P-rails config'ed as a series humbucker vs another HB like a CC?

N

namklak

New member
Y'all,
I have a P-rails in the bridge of a Strat (alder body, maple neck, ebony fret board), and the P90 really isn't that useful in a Strat. So I generally just use is it as a series HB, or split to the "rail". I was wondering - just configured as a series HB how the P-rails sounds compared to say a Custom Custom?
I've read some like the CC in the bridge of a Strat - I have multiple Strats, and they all have HBs in the bridge, one a Hot Stack (which is a great pickup).
 
Re: P-rails config'ed as a series humbucker vs another HB like a CC?

IMO, P-90 pickups give of their best in a "Gibson" scale guitar, built mostly of mahogany, with a glued-in neck and with a stud-mounted bridge/tailpiece. Ideally, the P-90 should be played through a mildly overdriven all-valve amplifier. Playing dynamics govern the degree of saturation. So does rolling back the volume pot a little.

P-Rails run with both coils connected in series does not really sound like any conventional humbucker.
 
Re: P-rails config'ed as a series humbucker vs another HB like a CC?

I guess my question was vague - A single p-rail wired as a series humbucker compared to a CC wired as a series humbucker? Hotter? Warmer? more attack?
 
Re: P-rails config'ed as a series humbucker vs another HB like a CC?

Yeah, I think Funk answered that. It doesn't compare to any other bucker. But I would have to say that the P-Rail is probably a bit more middy and bitey with much more attack than the CC in series.

But I would like to know why you think the P-90 isn't useful in your Strat, but the series bucker and the Rail are?! If you like it in series and you like it in Rail, the P-90 is just kinda in-between those two.
 
Re: P-rails config'ed as a series humbucker vs another HB like a CC?

GuitarDoc said:
Yeah, I think Funk answered that. It doesn't compare to any other bucker. But I would have to say that the P-Rail is probably a bit more middy and bitey with much more attack than the CC in series.

But I would like to know why you think the P-90 isn't useful in your Strat, but the series bucker and the Rail are?! If you like it in series and you like it in Rail, the P-90 is just kinda in-between those two.
Click to expand...

Good answer. Split to just the P-90, that tone just doesn't excite me in this guitar - in a shorter scale set neck mahagony body a P-90 sounds great. But the description of the P-Rail as a series HB being middy and bitey are what I do like about this pickup in this Strat. I played this guitar last night (it has been demoted to #2 recently), and I do like it for what your described. And the rail part mixes well with the other single coils for great Strat tones. So I think I'll stick with the P-Rail in the bridge - after all, this was my #1 for the last 3 years, and I dug it for many gigs. I had been playing with a singer/songwriter for the last 3 years, and the variety of tones I could get was useful. I'm now in a Allman Bros tribute band (hence the Strat being demoted but still played on a couple of songs), so I was thinking I needed something heavier in the bridge. But I think I'll stand pat on this guitar with the P-Rail in it...
Thanks!
 
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