P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

A

aman89

New member
Hey Guys
In desperate need for some help! I have a Gibson Les Paul BFG. As you may or may not know, it has a P-90 in the neck and a Burstbucker 3 in the Bridge. I want to replace my BB3 with the Prails 1.

My first Question is:

1) is it advisable? will ti sound good with a p-90 in the neck? ( i plan to upgrade to a sd p-90 in the future)

2) the bfg has a kill switch.. can i replace the kill switch with a mini toggle to control the pickups and use the current pick up selector ( 3 way) to select the bridge prail mode? that is choose between p-90/rails/humbucker?

3) does the humbucker mode sound good? i like my humbucks to have a nice 'cackle'

4) can the p-90 be replaced for a prails? which p-90 would u recommend?
5) is the prails hot really worth it or will the prails 1 be good enough for my medium-high output?

im into bluesy and classic rock as well as into john mayer.. so id like to have a pretty versatile rock tone.

thanks alot!
id really appreciate it if u guys can get bck to me soon as i have a gig coming up and i would have to give my guitar in over the next 2 days if i want it done on time!

thanks!!
cheers
aman
 
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Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

For classic/blues rock (what I play) I'd get the normal P-rail bridge, not the hot. Should sound fine with a P-90 neck, but i don't know from experience...

Wiring wise, you'd be better off replacing your killswitch with a 3 way mini-toggle (on-off-on) to select p-rails mode and keeping your existing pickup selector.

Alternatively, think about a Triple Shot for it. That way you keep the killswitch as well, and have a more PAF-like humbucker sound at your disposal (parallel mode), as well as the more high-output series mode. http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/triple-shot/triple_shot_swi/

I can draw you up a diagram for it if you like. Standard LP 2 vol/2 tone/3 way toggle yes?
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
For classic/blues rock (what I play) I'd get the normal P-rail bridge, not the hot. Should sound fine with a P-90 neck, but i don't know from experience...

Wiring wise, you'd be better off replacing your killswitch with a 3 way mini-toggle (on-off-on) to select p-rails mode and keeping your existing pickup selector.

Alternatively, think about a Triple Shot for it. That way you keep the killswitch as well, and have a more PAF-like humbucker sound at your disposal (parallel mode), as well as the more high-output series mode. http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/triple-shot/triple_shot_swi/

I can draw you up a diagram for it if you like. Standard LP 2 vol/2 tone/3 way toggle yes?
Click to expand...



Thanks for the quick response. It is a 2 volume 1 master tone knob and a 3 way toggle next to the volume control. You should be able to google the Gibson BFG.
I really dont want the kill switch, (its where the pickup toggle of a normal les paul is) so if i do replace it will it give me the same advantages of a triple shot? and im not sure what exactly are the advatanges and disadvantages of a parallel and series connection?

basically what i wanna know is if i want the best out of the guitar , with the prails 1, what should i do? is it worth investing the extra 40 odd dollars for the triple shot?

and also would love if u could tell me what exactly to instruct my guitar tech to do. I dont like taking chances with my guitar so i leave it to the pros!
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

and will the 3 way toggle for the prails allow me to choose any of the 3 modes? and is there another way i can get series and parallel without triple shots?
 
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Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

To get the most out of your P-Rail, I recommend Triple Shots. They are the simplest way to get all the sounds possible out of the pickup.

It is possible to get parallel mode without them, but not with your current switches. You'd need to either get some push-pulls or drill holes for more switches.

Parallel mode on a P-Rail gives a more PAF-like humbucker sound to the series mode, which is more modern and high-output. For blues and classic rock, I'd say the parallel would be the one you'd use more.

If you don't want the kill, you could use the mini-toggle for phase reversal or putting your two pickups in series with each other (Warmer, fatter sound, more output)

What do you want to do? I'll draw you up a wiring diagram for you if you tell me which option you'd like.
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

I've also just seen a diagram for using a 3 way mini-toggle (on-on-on) to get p90/parallel/rail if you want the parallel sound without the triple shot
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

i think i should be fine with using a mini toggle (on on on) switch right? that ways i get parallel and can choose any of the 3 modes?
ideally i dont want to spend too much and could really save on the triple shots ( its 80 bucks extra here, i live in singapore)
so let me get this right
prails 1 in the bridge. which will be controlled by a 3 way mini toggle ( on/on/on) which will replace the kill switch. this toggle will let me choose between the 3 modes and should be wired in parallel ( is that standard or do i hv to specify it to the tech?). the other toggle stays the same to choose betweenn p-90 and the prails.
the only thing i lose out on is that i dont get the option of series which means i loose out on a fatter warm sound option? can i add a push pull to choose between series and parallel? if i can then i guess u can draw up a diagram to include on on on mini toggle and push pull! thanks a ton!
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
I've also just seen a diagram for using a 3 way mini-toggle (on-on-on) to get p90/parallel/rail if you want the parallel sound without the triple shot
Click to expand...

i think i should be fine with using a mini toggle (on on on) switch right? that ways i get parallel and can choose any of the 3 modes?
ideally i dont want to spend too much and could really save on the triple shots ( its 80 bucks extra here, i live in singapore)
so let me get this right
prails 1 in the bridge. which will be controlled by a 3 way mini toggle ( on/on/on) which will replace the kill switch. this toggle will let me choose between the 3 modes and should be wired in parallel ( is that standard or do i hv to specify it to the tech?). the other toggle stays the same to choose betweenn p-90 and the prails.
the only thing i lose out on is that i dont get the option of series which means i loose out on a fatter warm sound option? can i add a push pull to choose between series and parallel? if i can then i guess u can draw up a diagram to include on on on mini toggle and push pull! thanks a ton!
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

The fatter, warmer sound I referred to was putting the WHOLE P-rail in series with your P-90. I'm not sure exactly how that would sound, but that was my guess.

