Single coil size HB for Neck??

[ugameus]

I am looking to put a single coil sized humbucker in the neck position. I am leaning towards a cool rails. I have a hot rails in the middle. I am not sure if I should put another hot rails in the neck. I want the cool rails for the variety, but I also want something that will sound good with the coil split in the 4 position with the hot rails. Any suggestions?

[austin]

I liked the Dimarzio Chopper and ProTrack much better than the Cools rails in the neck position. They had much more "life" in them. I liked the Hot Rails in the neck for shreddier stuff (all of this was in combination with a PATB1 in the bridge btw), but he Cool Rails was just kind of "blah" to me. So, if you want to go Duncan-only, I'd get a Hot Rails, but I'd recommend checking out Dimarzio's offerings.

-Austin

[Diocletian]

Why not move the Hot Rails to the neck and put something else in the middle? Like a Cool or Vintage Rails?

[ugameus]

I am not opposed to moving the hot rails to the neck. But I am looking for something that will sound good WITH the hot rails, when both are coil split.

[ugameus]

bump

[ErikH]

Hot Rails for sure. I have a JB Jr./HRn/HRn setup in one of my Strats with a coil tap switch for all 3 pickups at once. The two Hot Rails sound great together when split. Sure, they don't sound like a classic Strat but they get the job done and that's all that matters. Putting that one coil tap switch in made that guitar extremely diverse when it comes to different sounds.

[ugameus]

mmmmmm.... I am not sure I want another hot rails. I will have to think about that. thanx though.

[uOpt]

Not the cool rails. I didn't like them at all, and they don't have enough meat to split.

I just tried a little Demon in the neck. Not too bad and can be split.

[alex1fly]

I just put a DMZ Cruiser in the neck of my strat yesterday. It sounds really, really similar to a single coil, especially on the unwound strings. The wound strings sound a little thicker, a little more like a humbucker. I'm still playing with heights, but I'm also using pretty old strings right now.

[ugameus]

I put the hot rails in the neck and it sounded like butt. Now I am seriously considering getting rid of this thing all together. I don't know what to do. I have been had gas for some pups from Bill and Becky. Maybe I will get a couple of L-200's and go for a more traditional strat sound. I don't know...decisions!

[ErikH]

Did you try a Hot Rails neck or a bridge. The neck version is a must. And don't put it too close to the strings or it will be too much. Back it away a bit, find the sweet spot. If your guitar is naturally dark, it may not work either.

[ugameus]

It is the neck/middle version. That was going to be my next mission, adjusting the height. I have a swamp ash body and maple neck and fingerboard...so it shouldn't be too dark.