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I just added another Cool Rails to the neck of my Strat-a-clone.

My cheapy camera again:

Strat with Cool Rails

It just barely edges out the Lil 59 that was in there. They're very close, but the CR seems to have a bit more bite . . . maybe quot;punchquot;. Perhaps its a bit more midrange content. They both seem to blend nicely together, and with the SSL-6 in the middle.

The CR's in the neck and bridge look great together. The Custom looks quot;okquot; in the middle. The CR's are definitely here to stay. I may try something else in the middle though. I've got a Hot Stack on the way, so we'll see how that does.

In the mean time, I'm loving this combo. Cool Rails are . . . well, cool.

Artie

I always wanted a beefier Strat bridge pickup, so I tried a cool rails. It is definitely a great pickup. It wasn't what I was looking for though. I'm saving it for another guitar

cool - enjoy!!

I'm definitely loving the cool rails in the neck of my PV. They're some sweet pickups.


Originally Posted by JacksonMIAI'm definitely loving the cool rails in the neck of my PV. They're some sweet pickups.

Yup . . . and pretty quot;hotquot; too. I can't imagine what a Hot Rails would sound like.

btw - For those of you who use Cool Rails, do you tend to have them adjusted high, or low, in the pickguard?

Thanks;
Artie

Artie,

Looks good and your timing is great! I was just wondering how a Cool Rails neck and Cool Rails bridge would work to beef up my Texas Special Strat (Surf Pearl alder body, 1-peice maple neck). I'm thinking about leaving the middle Texas Special in place or replacing it with a spare SSL-1 that I have lying around. I can load them in either a parchment colored pickguard or an aged pearl pickguard, depending on how white the CR bobbins are. Do the CR's still sound stratty? I'm looking for more beef, could care less about the notch positions, but don't want a muddy neck tone. Whaddya think?

I have a Cool Rails in the bridge position of my 73' Strat. I like it because it has some nice cut through over the vintage pickups but doesn't get overly twitchy, it still retains alot of the smoothness without becoming brittle or gain-y. It plays really nicely with the other two original pickups...it's not TOO loud of a pickup.


Originally Posted by KelseyDo the CR's still sound stratty? I'm looking for more beef, could care less about the notch positions, but don't want a muddy neck tone. Whaddya think?

Thats actually a tough question. If I had a bonafide Fender, I'd go with Lew's quot;Ultimate Stratquot; recommendations - ala, Surfers and the bridge de jour. (Twangbanger, probably?)

But for a Strat-copy, or any 3-pup axe, I like to try other sounds. quot;Strattyquot; is a somewhat vague term, and the Cool Rails are appropriately, vaguely Stratty. They're definitely more Strat than they are LP, but they aren't exactly what you'ld call the quot;singlesquot; sound. Don't get me wrong - I love 'em. But they wouldn't be what I'd choose for quot;classicquot; Strat sound.

When I have all three pups on, I do get a great quot;Sultans of Swingquot; type tone. Sorry if I'm being vague, or unclear. Its a hard question to answer for someone else.

Artie

I have a cool rail in the neck of my strat.... and i dig it , i tend to adjust them slightly higher but not too high.


Originally Posted by MewmenderI have a cool rail in the neck of my strat.... and i dig it , i tend to adjust them slightly higher but not too high.

Thats good to hear. So far, thats exactly how I have mine.


Originally Posted by ArtieToobtw - For those of you who use Cool Rails, do you tend to have them adjusted high, or low, in the pickguard?

Thanks;
Artie

I had to back mine off a bit on the low side because there was just too much bass (which is strange, because I like bass ). Otherwise I guess it's about in the middle, maybe a hair high.

As for the hot rail, I have it in the middle and rarely use it by itself. It has some sweet, almost funky tones when combined with the CC in the bridge, though.

Artie, I think you are dead on on your comment on the CR having a bit more girth in the mid-section than the 59. It seems to cut pretty well, and despite it's name, has a quot;hotterquot; output and a slightly quot;warmquot; tone.

Of all my guitars, my favorite neck tone has always been the CRn in my strat clone. It simply has a great sweet, singing tone. FWIW, I have mine backed down a little bit right now, mostly to help with an output mismatch with the VR in the middle.

I also agree that the rails series SCs have a bit of strat flair, but you'll never mistake them for a true strat tone. Even the notch postitions pay homage to the classic Fender notch position tones, but the sound is more quot;modernquot; I suppose. Not really glassy or bright, but not ice-pickey either.


Originally Posted by MikeSI also agree that the rails series SCs have a bit of strat flair, but you'll never mistake them for a true strat tone. Even the notch postitions pay homage to the classic Fender notch position tones, but the sound is more quot;modernquot; I suppose. Not really glassy or bright, but not ice-pickey either.

I couldn't have said it better myself.


Originally Posted by MikeSFWIW, I have mine backed down a little bit right now, mostly to help with an output mismatch with the VR in the middle.

I've been wanting to try a VR also. What I want to do first, though, is try the CR in parallel. Its specs are pretty close to the VR. Hopefully, I'll get around to it this weekend.

What will be funny is, if I do the VR thing, I'll have ended up with the same basic configuration that forum bro Travis recommended to me about a year ago.

Artie

This is an interesting discussion... I am currently using a Hot Rail in the bridge and couldn't be happier. I put a Vintage Rail in the neck and planning a Cool Rail for the middle (right now it's still stock).

But after reading some of the above comments, perhaps the Vintage would be better in the middle with the Cool in the neck. I don't know.

Rick


Originally Posted by RW James. . . perhaps the Vintage would be better in the middle with the Cool in the neck. I don't know.

Rick

Yeah, I'm gonna have to get a Vintage Rails. The difference between the CR and VR used to be that the VR was factory wired in parallel, while the CR was wired in series. However, the new VR's come as 4-conductor, so they may sound closer to the same.

I'll just have to get one and compare them both in series, and in parallel.
Could be a fun test.