frankencat
New member
Anybody know?
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Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
- Thread starter frankencat
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zakk_speed
New member
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
VR is lower output (very low), CR is higher and warmer. CR sounds more like a bright humbucker, VR more like a low output single coil. My bridge CR in parallel is still louder than my VR in the middle slot.
VR only senses the string once so you cannot split it as your only hear 3 strings. You can split a CR to get a single coil tone as it has two full rails and senses the string twice.
My VR is one of the old ones that is hardwired to parallel, so I can comment on what it would sound like in series
VR is lower output (very low), CR is higher and warmer. CR sounds more like a bright humbucker, VR more like a low output single coil. My bridge CR in parallel is still louder than my VR in the middle slot.
VR only senses the string once so you cannot split it as your only hear 3 strings. You can split a CR to get a single coil tone as it has two full rails and senses the string twice.
My VR is one of the old ones that is hardwired to parallel, so I can comment on what it would sound like in series
frankencat
New member
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
Well I have been struggling a little lately with the CR in the neck of my strat. I just put the VR neck back in it but I wired it in series. We'll see what happens but it's not a whole lot different sounding right off the bat. I'd bet the only difference in construction is the configuration of the rails. It would be great if we could get Frank Faldo or someone from SD to confirm this once and for all. Thanks.
Well I have been struggling a little lately with the CR in the neck of my strat. I just put the VR neck back in it but I wired it in series. We'll see what happens but it's not a whole lot different sounding right off the bat. I'd bet the only difference in construction is the configuration of the rails. It would be great if we could get Frank Faldo or someone from SD to confirm this once and for all. Thanks.
frankencat
New member
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
Bump. Will we ever know the answer?
Bump. Will we ever know the answer?
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
For starters, Vintage Rails are wired in parallel. Cool Rails are wired in series. Then, of course, there is the radically different blade pole piece.
For starters, Vintage Rails are wired in parallel. Cool Rails are wired in series. Then, of course, there is the radically different blade pole piece.
frankencat
New member
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
Hi Evan, thanks for chiming. So the question is what is the difference between a VR and a CR if they are both wired the same - say both wired in series? I know the pole pieces are different but are there any other differences besides that? Thanks -Frank
Hi Evan, thanks for chiming. So the question is what is the difference between a VR and a CR if they are both wired the same - say both wired in series? I know the pole pieces are different but are there any other differences besides that? Thanks -Frank
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
the vintage rails and duckbuckers are always in parallel aren't they?
i believe the hot rails and cool rails are closer to single-sized humbuckers, where the vintage rails and ducks are seem to be wound very light in comparison, and each coil only has half a blade pole-piece each
only noticed this recently, very interesting
the vintage rails and duckbuckers are always in parallel aren't they?
i believe the hot rails and cool rails are closer to single-sized humbuckers, where the vintage rails and ducks are seem to be wound very light in comparison, and each coil only has half a blade pole-piece each
only noticed this recently, very interesting
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
A few years ago, they changed them to 4-wire so that you could connect them either way.
A few years ago, they changed them to 4-wire so that you could connect them either way.
MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
I've heard quite a bit of difference. The old housing VRn, which I had, was internally wired in parallel. Plenty chime, bright, very clear top end, a bit thin over all. Cool Rails were much warmer and fatter, getting into vintage humbucker-esque territory.
Granted, I haven't heard the VRn in series, but simply going by the resistances listed on the SD website, a CRn in series still appears to have a few more wraps than a VRn (calculated from listed resistance with coils in parallel... not sure what the appropriate margin of error is). A few more wraps and a different pole piece architecture, I would wager there's enough to be heard. Guess I would have to hear the VRn in series to really know.
I've heard quite a bit of difference. The old housing VRn, which I had, was internally wired in parallel. Plenty chime, bright, very clear top end, a bit thin over all. Cool Rails were much warmer and fatter, getting into vintage humbucker-esque territory.
Granted, I haven't heard the VRn in series, but simply going by the resistances listed on the SD website, a CRn in series still appears to have a few more wraps than a VRn (calculated from listed resistance with coils in parallel... not sure what the appropriate margin of error is). A few more wraps and a different pole piece architecture, I would wager there's enough to be heard. Guess I would have to hear the VRn in series to really know.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
that's a very good point, i didn't think of that.
i'm off my game!
that's a very good point, i didn't think of that.
i'm off my game!
frankencat
New member
Re: Vintage Rails parallel vs Cool Rails: What's the difference???
This is the problem, until somebody from SD confirms that they are they same/different it is all speculation. I have both pickups and am testing them too draw my own conclusion. I am leaning towards them being the same pickup with different pole pieces/blades.
This is the problem, until somebody from SD confirms that they are they same/different it is all speculation. I have both pickups and am testing them too draw my own conclusion. I am leaning towards them being the same pickup with different pole pieces/blades.
