frankencat
New member
I have tried these pickups a number of times and I just can't seem to get along with the humbucker sound. It's kind of dark and flat. The P-90 sound is really nice though. Is it just me?
P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
- Thread starter frankencat
- Start date
C
CronoDL
Guest
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
I have a dual P-Rails setup in one of my strats. I love the P90 tones, and that's what I use over 90% of the time. I do find the series humbucker to be too dark and hot for my tastes. It lacks the sparkle you get from the P90. The parallel humbucking mode is similar to the P90, just with less sparkle. The rail modes I only use when I want something with lower output.
I have a dual P-Rails setup in one of my strats. I love the P90 tones, and that's what I use over 90% of the time. I do find the series humbucker to be too dark and hot for my tastes. It lacks the sparkle you get from the P90. The parallel humbucking mode is similar to the P90, just with less sparkle. The rail modes I only use when I want something with lower output.
dvadneau
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
I only tried the bridge in an Epi LP but came to the following conclusions:
If you like (or have) to have one guitar to do most everything the P-Rails is a decent fit.
P90 most of the time because it's got brawn and balls.
Series for a tighter rhythm and/or higher gain uses.
Rails when you purposefully want a thinner sound (ska, punk, etc.).
Parallel for cleans.
I'm still thinking of getting a full set to throw in my Tele that has P90s in it right now, just to see how the P90 P-Rail compares. If that works out then I'll get a few other sounds to work with. We'll see, a P90 in the neck is pretty awesome.
Think of it this way: if you can't get along with the HB sound, don't use that sound. If the P90 sound rocks for you, use that and parallel mode and you get 2 very good sounds.
I only tried the bridge in an Epi LP but came to the following conclusions:
If you like (or have) to have one guitar to do most everything the P-Rails is a decent fit.
P90 most of the time because it's got brawn and balls.
Series for a tighter rhythm and/or higher gain uses.
Rails when you purposefully want a thinner sound (ska, punk, etc.).
Parallel for cleans.
I'm still thinking of getting a full set to throw in my Tele that has P90s in it right now, just to see how the P90 P-Rail compares. If that works out then I'll get a few other sounds to work with. We'll see, a P90 in the neck is pretty awesome.
Think of it this way: if you can't get along with the HB sound, don't use that sound. If the P90 sound rocks for you, use that and parallel mode and you get 2 very good sounds.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
First of all, it would help if you stated what sort of guitar the pickups are in.
First of all, it would help if you stated what sort of guitar the pickups are in.
B
Breogan
Guest
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
I have them in a Guild S100 (all mahogany guitar with rosewood fingerboard). The guitar is middy with sparkle top. Even with a kind of Gretch character.
Today I was experimenting with the pickup height (series mode) and this makes a huge difference in the treble response. This guitar has 3 screws for the pickups height so allows you to level the pickup so completely parallel to the strings. When the rail pickup is a bit far away the pickups is mudier but when is set at the same height as the P-90 then the treble response increases.
To me it sounds like a overwound PAF tone. With good mid definition and not so well defined bass and treble.
I don't know if I like it yet... to be honest!
I have them in a Guild S100 (all mahogany guitar with rosewood fingerboard). The guitar is middy with sparkle top. Even with a kind of Gretch character.
Today I was experimenting with the pickup height (series mode) and this makes a huge difference in the treble response. This guitar has 3 screws for the pickups height so allows you to level the pickup so completely parallel to the strings. When the rail pickup is a bit far away the pickups is mudier but when is set at the same height as the P-90 then the treble response increases.
To me it sounds like a overwound PAF tone. With good mid definition and not so well defined bass and treble.
I don't know if I like it yet... to be honest!
Hot Octopus
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
I think they're ok pups, but not great. They lack definition. I use them in high gain applications for punk and garage type stuff. The p 90's and SC sounds are ok, but I don't like the humbuckers at all.
I think they're ok pups, but not great. They lack definition. I use them in high gain applications for punk and garage type stuff. The p 90's and SC sounds are ok, but I don't like the humbuckers at all.
Sanford
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
And reversing the neck so the rail is next to the fretboard gives a fuller rail sound.
