What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Artie

Artie

Peaveyologist
I know there used to be a Nokie Edwards, neck and bridge, IIRC, and I think there was something called a Hawkbucker. I was thinking there might have been at least one other. Now, there's only the Dime, El Diablo, Slug, and half of a Fuglybucker. Anyone know why they stopped producing the others?
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Low sales?
Everyone associates rail humbuckers with metal and those were not metal pickups. Just guessing.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I believe they will still make a Silverbird or any other, it’s just a Custom Shop order rather than production floor.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Dave Locher said:
Low sales?
Everyone associates rail humbuckers with metal and those were not metal pickups. Just guessing.
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The "low sales" makes sense, but I don't associate "rail" pups with metal. But I could definitely be in the minority. I'm making a distinction here between the thin "Dime" rails, and the thicker rails of the ones I mentioned. Nokie Edwards was, of course, the guitarist for The Ventures. Now that I've got a taste for the thicker rail pups, I'm just curious what they may have sounded like.

Edit: Oops. I may need to back-pedal a bit on that position. I just checked the DCR of the Slug. 48k! Yowsa. That ain't "surf" guitar. :D
 
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Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Maybe it is associated with metal because it looks more menacing? I mean, the rail idea is good, although with guitarists wanting everything to look a certain way, I can understand why a '59 or other vintage-output pickup wouldn't use them. But there is no denying that they are great for string balance.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Image issues.

People see rail, think L500xl/Dimebucker or X2N... can't sell a non-extreme output pup with rails. Target audience won't buy it, and people who buy it by mistake instead will be dissatisfied customers
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

As someone lucky enough to have bought a guitar with Bardens in the bridge they certainly have an appeal outside of metal. I was quite fond of vintage rails I had in a Yamaha RGB as well so I am glad that Duncan still makes this.


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Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I may not be using the right terminology. The Dime, and Hot/Cool/Vintage Rails definitely look like little railroad tracks. And those pups are popular. I'm referring more to the big blade pups like the Slug and El Diablo. Pups like the NE and Hawkbucker that have gone missing.

Slug_resize.jpg

Although, I realize I'm the one who brought up the Dimebucker as an example.


Edit: I'll be danged! I just found the old Hawkbucker. Now it's listed under "Bass pickups".
http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/hawkbucker/
 
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Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I get that rails don’t look traditional, but I think it’s sad that people largely associate rails with metal. From my experience they tend to be super articulate and clear.

$160 for the Hawkbucker...expensive to try one.

My suggestion would be to try the Bill Lawrence EB50 for $55. I have it in my Iceman bass and it’s amazing. A lot of guys on the Bill Lawrence forums say it makes for a killer guitar pickup. It has thicker and wider/longer rails than the L500s but it’s the same size housing.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I still need to try that 500XL. But that will have to wait 'til we get back in town next week. ;)
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

The rails being the side profile of bar magnets?

Could always throw a closed cover over them to get around the image issue?
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I don't think the "bars" in those are the magnets. But I'm not positive. And just to be clear, I love the look of all of the rail-style pups. I also like the PATB series. But it's mainly due to their sound. Great unappreciated pickups.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Too bad that Duncan doesn't make more rail p-ups , I have a 7 strings guitar with a broader string spacing than usual , for my big hands ,
and had not a lot of option , so I installed two Lace X-bar . And they are very good .
20171231_101843.jpg
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I think they are constructed with a normal humbucker magnet...and 2 rails that are magnetized.

To be fair, the Custom Shop can make anything you'd ever want. I think in order for things to be production pickups, they'd have to be associated with a famous artist, or come out in a guitar that everyone universally loves so the pickup sales will make more money than it costs to produce on a grand scale.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I know the Fuglybucker at least uses an A2 for both the rail and under the coils, but I can't confirm anything on the other styles of rail pickups.

FWIW, I think it's high time for a new rail pickup. One that is marketed in a way to break the "rails are for metal" stigma.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

I'll tell you what I don't like about them, and it's the same thing with Lace Sensors: The looks.

Rails just look off on any guitar to me, unless it's a Dimebag signature of sorts, in which case it's his thing but it's still wrong to me.

So I don't care how good they sound, I'm probably not having them.
 
Re: What happened to the "other" rail pups?

Diego said:
I'll tell you what I don't like about them, and it's the same thing with Lace Sensors: The looks.

Rails just look off on any guitar to me, unless it's a Dimebag signature of sorts, in which case it's his thing but it's still wrong to me.

So I don't care how good they sound, I'm probably not having them.
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Well, in guitar playing, this isn't uncommon. Everyone has an idea of what guitars and guitar parts should look like, and that look is 70 years old which makes any innovation a risky commercial proposition. I have no doubt a vintage-type pickup can be made with rails, and it might even sound better and be usable with more types of string spacing, but the problem is...will it sell? I am one of those weird people that is ready to throw out the rule book on what guitars should look like and how they work, but I am in an extreme minority here, and I know it. I am limited in exploring what this ideal should be to me by my 'musician' budget and therefore having to modify or deal with what is commercially available.
 
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