The OTHER series we've been talking about is the two coils of the p-rail in series/parallel with each other. It's basically like having 2 different humbuckers. The series sound is high-output, the parallel sound is more vintage. I'd say this is the more useful mod. It is possible to use a push-pull to select series/parallel. I'll work on a diagram for you today while i'm at college. Then, just give that to your tech and you'll be good to go.
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

thanks alot! so basically,
im gonna have a 3 way toggle ( on on on) to switch between all three modes of the prail, plus a push pull to choose between internal series/parallel of the prail coils.
hope i got that right. so im thinking of getting rid of the kill switch and getting my pickup selector thr and using the current pickup selector ( is it the same as a 3 way toggle?) for the prail. and which knob should i use for the push pull ? im guessin the volume of the prails?
thanks a ton for the diagram. gonna go get it done asap and then will let u know how it sounds!
also, im not sure if ull know but im choosing to replace my boss-os 2 (overdrive and distortion) with a hardwire cm-2 tube overdrive. i mainly only use the overdrive of the os-2 almost never the distortion. will i get similar levels of gain and better tone?
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
The fatter, warmer sound I referred to was putting the WHOLE P-rail in series with your P-90. I'm not sure exactly how that would sound, but that was my guess.

The OTHER series we've been talking about is the two coils of the p-rail in series/parallel with each other. It's basically like having 2 different humbuckers. The series sound is high-output, the parallel sound is more vintage. I'd say this is the more useful mod. It is possible to use a push-pull to select series/parallel. I'll work on a diagram for you today while i'm at college. Then, just give that to your tech and you'll be good to go.
Click to expand...


thanks alot! so basically,
im gonna have a 3 way toggle ( on on on) to switch between all three modes of the prail, plus a push pull to choose between internal series/parallel of the prail coils.
hope i got that right. so im thinking of getting rid of the kill switch and getting my pickup selector thr and using the current pickup selector ( is it the same as a 3 way toggle?) for the prail. and which knob should i use for the push pull ? im guessin the volume of the prails?
thanks a ton for the diagram. gonna go get it done asap and then will let u know how it sounds!
also, im not sure if ull know but im choosing to replace my boss-os 2 (overdrive and distortion) with a hardwire cm-2 tube overdrive. i mainly only use the overdrive of the os-2 almost never the distortion. will i get similar levels of gain and better tone?
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

I've attached the diagram.

I found out you need an on/off/on mini-toggle, not on/on/on. It should work fine though :D

If you have any problems, PM me.
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
I've attached the diagram.

I found out you need an on/off/on mini-toggle, not on/on/on. It should work fine though :D

If you have any problems, PM me.
Click to expand...

hey what i havn't understood is why the dpdt push pull is different from the volume? shouldnt it be the same? or am i supposed to drill a hole for another push pull?
and what is the unlabelled circular and block thing in the bottom? and what happens to the kill switch?? wow im really clueless :S
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Ok...

I showed the switch separately to the volume pot to make it easier to see which wires go where. It works just the same.

The circular thing is your output jack

The kill switch gets taken out and replaced with the mini-toggle.

Sorry if its confusing, I put each component where I could draw the wires to most clearly. It bears no relation to how they will actually fit into the guitar.
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

got it man! thanks alot ! btw if u dont mind.. pm me ur msn/bbm/facebook.. that ways i can always stay in touch with a pro in case i need more advice!
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
Ok...

I showed the switch separately to the volume pot to make it easier to see which wires go where. It works just the same.

The circular thing is your output jack

The kill switch gets taken out and replaced with the mini-toggle.

Sorry if its confusing, I put each component where I could draw the wires to most clearly. It bears no relation to how they will actually fit into the guitar.
Click to expand...

and whats the rectangular box next to the output jack?
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

Gingrel said:
Ok...

I showed the switch separately to the volume pot to make it easier to see which wires go where. It works just the same.

The circular thing is your output jack

The kill switch gets taken out and replaced with the mini-toggle.

Sorry if its confusing, I put each component where I could draw the wires to most clearly. It bears no relation to how they will actually fit into the guitar.
Click to expand...

also isnt the push pull function supposed to be on one of the knobs? just a little confised there.
 
Re: P Rails in a Les Paul Bridge?

The box is your 3-way pickup selector... It looks different to how I originally drew it now, but if you tell your tech thats what it is then he'll know what to do.

The push pull is a switch that's built in to a potentiometer. The mechanism of the switch is pulling the knob up or pushing it down, but it is otherwise a completely separate component to the pot. As I said, I drew it separate to keep the diagram neat and easy to read.
 
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