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I have a Schecter Diamond Series 006 Elite which has one single and one humbucker i am looking to replace. I was wondering if hot rails would be good for the single coil. If so, can anyone recommend a humbucker to pair it with? I want a sort of 80s metal sound like maiden and vai.

The Hot Rails neck will get you closer to that Dave Murray fluid tone... not all the way, but much closer than your stock pup. It's a powerful pickup, actually, I can get pinch harmonics out of mine, and if you play it distorted it isn't all that muddy like so many other neck pups.

I don't know the specs for your Schecter, but for the 80's bridge pup sound, I would recommend one of 3 pickups: The JB, the Distortion, or the Custom. If the Schecter is a mahogany w/maple, the JB might be too shrill, and the other two might be a better fit. If it's any other wood it would probably serve fine. My opinion is that the JB has nicer tone, the Distortion has more bottom and has better articulation in the bottom register, and the Custom is somewheres in the middle. Purely subjective though, as many folks play a JB in a Les Paul and love it, etc etc.

Find a vintage Gibson Dirty Fingers... perfect...

I have the exact same delema as quot;Motleyquot;. I'm putting a SH-6 in the bridge of my 006 Elite, but I'm not sure what pickup will work in the neck position (single coil size)... not just for the tone, but one that will fit. The guitar has a routed body (no pickguard). Any advice from you metal masters will be greatly appreciated!

WR

Hot Rails N is probably the most popular neck pickup for metal after the EMG-81 and 85. I've only used the bridge version but it sounds really heavy and crunchy and awesome.

Was yours installed in a pickguard or directly on the routed body?

If you want Maiden you have to go for a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, they used these earlier on and Adrian Smith still uses them.

I am in the same place wondering what to put in the neck. I am stuck between Hot Rails and a Dimarzio Pro Track.

I have a Duncan Distortion that I'll be putting in the bridge (SH-6). I have a matched set in my Jackson Rhodes and they scream! But my Schecter 006 Elite has a single coil for the neck.

I don't think the direct mount / pickguard issue is really important but, it was on a pickguard.

I believe the threaded mount holes are for a pickguard installation, so the pickup travels up and down while the adjustment screw stays in place. The non threaded mount holes are spring loaded underneath the pickup and the screw moves with the pickup as it travels. It makes sense anyways.