https://www.philadelphialuthiertool...s/humbucker/open-style-humbucker-pickup-cover

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/pickup-making-parts/pickup-covers/open-style-pickup-inserts

 

[jeremy]

no, they dont. which is a shame

 

[ICTGoober]

They is what they is.

 

[switchman]

I don't have a P-Rails but I do have that open frame cover. The inside walls measures almost exactly 1.438" wide which is the same dimension they post for the pickup. (No length posted) It would be a very tight fit.

I think the P-Rails is made a little bigger all around not expecting a cover. Maybe to fit more wire on the small bobbin too.

 

[Artie]

Mine measures 2.70" wide. (68.58 mm)

 

[switchman]

Great info, thanks. My open covers are flared slightly out at the bottom - 2.705" at the widest tapering in to 2.69". Can probably be made to work but might need some very careful sanding where the edges come together to get a flush fit.

 

[Artie]

Does your cover have the holes drilled? The P-Rails holes are much more towards the center than a standard humbucker. One would have to start with a blank cover, then drill their own holes. Preferably, with a jig.

 

[switchman]

The one I measured here was an open cover from Phila. Luthier the part you posted the link to. I had bought some for a mod like you described. I had a Fralin P-92 I wanted to reverse the offset on, but there's no reverse 3+3 cover made. So I made a plastic insert to go in the open frame. I don't have the pickup anymore. I put it back to stock before I traded it, but here's what the cover pieces looked like.

 

[Artie]

Nice. I wonder if there would be a market for making some P-Rails covers? Building an acrylic jig wouldn't be too difficult. :scratchch

 

[switchman]

It would be a neat experiment. The thickness of the cover or insert material might be where it hangs up. A humbucker with a cover usually the polepieces are set higher out of the bobbin than with no cover. On the P-rails if the cover or insert is too thick it might end up with an imbalance. The rail side might be further from the strings than optimal compared to the screw side. Or cosmetically the blade might look recessed into the cover. Come to think of it maybe this is why they don't have covers to begin with.

 

[Artie]

Or cosmetically the blade might look recessed into the cover. Come to think of it maybe this is why they don't have covers to begin with.

Yup. That's one of the first things I thought of. But I may make a couple for myself, just to see. (Hear.)

 

[orpheo]

I once made a guitar with prails and made covers myself. I had lasered the slot for the blade and the polepieces.

 

[jeremy]

very cool!

 

[ICTGoober]

^^^ And those have the Triple Shot weirdo rings...^^^

I always thought someone would have vacu-formed some really thin covers for pickups. Should be easy as pie...

 

[switchman]

I once made a guitar with prails and made covers myself. I had lasered the slot for the blade and the polepieces.

That looks great! That deep red color is perfect. It's a bit offset like an ESP Viper, yes? Is it 24 frets or just 22 shifted to get rid of the usual gap between the neck pickup and fretboard end?

One day I will invest in these new fangled machines. Drilling and Routing small thin parts has its limits.

 

[Securb]

I have used solid plastic covers on P-rails, giving them an EMG-type look. I would also consider solid metal covers for them.

 

[Artie]

I once made a guitar with prails and made covers myself. I had lasered the slot for the blade and the polepieces.

Those are sweet. They don't even need the "cover" part. Just the chrome "ring", that allows the Duncan logo to shine through, would be cool. I gotta try this.

 

[orpheo]

^^^ And those have the Triple Shot weirdo rings...^^^

I always thought someone would have vacu-formed some really thin covers for pickups. Should be easy as pie...

maybe for plastic but how do you wanna vacuform metal around a pickup? I'm not seeing it.

 

[orpheo]

I disliked the triple shot rings, so I gave the guitar 2 push pull pots to get where I wanted anyway.

where the heck is this guitar nowadays.