SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

[JohnnyGuitar]

I want to get one of these (trading other pickup for them, so that's the option). Anyone compared both pickups? What differences should I expect in terms of output, brightness, other tone characteristics? Going to use it for general Blues-Rock and Hard Rock...

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

Nothing? anyone tried the Chopper or Hot Rails in a Strat bridge, without comparing the two and maybe wants to comment?

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

I have Hot Rails in bridge of a Charvel Strat copy.

It's very metal pickup, very high output, sensitive to finger touch so if you play sloppy it will show; and faciliates in eliciting pinch harmonics...the one at the end of 'I Remember You' solo.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

It's very metal pickup, very high output, sensitive to finger touch so if you play sloppy it will show;

Thing is - I'm not very sloppy but I do like to add ghost notes when I play, and like things to ring to some extent... will the Hot Rails turn everything to a big mess?

 

[Mincer]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

I don't think the Hot Rails will make anything a big mess, but it is a high output pickup, and it makes less-than-stellar technique apparent, just like any higher output pickup. This is due to how it compresses the sound, not its voicing, though. Any good pickup is going to reward good technique, though.

 

[jeremy]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

i have hot rails in a strat and its high output but i dont find it turns things into a big mess, and i can be a sloppy player at times

 

[gregory]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Chopper in Strat bridge

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Chopper in Strat bridge

I don't find hot pickups to be terribly revealing of technique when they're warmer and/or darker.

Something worth reading:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...Distortion-S&p=3539619&viewfull=1#post3539619

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

I used Hot Rails in Strats for many years...it was great the whole time. Sounds huge and VERY Les Paul like.

 

[gregory]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Chopper in Strat bridge

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Chopper in Strat bridge

I have a feeling the DMZ Chopper will be heavily under-represented in this discussion.

A Hot Rails will sound more like a full humbucker while a Chopper will sound like a thinner/brighter humbucker or a thicker/fuller single coil depending on your perspective.

If I were going to put a hot and full single-sized humbucker in a Strat I'd go with the Hot Rails in the bridge out of the two, unless the guitar is overly dark and I wasn't using a lot of gain. If I wanted to pair the Hot Rails with something bright, full and begging for gain I wouldn't hesitate to put a Chopper in the neck spot.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

Thanks for the replies... I'm going for the Hot Rails...

 

[Mincer]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

Let us know how this turns out!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

I've never heard a pickup I thought revealed more than another... that's always seems more due to the amp to me.

 

[gregory]

Re: SD Hot Rails vs. Dimarzio Choper in Strat bridge

While it seems every new pickup on the face of the Earth is marketed as having "clarity" and "articulation," some have more of these than others.

An amp can be dialed only so far and is grossly determined by the design. You're better served with a parametric EQ before any gain stages which will still do nothing about the way a pickup feels.

Sorry for the rant. I know many of you already know this.