Which Rails Model...

Butch Snyder

ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
I'm going to install a middle pickup in between my PAF Pro and FRED. I thought I'd get one of the new Rails designs. I want one that will keep up with the neck and bridge pickups. I won't be using it alone. It will be used for the standards 2 and 4 positions for the quack.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Hot Stack?

It does have one big rail. :)

Seriously though, I'd probably go with a CR. It sounds great in series, but also has some cool tones to it when wired in parallel. I installed one in a friend's Ibanes S series between an APH and a JB and it works great in parallel.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

I was thinking about the CR actually. Either that or the VR... I'm also going to pull the Fred and PAF Pro. I think I'm going to install a 59 in the neck and a Custom in the bridge...
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Another vote for cool rails. The vintage rail might not have enough ommmph to keep up with the other 2.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

I like the hot rails in the middle position of my Peavey. I'm not sure how well it will match your other two, though.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Cool or vintage Rail seems like a good way to go. I like the Cool rail samples, but I am not sure I have much experience with them- as sometimes with SD I am not sure which model I am playing (people tend to have SD's and not know which model they installed in a guitar they hand me).

I personally would put a real single in the middle like the Dimarzio HS3, or ANY of their ASTOUNDING Virtual Vintage series! I would recommend kinman for a pure American Standard type strat pickup with no hum. If you want a real single coil - do consider the Alnico Pro 2's which have a sweet tone and feel and mix well with bright pickups. I like my middle to be a true single coil sound (not that the cool rail isn't pretty damn vintage)
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Cool rails. I have one in a HSH strat between a PG bridge and Jazz neck. I also have 500K pots in it. It works real well in pos 2 & 4. It also sounds good by itself and has enough output to keep up with the humbuckers.

"HSH strat"
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

If you want a true single coil saound, then you should go with the Vintage Rails. You will notice a bit of a volume drop between it and the humbuckers, but no more than you would with a true single coil, plus there's no hum. The Cool Rails will balance more, volume wise. Just remember that you would have a guitar with 3 humbuckers. The CR is like a PAF type pickup. It's got some great sounds and does really well split and in combination with other pickups.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Cool Rails in the middle position can get some pretty sweet lead tones, or so I have heard. I think the Vintage Rails will serve the purpose that middle position pickups are suppose to serve though.
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

Travis said:
If you want a true single coil saound, then you should go with the Vintage Rails. You will notice a bit of a volume drop between it and the humbuckers, but no more than you would with a true single coil, plus there's no hum. The Cool Rails will balance more, volume wise. Just remember that you would have a guitar with 3 humbuckers. The CR is like a PAF type pickup. It's got some great sounds and does really well split and in combination with other pickups.


True, but i find for different applications pairing vintage rails with a bridge humbucker makes a guitar more versatile.

I got a song of my band, my guitar has vintage rails and jb visit

www.myspace.com/hypersonicuk

Hope it helps
 
Re: Which Rails Model...

The Cool Rails is really an underrated pickup IMHO, but if you really want quack, I would think the Vintage Rails would be what you want. I don't hear the Cool Rails as quacky unless it's split, and even then I don't find it very quacky.
 
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