P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

[sasha76]

As versatile as this pickup maybe, how are the regular humbucking modes in bridge and neck position.

I am considering them improving clean tones and versatility on my Hum/Hum Parker Nitely, but also do not want to sacrifice humbucker modes for hi gain rhythm and leads.

Which regular humbucker do the P-Rails Humbucker come close to.
Can they scream ?

Thanks

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

P-Rails humbucker in series mode is very thick and heavy sounding. Can't think of any other hummer that quite sounds like it. For single-note leads, series is very rich sounding.
In parallel mode the P-rails sounds very airy...single coilish, but with a little more guts. Parallel is much better for rhythm than series.
In series, it can "scream" depending on your definition of "scream". VERY heavy, but tends to get muddy, not very articulate. I love the versatility of the P-Rails, but tend to use the P-90 coil about 90% of the time

 

[Despair]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

I've heard the P-Rails series compared to a Tone Zone, but not heard them in similar enough settings to have my own opinion. P-Rails series samples seem pretty thick, bass-heavy but with more harmonics than you'd expect.

I wonder if it's as fussy about pickup height tweaking to the particular guitar/player as the Tone Zone is reputed to be...

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

The Rail coil is like your tweeter. So you can have thick meaty low mids and still have clarity and harmonics. The overall tone and first impression upon plugging them in (series) is that it is thick sounding, but if you play on it a little you should notice that it's not absent of top end. Parallel is really great, and I recommend the triple shot switching system for all four configurations. Parkers (even mahogany ones with maple necks) are generally great platforms for the P-Rails because they are more balanced sounding acoustically and highlight the differences in the coil configurations.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

+1.

I also found that putting an A8 under the rail helped to emphasize its character in the overall tone of series mode making it a bit more articulate. Now that I've found out about A9 mags, I'm very curious to see what that would do in the P-Rails.

 

[sasha76]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

Wow, that sounds pretty cool. So its not a jack of all trades gimmick thing.......very interesting and might be just what i need to make my guitar really versatile.

Would u recommend a pair or P-rails neck and Traditional Humbucker........

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P-Rails Humbucker vs trad Humbucker

Depends what sound you are after. I've got a pair in one of my guitars. I love the P-90 in the bridge and use it almost exclusively there. I also use the P-90 mostly in the neck, but there are times when I like the series hummer in the neck for some serious heavy lead work. I do like the versatility of having just about any sound at my fingertips, and a pair of P-Rails pretty much fits the bill.

I have another guitar with just a P-90 in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck and don't ever intend to change that one.

I play mostly classic rock from the 60's to the 90's so those set-ups work for me. However my main go-to guitar has a '59(A8)n in the bridge and a Screamin Demon (stock) in the neck which covers just about anything I need it for, so I let my other guitars collect a little dust.