Silver Sky w/ Hot Rails

[Ahpook]

Hello Everyone,

I just put a Hot Rails in the bridge of a Silver Sky that obviously adds quite a bit of the nasty that I was looking for. What I wasn't looking for is how dark the pickup is. I've played with presence and an EQ pedal levels a bit. That just seems to make it harsh on the top end instead of opening it up.

Would anyone know of a circuit remedy for such a thing? I was going to install a blower switch which will probably help some, but only while engaged.

Thanks

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'd replace the pots altogether. I think 250K pots are the worst thing that has ever happened to Hot Rails. I had a Hot Rais for Tele on my Esquire, and I thought even with a single 500K volume pot and no tone knob, it was too dark. I'd aim for 1 Meg at least.

 

[Ahpook]

I'd replace the pots altogether. I think 250K pots are the worst thing that has ever happened to Hot Rails. I had a Hot Rais for Tele on my Esquire, and I thought even with a single 500K volume pot and no tone knob, it was too dark. I'd aim for 1 Meg at least.

Thank you for the response

I thought of that, but would that alter the characteristics of the single coil pickups? I kind of like the neck and middle as they are.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Thank you for the response

I thought of that, but would that alter the characteristics of the single coil pickups? I kind of like the neck and middle as they are.

Yes, it would.

I think there is a mod where you can add a resistor so that each pickup sees a different pot value. Let me look into that.

But yeah, at least 1Meg for the Hot Rails, IMO. No tone.

 

[Chistopher]

Solder the red/white lead to one end of a 100k resistor and the other end to ground. It will lower the volume on one of the coils. If that's too thin raise the value of the resistor, if it's still to thick, lower the value. If you know how to use a trim pot that will be easier than using a resistor.

 

[Mincer]

You could also have a series/parallel switch to tame them. The Hot Rails can be muddy in some guitars depending on the distortion from the amp. They are super hot and compressed. Besides some of the pot values and series/parallel switch, you might just not like the pickup and might want something clearer.

 

[marcello252]

you can change to 500K pots and put a 470K R from hot selctor switch lug to ground of each single coil, that simulates the 250K Pots but the taper will be different, I didn't like it when I tried it.

I have a hot rails too in the drawer, too hot and muddy for my guitars, I resolved changing the bridge pickup to a very classic Dimarzio FS-1 (I do like it over the SD SSL-5, a little more bass, a little less mid coloration), but here in the forum you can find many advices for other HB options

 

[Aceman]

I have a friend with a Hot Rails / Silver Sky - sounds great. Pretty sure 500k pot for bridge.

 

[treyhaislip]

I really like Hotrails but have actually never tried one in the bridge. They are pretty warm—I’ve always used them in the neck and middle paired with a JB in the bridge—tremendous setup that can cover a lot of ground.

If you have 250k pots then switching to 500k pots will definitely help brighten them up a bit.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, I've always thought they could be improved by using 500k pots. The 'little humbucker' series from SD is mostly designed to drop right in a stock strat. But Hot Rails sounds better when it is a little clearer.

 

[jeremy]

is there a tone control on the hot rails? first thing id do is remove it. i want a tone connected to a vintage strat bridge pup, but not a hot rails or many other high output pups when being matched with more vintagey neck and middle pups

 

[trevorus]

I have a Hot Rails in the parts drawer, and it’s just SO much. In my G&L Legacy I have a Lil 59 that does that thing a whole lot better. I have a neck wound version that’s even a little less, but the stock singles are a 6K, vintage spec wind.

Matching the Hot Rails would likely require equally hot SSL-5’s or something similar. Or, take it way low to match output. I also concur with using 500K pots.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Thank you for the response

I thought of that, but would that alter the characteristics of the single coil pickups? I kind of like the neck and middle as they are.

I think Mincer hit the nail on the head. You don't want to alter the tone of your other pups and the Hot Rails is too dark and not open enough for your taste. The simplest thing to try is to wire the Hot Rails in parallel. Don't change anything else (pots included. Yet).

You might just end up with a real winning combination.

 

[Mincer]

I have a Hot Rails in the parts drawer, and it’s just SO much. In my G&L Legacy I have a Lil 59 that does that thing a whole lot better. I have a neck wound version that’s even a little less, but the stock singles are a 6K, vintage spec wind.

Matching the Hot Rails would likely require equally hot SSL-5’s or something similar. Or, take it way low to match output. I also concur with using 500K pots.

Yeah, the Little 59 sounds more like a conventional humbucker, for sure...not as dark and thick as Hot Rails.

 

[treyhaislip]

Sorta off topic but if the Hot Rails doesn't work—the Lil Screamin Demon is a killer Strat bridge pickup.

 

[Ahpook]

Thanks for the replies and great ideas everyone. In the end, for now, I did indeed install a blower switch that helped immensely. The Hot Rails is much more bright and intricate while the switch is on. It's of course still dark with the blower off, but I installed the Hot Rails for one reason only The cool thing is I didn't have to strip the 500k pots and alter the single coils sound. Some of the ideas I read in this thread are certainly interesting to cure that problem as well.

Anyway, In case anyone is experiencing the same issue with a dark Hot Rails a blower may help. Give it a try! Can't hurt and the switch is fun anyway By the way I utilized this Duncan link to build the circuit: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/guitar-wiring-explored-adding-a-blower-switch

Thanks again

 

[Ahpook]

Oh, and a photo if anyone is interested. The switch was a bit worrisome as there is not many places to put one. I figured between the 2 tone knobs seemed best.

 

[jeremy]

looks good! i have a strat wired up with neck and bridge hot rails to a series/split/parallel switch. its surprisingly versatile. enjoy!