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Ok I hear a couple things about this pickup from people. One is that its too bassy and dark. Others like it just how it is. I can handle a pickup having a dark character but is it really that bassy? Any other opinions are welcomed. I really just need for the sound to remain articulate and sweet while doing sweeps. So articulate and sweet that peoples heads explode. So if you can convince me that it will make a persons head explode then it'll be my neck pup. I'm basically in between a hot rails neck or a jb jr. neck right now for my soloist.

Don't rule out the Cool Rails. A Hot Rails is basically a slightly overwound CR. Any time you add more windings, you increase the inductance, which decreases quot;highsquot;. Thats why singles have that open, airy brightness that they do.

(I've become a Cool Rails fanatic.)

Artie

Well I have a cool rails right now for the middle position. I just don't have it installed yet. I was basically planning on using the cool rails for cleans as the middle position on my jackson is awesome for cleans. I might like the cool rails in the neck I'm not sure but I was sorta going for a little more power in the neck single.


Originally Posted by vinterlandI might like the cool rails in the neck I'm not sure but I was sorta going for a little more power in the neck single.

Then I'd say the hot rails is exactly what you're looking for. I don't think it's too bassy if you adjust it properly.

LesStrat is configured: HR/CR/HR

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I'm rather fond of it.

The HR is more mid-range than quot;bassyquot;. But the decrease in treble makes it seem darker.

I'd take the Cool Rails over the JB Jr in the neck. The JB Jr seems to be a bit thin (especially in the bridge, but thats beside the point here) compared to the Cool Rails, which has a good amount of punch without being too muddy. Muddy being what the Hot Rails is guilty of.


Originally Posted by LesStratLesStrat is configured: HR/CR/HR

It was a combination of LesStrat and Travis, that led me to the final Triple-CR configuration. Originally Posted by RobbiedbeeI'd take the Cool Rails over the JB Jr in the neck. The JB Jr seems to be a bit thin (especially in the bridge, but thats beside the point here) compared to the Cool Rails, which has a good amount of punch without being too muddy.

quot;Punchquot; is exactly the word I use to describe the CR. It's a unique quality.

Artie


Originally Posted by Robbiedbee

Muddy being what the Hot Rails is guilty of.

What does everyone think... too much mud in an alder guitar?


Originally Posted by vinterlandWhat does everyone think... too much mud in an alder guitar?

I dunno. If you're putting it in a soloist, and intend to play metal, it won't be too bad, cos my major gripe with HRs is that they can't do the sweet cleans my STOCK MIMs could do.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooDon't rule out the Cool Rails. A Hot Rails is basically a slightly overwound CR. Any time you add more windings, you increase the inductance, which decreases quot;highsquot;. Thats why singles have that open, airy brightness that they do.

(I've become a Cool Rails fanatic.)

ArtieSorry ARtie, that's one, but not the most important difference between both pickups.
A cool rails has a small, thin ceramic mag, and a hotrails has a bigger, thicker ceramic mag, which might be the most important reason why they sound different, and why the coolrails doesn't sound so fat as as hotrails.


Originally Posted by Inge MalmsteinSorry ARtie, that's one, but not the most important difference between both pickups.
A cool rails has a small, thin ceramic mag, and a hotrails has a bigger, thicker ceramic mag, which might be the most important reason why they sound different, and why the coolrails doesn't sound so fat as as hotrails.

Ah . . . I didn't know that.

I gotta try one of those.

I use one in my Gamp;L Legacy Deluxe. I like vintage singles in strats'n'teles, but not in a basswood/maple guitar with no pickguard.....they sound shrill.

I wanted a pure rock/metal/shred type sound with that guitar, so I opted for a Hot Rails neck (new circuit board version). First of all, the Hot Rails is NOT a pickup for clean rhythm playing, unless you have a pullup knob to split the coils. The pickup is designed for highgain neck soloing, which makes it perfect for legatto and sweeps.
It's extremely quiet, so you'll never have a problem with hum or squeal on super highgain. If you have a Cool Rails in the middle, you've got a perfect setup.

I prefer midheavy bridge humbuckers with a Hotrails in the neck, so the JB and CC are much better choices than a 59 or C-5. If you use those humbuckers, you're better off with a Cool Rails or lil 59 in the neck.


Originally Posted by Gearjoneser

The pickup is designed for highgain neck soloing, which makes it perfect for legatto and sweeps.

Sounds good as that would be about exactly what I would use it for.


Originally Posted by GearjoneserI use one in my Gamp;L Legacy Deluxe. I like vintage singles in strats'n'teles, but not in a basswood/maple guitar with no pickguard.....they sound shrill.

I wanted a pure rock/metal/shred type sound with that guitar, so I opted for a Hot Rails neck (new circuit board version). First of all, the Hot Rails is NOT a pickup for clean rhythm playing, unless you have a pullup knob to split the coils. The pickup is designed for highgain neck soloing, which makes it perfect for legatto and sweeps.
It's extremely quiet, so you'll never have a problem with hum or squeal on super highgain. If you have a Cool Rails in the middle, you've got a perfect setup.

I prefer midheavy bridge humbuckers with a Hotrails in the neck, so the JB and CC are much better choices than a 59 or C-5. If you use those humbuckers, you're better off with a Cool Rails or lil 59 in the neck.

1 to everything GJ said.

I got a hot rails neck in my EBMM, and its damn good for legato/sweeps, but sucks for cleans. Considering my band does a lot of jazzy/clean breakdowns in our songs, I'm gonna have to see bout sellin this one and gettin a CR.

If you're not concerned with the clean tone though, I'd say its a great pickup for when you need to cut through the mix.

I have an Alder Tele that has a Tele Hotrails in the bridge and a Strat Neck Hotrails in the neck. the Neck is awesome, light pick attack and it's smooth and buttery, but dig in and it snarls. I have them hooked up to a 5 way MegaSwitch so get jangly tones when combining coils of the two. You could consider splitting the notch positions so you could still get a bit of quackyness when you want it.

I vote HotRails. You won't be disapointed!

OK, here's the deal. The Hot Rails is amazing for shred lead tones in the neck. It is definitely a much darker pickup, not bright. It will nail the legato quot;sounds like you're picking every note even when you're notquot; tone you might be looking for. Split, it sounds like a Hot Strat single coil. The Cool Rails is more like a PAF type humbucker. It is much more veratile, sounds better clean, more single coil-like when split, and can handle high gain quot;all right.quot; The Hot Rails will be muddy if you don't eq it just right. The Cool Rails is much more forgiving. The way I eq my amp, the Hot Rails is good for leads, and not much else. It can be way too muddy for rhythms, but that will depend on your setup. Articulate is not the word i would use to describe it, smooth under high gain is more like it.