Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

[Rex_Rocker]

I've got a crappy old Epiphone Strat that I want to bring out of retirement. It plays fine, and it's not too bad acoustically, but I want to spend as little as I can making it keep up with my other guitars.

I want a bridge pickup that fits the current pickguard it has. I was looking at the Hot Rails, because that seems to be the most Distortion (or Black Winter) like single coil sized humbucker Duncan offers, but then I came across the Fast Track 2, which looks like it's wound hotter.

Are either of those pickups similar to the Distortion or Black Winter? The most important aspect to me is the output, so I'd think the Fast Track 2 would keep up better because of the higher DCR, or am I wrong? Tonally, how are these? Are they anything like a hot full-sized humbucker ala Distortion/Black Winter?

Thanks.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

I have the FT2. It sounds just like the clips of it on its webpage by Gretchen Menn. Its very much like a full sized bucker but i find it a bit honky sounding. ItsNot very bright like a normal SC in that spot. Its not thin sounding for sure but SD-S might be a better balanced option than it & the low end would also be a smudge more than the FT2. Along with the Ft2 theres the TZS & BC2 options too

I dont think the ft2 sounds lika a DD or BW, I dont have Hot Rails so not sure if that would get closer or not.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Thanks for the reply.

I meant to say that the output is close. If it's tonally close, that's a plus, but it's the output what I'm most concerned with. I don't want to re-tweak gain and input levels radically when I change guitars.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Anyone else?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

they are both about the same i think? i have one of each but they are in pretty different guitars. seems the hot rails is brighter but could just be the guitar

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Thanks! So about the same output? Do they keep up with hot full-size humbuckers?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

no i do not think they keep up with a sh6 or something similar. i dont know if you can get something that size stock that will keep up but these are probably as close as youll find

 

[Hank-]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

The FT2 could keep up with my Custom(Sh11&Sh5) pups. I cant remember if it kept up with say a SuperD set very close to the strings. It will keep up with medium to kinda hot output humbuckers but not the very hot ones.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

The Hot Rails is a pretty dark pickup, to me. It might have the same output as the DD, but it sure doesn't sound like one. It is a lot meatier.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

None of the strat sized humbuckers will come close to the output of the full sized models or counterparts. The aperture is much smaller and the bobbins as well, so very thin wire has to be used to get the tone and output they do have. That will make the dcr higher, which might deceive you into thinking it’s comparable to a full sized model. This is one of the many reasons why DCR is not a very useful indicator of much.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Thanks for the replies, dudes!

So you guys think there is no single-coil sized humbucker that keeps up with a full-blown Duncan Distortion or Black Winter?

How about a Blackout single? Is that one supposed to be humbucker-sounding?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

The Hot Rails will but it is a very different EQ than the DD. Some people think the output balance is more important than tone. Some don't. If you are the former, then there is your answer.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

You will have to add at least an active buffer circuit to interface the passive with the active well. The buffer needs to both capacitively and resistively load the passive pickup correctly so it sounds like it’s supposed to, and drive the 25k volume pot.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Or I could just wire the bridge blackout to a single volume and then to the output jack, and just keep the neck and middle pickups as place-holders, lol.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

You could if you don’t mind not having the versatility, but at that point why? Just buy three actives. Use the Duncan if you want, and then use some 20$ cheapy like the gfs redactives for the rest.

My first guitar was an epiphone strat by Gibson. It was made out of maple plywood. Heavy and bright. They switched to alder a couple of years later.

 

[saladin]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Dimarzio Super Distortion S might be the better fit!
http://www.dimarzio.com/node/2185

 

[Adieu]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

Hot Rail bridge ain't weak.

Anyone who thinks it is likely used the mis-named Hotrail Neck model.

 

[Artie]

Re: Which would be closer to the DD and/or the BW? Fast Track 2 or Hot Rails?

I've got a crappy old Epiphone Strat that I want to bring out of retirement.

Is this one of those old "Batwing" Strats?



These are kind of cool, in their own way. I have one. But they are what they are. (And I'm a big proponent of fixin' up "cheap" guitars.)
Why not just keep your eye out for Trading Post deals. There's usually some sweet deals there. Not trying to talk you out of anything, but these make nice little Strats for what they are.