Seymour Duncan P Rails

[brucie]

Hi all,

Another question about something I can't currently get access to. I have been looking at the P Rails pickups as a solution to multiple guitars. Has anyone used them? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!!

Neil

[Random Guitarist]

Is this a solution to multiple guitars for recording or playing live?
Are you aiming to have one guitar that can sound like a les paul or a strat at the flick of a switch?

If for recording of perfect imitations then I think you could be disappointed.
If you want a versatile guitar with a number of disctinct sounds of it's own which is very versatile live then you'd be onto a winner.

I built an SG a while ago with a p-rails in the bridge position and full switching of coil modes.
It records well and has a character of it's own but doesn't particularly sound like other guitars, but it has a good sound. Where it really comes into it's own is live,it's great being able to very quickly move through a set of coil configurations to tailor the sound.

Regards,

Grant.

[Dan LB]

+1. I agree with what has been said, I built a PRS style guitar with two p-rails in it.
I wired it with a mini toggle switch that switches between humbucker, rail coil and p90
coils for both pickups simultaneously, along with the regular pickup selector switch for
neck /both /bridge. Although I could have wired it for even more tonal variation, it is a
fantastic live guitar with ample tonal possibilities. It doesn't sound exactly like a strat or
a les Paul but has a beautiful sound of its own in all switch positions. I've never recorded
with it.

Dan

[brucie]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for that! Sorry should have said from the outset that it was for live use. I came across them after noticing that Ty Tabor of Kings X was using them to get different album vibes when touring. I basically have a guitar that is in desperate need of new pick ups and I thought they sounded (no pun intended) quite interesting. The idea of going from a stratish type tone to a humbuckerish to a P90ish type sound in one guitar seems like a fantastic idea, means not having to carry around my strat etc for gigging use, where I am more concerned on getting a tone similar rather than nailing the exact tone. That is to say, I am looking for a nice clean tone, a nice stratish blues tone, a classic rock tone and a driven tone.

Regardless of how they compare to the actual guitars, do you think that they sound good?

Thanks

Neil

[Random Guitarist]

No, not good, I'd say they sound excellent for what they cost and the versatility that they offer.

regards,

Grant.

[brucie]

Resurrecting this from the dead thread list! Basically I bit the bullet and got one of my guitars fitted with P-rails and all I can say is wow I am really glad that I did. as mentioned above, perhaps they aren't best sounding rail, P90 or humbucker you can find, but as a combination they are fantastic and to be honest I really like the open sound of the P90/rail humbucker combination, it feels and sound really open. They aren't gain monsters obviously but in a function band they are perfect as you can dial up a wide range of tones without needing to switch guitars!! Fantsastic!

I put together a couple of review clips in case anyone is interested in getting an idea of what they sound like!

http://youtu.be/ibJk4pLKqPU - Through clean channel of Blackstar HT-20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obvT13yzB0s - Through distorted channel of a Blackstar HT-20

All the best

Neil

[mick.n]

Nice.
What guitar is it you are playing m8?

[Findo]

I tried an esp with p-rails in it (pb-401??) and was really impressed. In fact I would have bought it had the neck not been a bit on the thin side for my liking.

[brucie]

Nice.
What guitar is it you are playing m8?

Hi Mick,

It is the strangest guitar really, it is the only guitar I have ever brought 2nd hand and which also isn't an Ibanez but I just couldn't put it down. It is an ESP Ltd something or other, I am not 100% sure what. It has been through the wars after falling forward at a gig and the neck split, but Steve at the guitar repair workshop in Manchester did and amazing job and it is simply a fantastic guitar I think. (I have also had the trem blocked now).

Thanks

Neil

[brucie]

I tried an esp with p-rails in it (pb-401??) and was really impressed. In fact I would have bought it had the neck not been a bit on the thin side for my liking.

Hi Findo,

That is quite interesting as I think the neck on mine is actually quite Strat like in profile. The fretboard is rather flat but the neck does have a bit of chunk to it, considerably thicker than the Ibanez wizard necks on the RG550s. But a long way of from a Les Paul

Thanks

Neil

[Findo]

yes - it wasn't especially thin, but I was after something more akin to a 50s LP shape. I expect the shop still has it - might give it another try during half term. ESP had never even been on my radar so I was pleasantly suprised!

[zenguitar]

And thanks for making the effort to update us on your findings Neil

Andy

[brucie]

ESP had never even been on my radar so I was pleasantly suprised!

Funny you should say that it was never on mine! I only picked it up in a shop to try out an amp....with no intention at all of buying a guitar, hence the reason for picking up a second hand one so that there was no chance I would buy it! (ooops the dangers of trying guitars!)

Andy - No worries, hope it was of some use to some one, I know I spent ages deliberating, as I was also considering Bare Knuckle VH or Miracle Man pickups (apparently they coil tap well), it is simple a really hard choice when you can't actually hear them and the web demos aren't great. Although having said that I do love my Di Marzio Evo;s which are in my Ibanezes (Ibani?)

All the best,

Neil

[. . . Delete This User . . .]

as a result of all this, i rather fancy a P-rail to go in the neck of one of my Jem , or maybe RG, , or a pair for my hard tail SZ

damn, more on the never ending shopping list.

[zenguitar]

Yep, I was curious too. Now I'm also in the tempted category.

A couple of P Rails and some creative wiring techniques (like those used in the Peavey Jerry Donahue model for example) could make for a very versatile guitar indeed.

Andy

[Findo]

the one I played had a small 3-position toggle switch that set both pups in either SC, p90 or HB mode. Nice and simple, but more useful for live playing would be a 3 position toggle switch for each pickup.

Then effectively you could be playing a guitar with a p90 at the bridge and a SC at the neck, or a HB at the bridge and a p90 at the neck etc. (I'd stop there - others might want series / parrallel and phase switching options...too much for me!)

[ef37a]

Many years ago when my son was into his "Angus Young" period I fitted a Hot rails in the bridge posistion and also had an extra fret fitted to his Eastern Block 100quid Strat. I also fitted a rake of mini-toggles that would select just about every pup combination, he seemed happy with the result.

Sadly the guitar and battery amp I also made were nicked whist busking in Paris!

Dave.

[brucie]

Ooops hope I am not guilty of spreading a bout of GAS

Great pickups, not for the metallers I would say....and having said that I am now looking to replace a set in a 7 string...something nice a hot me thinks.....Bare Knuckles website here I come.....unless anyone has any suggestions!

Thanks

Neil

[Findo]

Yep, I was curious too. Now I'm also in the tempted category.

A couple of P Rails and some creative wiring techniques (like those used in the Peavey Jerry Donahue model for example) could make for a very versatile guitar indeed.

Andy

just discovered these:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/accessories/triple-shot-mou/triple_shot_swi/
which look like a pretty smart solution...

[zenguitar]

Yep, I was curious too. Now I'm also in the tempted category.

A couple of P Rails and some creative wiring techniques (like those used in the Peavey Jerry Donahue model for example) could make for a very versatile guitar indeed.

Andy

just discovered these:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/accessories/triple-shot-mou/triple_shot_swi/
which look like a pretty smart solution...

And at first glance they have hacking potential too

Andy