P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

[focusbob]

Hi folks,

I've read the threads on this forum and listened to whatever clips I could find (P-rails II clips being harder to find) and I'm having a hard time deciding between P-rails I and II (i.e., hot).

I've seen some reviews calling the P-rails II muddy and excessive in output. I've also however seen some reviews calling the humbucking mode of P-rails I lacking somewhat and being too weak. The pickup would be going in a mahogany body, bolt on neck 6 string.

One puzzling fact is that I found P-rails I has roughly 18k dc resistance in humbucker mode (I believe P-rails II has 22 or 23k); this is more (i.e., 18k) dc resistance than many "high output" SD humbuckers (e.g., custom, jb; in quotes bc I believe SD lists these as medium output).

Has anyone tried both of these pickups and can help? In humbucking mode, what other pickups does the P-rails I sounds like? P-rails II?

Thanks!

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

Great post. I just came here looking for some more info on P-Rails. It seems like a great pup. I might throw it in the neck of my Charvel with a Custom in the bridge.

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?288232-hot-wound-P-rails&highlight=p-rails

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TrNVCcST0g

 

[focusbob]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

Thanks! It seems like GuitarDoc would be the one to ask, maybe he'll pass through. I listened to this p-rails I demo and thought to myself why would they possibly need a version with more output, but I think I must be missing something...

https://youtu.be/0euR6KxzcH4

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0euR6KxzcH4

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

Thanks! It seems like GuitarDoc would be the one to ask, maybe he'll pass through. I listened to this p-rails I demo and thought to myself why would they possibly need a version with more output, but I think I must be missing something...

https://youtu.be/0euR6KxzcH4

Cool. I'm watching that now. Glad to help out.

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFY_mmqCqk

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqCqW5d6k2o

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

What you have to understand about the p-rails is that it's neither a regular humbucker or a regular P90. A P90 doesn't sound like a humbucker and a hum canceling P90 doesn't sound like a humbucker. It's a compromise as a humbucker, P90 and as a strat style single coil. So you either embrace the versatility of the design or complain about it because it's a compromise.

 

[focusbob]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

Im squarely in the embracing camp, just cant decide which to embrace largely bc I can only find 2 videos of the hot version and theyre both poorly made videos...

 

[LazNovak]

Re: P-Rails I vs. II (HOT)

If I went for these, I'd go with the regular ones, not hot and only in the neck.