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.
