Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

[m.riles]

Ive had my eye on some of the Epiphone SG customs 3 pickup models on ebay. My intent is to have as many tonal choices as realistically possible. However, the P rails are bought in matched pairs. Would you guys recommend buying a matched pair, putting them in the neck and bridge, and then putting in a different type of pickup in the middle position, maybe an alnico style reissue? Or perhaps a matched pair of P rails, then adding in another neck position P rail pickup and putting it in the middle position?

Thanks guys.

Also any recommendations on really good Les paul or SG copies would be appreciated.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Welcome to the forum.

P-Rails are available individually for neck and bridge position. There is also a hot version for the bridge position but some who have tried it reckon that the A8 magnet is too strong.

For a 3PU Epi SG Custom, I suggest regular P-Rails for bridge and neck positions wired into Triple Shot mounting surrounds. For the centre position, I suggest a Phat Cat.

For myself, I would be perfectly happy with one killer pickup and two control pots. If you have the budget for an Epi SG, you are also in the market for a PRS SE Soapbar. (Single and double cutaway shapes are available.) This is what I would buy.

Truth be told, a pre-owned PRS SE Soapbar is exactly what I did buy.

Serving suggestion.

 

[Sanford]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Another option, designed to maintain hum-canceling in all positions when using like-coils, is to use 3 P-Rails in one of these configurations:

1. Neck P-Rails in bridge and neck positions with a bridge P-Rails in the center

or

2. Bridge P-Rails in bridge and neck positions with a neck model in the center

or

3. Regular bridge model in the neck position, P-Rails Hot in the bridge position, neck model in the center

With 3 Triple Shots you can keep the look of your stock layout without having to use push-pull pots, etc.

Of course it really depends how you plan to wire up the combinations. If you want to keep the option of hum-canceling in the neck+bridge combo then use a matched pair for those positions. If you plan to do a "Strat-type" wiring then use the above ideas.

 

[Varg]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

How many options will you actually USE in practice?

I'm guessing this is overkill.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

How many options will you actually USE in practice?

I'm guessing this is overkill.

+1.

The P-Rails is very nice, but you'll find that you like the P-90 side best and use it just about all the time. So save yourself a lot of time, money, and headache by just putting in three GFS Mean 90s or Phat Cats in the first place.

 

[m.riles]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

+1.

The P-Rails is very nice, but you'll find that you like the P-90 side best and use it just about all the time. So save yourself a lot of time, money, and headache by just putting in three GFS Mean 90s or Phat Cats in the first place.

Should have mentioned this - my main axe is an epi casino RI with p90s...so I'm looking for something different, and with a lot of tonal options

Great stuff in this thread guys, I will def be using this info soon

that PRS looks nice, but will p rails fit in those soapbar spots properly?

 

[Sanford]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

The P-Rails are the same dimensions as a humbucker. Additional routing will be required if you've got P-90 spots.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Hey Sanford, you stay up way too late. Do you work the swing shift or do you just really love this forum?

The op is talking about an SG Custom which is routed for three hummers. The P-Rails will drop right in.

 

[m.riles]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Yeah, I dont want to put them in my Epi Casino.
I was asking if the Prails will fit in that PRS, but since tehy are 3 soapbars, obviously now i know they wont.....

 

[Sanford]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Hey Sanford, you stay up way too late. Do you work the swing shift or do you just really love this forum?

Recently unemployed...and staying up way too late.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Recently unemployed...and staying up way too late.

Sorry to hear about the unemployment. But at least you have plenty of time to play your guitar and post on the forum.

 

[Sanford]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

The unemployment is actually a blessing: the company sucks and the job was wearing me out physically. So, yeah, I get to go out to jam sessions now that I don't have to be at work at 5:00 am and I also get to put some positive energy into doing what I want.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

Best to you, Sanford. Hope all works out in the end. I know unemployment can only last so long til it is no longer fun.

 

[m.riles]

Re: Wanna swap in P-rails into a 3-pickup les paul or SG copy....

What do you guys think of Agile Les Paul copies?
Might go this route and just put in a matched pair of P rails, and have my guitar guy drill some lil holes in the body for 3 way selector switches