software

There was one of these (supposedly) in a used Strat that I bought. It doesn't say on the top, but I gather that it just was worn off a long time ago as the pickup is very dirty and even has some rush on the blades. The pickup appears to be quite old. From webpics, the pickup looks identical to a Hot Rails (other than no label); it has the same colored wires in the right positions and what not. Anyway, I couldn't find pics of the backs of them. What does the back of a Hot Rails look like? Anyone have pics? This one has a black bar magnet on the back and has a sticker that says BP on the bar.

Oh yeah, the pickup is 4-conductor (red, white, green, black).

does it sound sweet?

sounds like a hot rails to me.


Originally Posted by Adamdoes it sound sweet?

Not really. It sounded like a muddy piece of crap. But that's how Hot Rails sound, right?

The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.


Originally Posted by Robert S.The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.

Have you owned one before? They do have bar magnets. At least that's what it says on the website. It's not a terrible sounding pickup, but it's just not my thing. It was very dark when playing clean. With distortion it brightened up.

Anyway, I saw Hot Rails for sale on Ebay and it looked identical to mine (even the little sticker).This pickup is no doubt quite old. I'd say at least 5-10 years old, if not much more.


Originally Posted by Robert S.The sticker, bar magnet and tone do not sound like a Hot Rails to me.

The HotRails have a bar magnet between the rails.

It's been awhile since I handled one. I guess the magnet didn't stick in my head.

I for one am interrested in seing pics of both your old pup and pics of other members pups. Jus to compare the effects of time. It might be interresting to see a pick of one of the new Hot Rails to see if any differences would show.


Originally Posted by LSPI for one am interrested in seing pics of both your old pup and pics of other members pups. Jus to compare the effects of time. It might be interresting to see a pick of one of the new Hot Rails to see if any differences would show.
Here are some pics of mine:No, hotrails do not sound like a muddy piece of crap.

Looks like an old hotrails.
In what position did you install it? What is the resistance?


Originally Posted by Jeff5No, hotrails do not sound like a muddy piece of crap.

guess its all just a matter of who you ask .

I aint a big hot rails fan, but im pretty sure that we can confirm that that does indeed look like its a hot rails.


Originally Posted by Inge MalmsteinLooks like an old hotrails.
In what position did you install it? What is the resistance?I didn't install it; it was in a used guitar that I bought. It was in the bridge position. It wasn't a terrible pickup. With high gain it sounded pretty good for that super saturated metal sound. But clean, it was really dark and bassy.

I just picked up a hot rails and cool rails, and they look exactly the same except for the little sticker at the bottom of the pickup. If you remove the sticker there's no way of telling which is which.