And reversing the neck so the rail is next to the fretboard gives a fuller rail sound.
K
Kalish
Guest
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
The PRails in the P90 bridge position is a nice lovely pickup , but got to agree, the Humbucker bridge sound is indistinct...HOWEVER..in the middle position the bridge Prails in humbucking together with P90 in the neck is gorgeous..makes it all worth it!
The PRails in the P90 bridge position is a nice lovely pickup , but got to agree, the Humbucker bridge sound is indistinct...HOWEVER..in the middle position the bridge Prails in humbucking together with P90 in the neck is gorgeous..makes it all worth it!
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timhatimay
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
+1. I always liked my neck Prail, but after I flipped it, I was completely sold. I love all of the sounds I get from it. The series HB is on the dark and slightly muddier side, and the rail is on the thinner side, but I like all of the different sounds. The series is great for smoother creamier type playing and sounds nice and full. The parallel mode is great for more vintage type tones, and is really great clean or slightly overdriven. The P90 sounds awesome, and I love the rail for strat type sounds. Flipping it brightens the overall and improves each position (except for maybe the P90). Its really versatile PU and it always forces me to get creative with all the different configurations, so I really love my neck Prail!
Tim
+1. I always liked my neck Prail, but after I flipped it, I was completely sold. I love all of the sounds I get from it. The series HB is on the dark and slightly muddier side, and the rail is on the thinner side, but I like all of the different sounds. The series is great for smoother creamier type playing and sounds nice and full. The parallel mode is great for more vintage type tones, and is really great clean or slightly overdriven. The P90 sounds awesome, and I love the rail for strat type sounds. Flipping it brightens the overall and improves each position (except for maybe the P90). Its really versatile PU and it always forces me to get creative with all the different configurations, so I really love my neck Prail!
Tim
frankencat
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
Interesting.
Interesting.
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
Here's a thread dedicated to the discussion of flipping P-Rails...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=209280
Here's a thread dedicated to the discussion of flipping P-Rails...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=209280
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
What's cool about this thread is that most people here say that at least 2 of the sounds in the P-Rails were useful to them. The original concept was to protect the authenticity of the P90 sound. Granted, the bridge is a hotter version of a P90 but both neck and bridge seem to please everyone in P90 mode. I am probabaly one of the few people that regularly use all 4 sounds in the P-Rails.
Next figure that here at the forum we're all gear nuts already. So flipping the P-Rails is a totally viable mod, and I do have one guitar with them flipped. But for the vast majority the "rails inward" gives them what they're looking for, which is a Stratty notch tone on the Rails in the middle, rather than a spread out, more "Tele-ish" tone with the Rails on the outside. But in an H/S/H setup I love the Rails on the outside, because you get the quack from the combination with the middle pickup. Also in a Tele with a neck humbucker I like it flipped.
You'll see me occasionally remind everyone you can order Shop Floor Custom P-Rails with the logos flipped around for no extra charge.
What's cool about this thread is that most people here say that at least 2 of the sounds in the P-Rails were useful to them. The original concept was to protect the authenticity of the P90 sound. Granted, the bridge is a hotter version of a P90 but both neck and bridge seem to please everyone in P90 mode. I am probabaly one of the few people that regularly use all 4 sounds in the P-Rails.
Next figure that here at the forum we're all gear nuts already. So flipping the P-Rails is a totally viable mod, and I do have one guitar with them flipped. But for the vast majority the "rails inward" gives them what they're looking for, which is a Stratty notch tone on the Rails in the middle, rather than a spread out, more "Tele-ish" tone with the Rails on the outside. But in an H/S/H setup I love the Rails on the outside, because you get the quack from the combination with the middle pickup. Also in a Tele with a neck humbucker I like it flipped.
You'll see me occasionally remind everyone you can order Shop Floor Custom P-Rails with the logos flipped around for no extra charge.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
GrooveHT
New member
Re: P-Rails, what's the general consensus?
That's one more useful tone than in most pickups, and in a lot of cases, two more useful tones
That's one more useful tone than in most pickups, and in a lot of cases, two more useful tones