P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

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EAProwlerB

EAProwlerB

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After all P-Rail talk I obtained a loaner Les Paul Studio armed with them to see what all the chatter was about. Playing through a Champ clone 1 6V6 power tube and the standard preamp and rectifier tubes.
Like I said, can run the thing clean and it sounds like a dream. When I start getting into the overdrive at about 11 o'clock can't seem to find the trick. Any tips to get most importantly the articulation of clean mode?
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

I don't know what to tell you. The P-Rails should push that amp nicely. In humbucking mode the P-Rails is too hot for a lot of people. I am wondering if it is wired correctly?
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

I'm a little surprised too. My P-Rails are plenty hot, and they're not even the "hot" model! I'm going to second Securb's idea that it might not be wired correctly.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

+1

I've yet to play mine through a non-master, but they're about as hot as a JB or Custom in full humbucking mode. If anything, I'd expect them to be too hot and fart out through that amp.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Securb said:
I don't know what to tell you. The P-Rails should push that amp nicely. In humbucking mode the P-Rails is too hot for a lot of people. I am wondering if it is wired correctly?
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I'll check the wiring. Seems odd that I go through the settings clean and prefer the split neck and full HB bridge. No matter what I do, even tone adjustments, it gets muddy sounding when the amp starts ramping up into overdrive.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

EAProwlerB said:
I'll check the wiring. Seems odd that I go through the settings clean and prefer the split neck and full HB bridge. No matter what I do, even tone adjustments, it gets muddy sounding when the amp starts ramping up into overdrive.
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Muddy wouldn't surprise me in full humbucking mode; that pickup is seriously fat sounding. The closest other pickup I can think of is Gibson's Iommi bucker, and that thing has some serious low-mid & bass.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

I'd look to parallel mode.....muddy is how I found series humbucking to be as well.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Yup - series is just too much for me, sooooo fat. P90 or parallel should get you there for sure, so check the wiring. Best of luck.


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Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Yes, try parallel HB in both the neck and bridge.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Series P-Rails into a 6v6 amp can certainly sound muddy and lack articulation, but so can most higher output humbuckers. When those type of amps were made, pickups simply weren't that powerful. There is so much compression going on there- that is why single coil players and vintage-output humbucker players love the roundness of a 6v6 amp.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Is it in parallel mode when humbucking?

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Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Bodeanicus said:
Is it in parallel mode when humbucking?

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Technically series and parallel wiring are both humbucking. Conventional wiring would be series which yields a fat, hot humbucker tone. In parallel the P-Rails sounds more like a bright-ish PAF.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

I like both parallel and series on the P-rails, I use a couple different configs I have all of mine with a treble bleed and on my strats and tele's I use a TBX tone control, even in series with the TBX all the way up its not muddy at all. you can also connect the treble bleed to a mini switch to turn it on/off, some people dont like them I personally do. I've only had one guitar so far that I didn't like the PR's in and it is a les paul futura, same deal great clean but not good dirty.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

I use mine in P90 mode most of the time and occasionally switch to the rail when i want cleaner cleans or series humbucking when i want maximum gain. I would think the bridge P90 or rail with the volume and tone on 10 would be plenty dirty while being articulate. Maybe it's a muddy guitar? :smokin:
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

i mostly use the p90 settings but click around enough to have a good grasp of what the others do. the series settings are very thick and could sound muddy especially through a small amp like a champ. a single ended 6v6 with a small speaker is gonna get mushy pretty quick especially if you hit it with a fat signal. if you run a moderately hot bridge bucker into the amp with the same settings, does it also mush out? i run my prails loaded guitar into some smaller amps (two 6v6 putting out 12w) and it sounds glorious driving the amp into overdrive
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

jeremy said:
i run my prails loaded guitar into some smaller amps (two 6v6 putting out 12w) and it sounds glorious driving the amp into overdrive
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Same here I usually used my P-Rails Strat through the Excelsior (two 6v6 putting out 13w) and love the natural overdrive. I would not decribe it as mushy in anyway. I am typically in the humbucking position.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

Checked wiring and AOK: Wired with push pull volume pots for coil split; HBs are each standard wired in series; middle switch setting runs HBs together in parallel. It's a loaner so didn't go in and mod the bridge HB to parallel so won't know what that might have done.
Think the comments about the little single 6V6 amp being overwhelmed is probably the answer to all this.
As an aside, my old Les Paul with whatever pickups Gibson was putting in them back them does just fine going through the OD ramp without getting muddy.
Case closed for me except I really do love the clean sounds those P-Rails can produce, outstanding job Mr. Seymour Duncan.
 
Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

EAProwlerB said:
Case closed for me except I really do love the clean sounds those P-Rails can produce, outstanding job Mr. Seymour Duncan
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Re: P-Rails - incredible clean tones - can't seem to get a lock on OD tone I like

EAProwlerB said:
Sorry but I don't get it Mr. Darth Billboard.
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oh, my bad. I thought it was very common knowledge that Frank Falbo invented the P-Rails. sorry. everyone else that called and texted me about the post thought it was funny.

if you don't me offering a bit of a potentially helpful suggestion, the mgmt here feels pretty strongly around here about slinging insults (i.e., your reply). watch your step with the eye in the sky.
 
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