Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

[Baby Evil]

Yeah, I'm surprised. I just installed the VR, and I like the tone, it's much clearer and dynamic than the original pup, but much lower in output. I know it isn't supposed to be hot, but less than a MIM stock? Is this normal?
I have turned it up much higher than the two stocks that are still in there, an d it's still less hot.

I'm thinking of moving it to the middle, and put a Hot Rails in the bridge(and use pos 4 to use it split). I suppose because the bridge pup is hotter, it could work in the middle pos with the Hot Rails.

Any thoughts?

Jan

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

Did your raise the pickup?? Did you buy the right one? (position)

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

It's raised, and it's a bridge pup


thanks,

Jan

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

MIM stocks actually have a pretty decent output. I'm not at all surprised that they're louder than your Vintage Rails. My 1995 MIM Strat's stock pups had two big ceramic magnets each, and had about the same output as the Texas Specials I later put in (although the Tex's had far better tone).

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

Thanks

Jan

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

Vintage Rails are a moderate output pickup. You can put a bridge version in the neck of middle for more output, but all-in-all, don't expect a ton of output from these guys.

Remember, they're vintage rails.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

I'd keep it and just replace the neck and middle with another pair of Vintage Rails. Get that real Vintage single coil tone without the hum.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

Geez, If those are moderate, which models actually qualify as Low Output?!

Vintage Rails are a moderate output pickup. You can put a bridge version in the neck of middle for more output, but all-in-all, don't expect a ton of output from these guys.

Remember, they're vintage rails.

 

[Baby Evil]

Re: Vintage Rails less output than stock MIM Strat pups

I'm certainly not complaining about the tone, it is great. I chose this one by the clips on this site, because it sounded most like ...a strat, without the hum. That's what I was looking for. But it doesn't work well with the two other stock pups, but they've got to go anyway.
I've been going thru the clips again, and the hotrails sound to woolly to me for a strat sound. The Cool Rails are an option, and to my surprise also the litlle '59.
I think I might go for 59b, my VR in the middle, and a CRn, as described in the tech tips. Maybe by the end of the year I'll buy me another MIM, and put the Strat Pluses in that for a true strat sound.
I love the old strat sound for cleans, but for distortion it doesn't work that well. Right now, playing clean is what I do most by myself, but the band stuff is still mostly distorted.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

Jan