P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

G

Greg_L

New member
Please excuse my ignorance and humor me here....

I've got a single P-Rails in the bridge position of my guitar.

The guitar has the stock single coil neck pickup, P-Rails bridge, standard 3-way pickup selector, 3-way DPDT to control the P-Rails, one vol, one tone. 500k pots.

My understanding is that the Rail and P-90 combine in series to make the P-Rails a humbucker. Correct? If so, I'm not too thrilled with the hot muck in that configuration. It's a little dark and murky.

I'm intrigued by the lower output potential and upper mid sparkle of having the P-Rails humbuck in parallel. Is switching it from series to parallel an option? Is this a do-able mod on a single P-Rails?
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

Muddy P-Rails probably set too close to the strings.

Parallel, electrically in phase, coils has clarity with a hard edge. Kinda Rickenbacker.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

Funkfingers said:
Muddy P-Rails probably set too close to the strings.

Parallel, electrically in phase, coils has clarity with a hard edge. Kinda Rickenbacker.
Click to expand...

Mine's measuring 6/32" on the bass side, 4/32" on the treble side. Is that too close to the strings?

So how can I switch my lone P-Rail from series humbucker to parallel humbucker?
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

I've done this with a JB humbucker, and I like the results. I've got series and parallel options.

I put a link up today to some sounds that I've recorded with the guitar. I really like the parallel sound. I think it's a hidden gem of a sound.

I appreciate that the results will be vastly different on a P-Rails, but I believe that this should be easy to achieve, as they are essentially a two coil humbucker design, albeit with each coil performing as it's own thing in split mode. The only way to hear it is to wire it in and give it a go.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?282081-Some-sounds-of-my-tele-build-Series-parallel-TB-4-and-JBE-Danny-Gatton-Neck

You'd be able to get all of these sounds with a SD Triple Shot mounting ring as well.

I found this on the Seymour Duncan Triple Shot page

 
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Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

How do I wire it though? The triple shot mounting ring is a no-go since this is a Mosrite clone guitar. Won't fit.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

Hmm... As I didn't opt for coil splitting, I can't really help on the wiring. What I did just gives me the series/parallel option, and no splits. I got the info I needed from wiring diagrams on the SD site.

If it can be done, I'd definitely encourage you to try it.

Perhaps someone with better wiring knowledge can help? I'll bet that the exact same wiring as a Triple Shot can be made with two mini switches.

Sorry I couldn't help with wiring.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

I never use the series humbucking option because I don't like the way it sounds. I love the P-90 sound, I love the rail sound. No problem there. But if the parallel sound is good, I'd use it.

Instead of series humbucking, I'd like to try it parallel. I just need to know how to do it with my 3-way DPDT switch. I'd trade series humbucking for parallel all day long if I like it. I don't need both.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

The wiring diagram page has a series/split/parallel for DPDT option.......maybe in the misc section too, but certainly in the humbucker wiring section.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

AlexR said:
The wiring diagram page has a series/split/parallel for DPDT option.......maybe in the misc section too, but certainly in the humbucker wiring section.
Click to expand...

Right, thanks. I guess my question is is there a way to do it with my existing 3-way switch. I'd rather not add another toggle.

So I'd have...
Up - Rail
Middle - Parallel Humbucker
Down - P-90
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

I agree with you that the P-Rail in parallel is really a beautiful sound and in series can be a bit dark/thick/muddy. It is very doable to get P-90/parallel/Rail with your DPDT switch (it has to be on/on/on). Then your 3-way LP type switch will do neck/both/bridge pups.

I don't have capability to do a diagram, but try to follow these instructions.
Label the lugs on the back of the DPDT with numbers as follows:

1 4
2 5
3 6

Black wire from P-Rails to #4 then to the bridge lug on the 3-way switch,
White wire to #2 with a shunt wire to #6
Green wire to #3 with a wire to ground,
Red wire to #1 with a shunt to #5.

In the middle position you get parallel, one end (up) gets P-90, the other end (down) gets Rail.
 
Re: P-Rails series/parallel question...maybe a dumb one

GuitarDoc said:
I agree with you that the P-Rail in parallel is really a beautiful sound and in series can be a bit dark/thick/muddy. It is very doable to get P-90/parallel/Rail with your DPDT switch (it has to be on/on/on). Then your 3-way LP type switch will do neck/both/bridge pups.

I don't have capability to do a diagram, but try to follow these instructions.
Label the lugs on the back of the DPDT with numbers as follows:

1 4
2 5
3 6

Black wire from P-Rails to #4 then to the bridge lug on the 3-way switch,
White wire to #2 with a shunt wire to #6
Green wire to #3 with a wire to ground,
Red wire to #1 with a shunt to #5.

In the middle position you get parallel, one end (up) gets P-90, the other end (down) gets Rail.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thank you! I'll give it a try and post the results.
 
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