Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

[atomheartmother]

There was one of these (supposedly) in a used Strat that I bought. It doesn't say Seymour Duncan on the top, but I gather that it just was worn off a long time ago as the pickup is very dirty and even has some rush on the blades. The pickup appears to be quite old. From webpics, the pickup looks identical to a Hot Rails (other than no label); it has the same colored wires in the right positions and what not. Anyway, I couldn't find pics of the backs of them. What does the back of a Hot Rails look like? Anyone have pics? This one has a black bar magnet on the back and has a sticker that says BP on the bar.

Oh yeah, the pickup is 4-conductor (red, white, green, black).

 

[Adam]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

does it sound sweet?

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

sounds like a hot rails to me.

 

[atomheartmother]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

does it sound sweet?

Not really. It sounded like a muddy piece of crap. But that's how Hot Rails sound, right?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.

 

[atomheartmother]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.

Have you owned one before? They do have bar magnets. At least that's what it says on the Seymour Duncan website. It's not a terrible sounding pickup, but it's just not my thing. It was very dark when playing clean. With distortion it brightened up.

Anyway, I saw Hot Rails for sale on Ebay and it looked identical to mine (even the little sticker).


This pickup is no doubt quite old. I'd say at least 5-10 years old, if not much more.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.

The HotRails have a bar magnet between the rails.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

It's been awhile since I handled one. I guess the magnet didn't stick in my head.

 

[Guest]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I for one am interrested in seing pics of both your old pup and pics of other members pups. Jus to compare the effects of time. It might be interresting to see a pick of one of the new Hot Rails to see if any differences would show.

 

[atomheartmother]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I for one am interrested in seing pics of both your old pup and pics of other members pups. Jus to compare the effects of time. It might be interresting to see a pick of one of the new Hot Rails to see if any differences would show.

Here are some pics of mine:

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

No, hotrails do not sound like a muddy piece of crap.

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

Looks like an old hotrails.
In what position did you install it? What is the resistance?

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

No, hotrails do not sound like a muddy piece of crap.

guess its all just a matter of who you ask .

I aint a big hot rails fan, but im pretty sure that we can confirm that that does indeed look like its a hot rails.

 

[atomheartmother]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

Looks like an old hotrails.
In what position did you install it? What is the resistance?

I didn't install it; it was in a used guitar that I bought. It was in the bridge position. It wasn't a terrible pickup. With high gain it sounded pretty good for that super saturated metal sound. But clean, it was really dark and bassy.

 

[sepultura]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I just picked up a hot rails and cool rails, and they look exactly the same except for the little sticker at the bottom of the pickup. If you remove the sticker there's no way of telling which is which.

 

[rokluvr]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I hate to bump a 12 year old thread, but I just bought an SD Hot Rails bridge pickup for Strat on eBay for $50. This Hot Rails doesn't have the Seymour Duncan label on the cover, either. I have a newer SD Hot Rails and it has the Seymour Duncan label and brass things where the mounting screws go. This one I bought on eBay has neither.

Here are the pics of it from the seller (who has 100% positive feedback, btw)

Is this a legitimate Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup? Thanks for any help

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I hate to bump a 12 year old thread, but I just bought an SD Hot Rails bridge pickup for Strat on eBay for $50. This Hot Rails doesn't have the Seymour Duncan label on the cover, either. I have a newer SD Hot Rails and it has the Seymour Duncan label and brass things where the mounting screws go. This one I bought on eBay has neither.

Here are the pics of it from the seller (who has 100% positive feedback, btw)


Is this a legitimate Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickup? Thanks for any help

I'd say YES! I recognize the sticker and its font on the back-side. It looks like the old ones I had a loooong time ago...

 

[rokluvr]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

I'd say YES! I recognize the sticker and its font on the back-side. It looks like the old ones I had a loooong time ago...

Great! Thanks for the reply, Inge

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

Yes Hot Rails made by Mrs Bautista more than 20 years ago, if that helps.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails question...

BTW they need a 500k pot and .022 cap or wide open. Don't write them off before trying that