Help with HSS combo

[balboala]

I've already got the JB in the bridge and hotrails in the neck..getting the other stk-1 in my jackson dk2 replaced so...any suggestions ?

These were some options i had going for me...

(H)JB (M)HotRails(n) (N)CoolRails(n) ?

(H)JB (M)CoolRails(n) (N)HotRails(n) ?

(H)JB (M)HotRails(n) (N)lil '59(n) ?

(H)JB (M)lil '59(n) (N)HotRails(n)

(H)JB (M)HotRails(n) (N)HotRails(n) ?

hmmm....

[ganzosrevenge]

I like choice #4. It's the standard choice for the Jackson SL3 if I recall correctly, and it's a wicked, yet balanced combination. The cool rails is really a rails that's somewhere between a vintage rails and a '59 power-wise. If you really want to get creative, you could also put an alternative 8 in the bridge to put a bit more firepower in it, although i'd just do hot / hot / JB to keep things simple.

Jason

[balboala]

alright thanks man...i think i will get the hotrails...and when i have some cash to spare maybe the invaders in the bridge...unhhh yeah!

[jimijames]

Well, if you were asking HSS in general, I would've told you: Two forum singles and a p-rails. It's what's going to be in my strat come christmas, and I'm telling you, It simply won't get more versatile than a strat that can get strat, telecaster, Les paul & Les paul junior sounds. Realistically, between those 4 you've got just about all the bases covered.
5. P-90, Single coil - My two favorites for cleans
4. P-90s in parallel, single coils in parallel, bringing us to quack city and the second most used position on my 5-way
3. Middle position - a dedicated telecaster sound neck + split coil bridge
2. Bridge split + middle
1. Bridge series (switchable to parallel)

So I'm going to need two push-pulls - one to tap the singles in the neck and middle, and one to switch the bridge from series to parallel. I'm going to use a blender/split pot so I can get just the bridge p-90 or the single coil without having to use them with other pickups.

So that's what you should do. On the one hand, if you look at the output of the guitar when it isn't tapped:
15k neck
16k middle
18k bridge
vs. tapped
7.5k neck
7.8k middle
8k rail coil, 10k bridge P-90

It'll be the best of all worlds, when I get it together it should be righteous indeed.

[Laughing Kookaburra]

well, if you were asking hss in general, i would've told you: Two forum singles and a p-rails. It's what's going to be in my strat come christmas, and i'm telling you, it simply won't get more versatile than a strat that can get strat, telecaster, les paul & les paul junior sounds. Realistically, between those 4 you've got just about all the bases covered.
5. P-90, single coil - my two favorites for cleans
4. P-90s in parallel, single coils in parallel, bringing us to quack city and the second most used position on my 5-way
3. Middle position - a dedicated telecaster sound neck + split coil bridge
2. Bridge split + middle
1. Bridge series (switchable to parallel)

so i'm going to need two push-pulls - one to tap the singles in the neck and middle, and one to switch the bridge from series to parallel. I'm going to use a blender/split pot so i can get just the bridge p-90 or the single coil without having to use them with other pickups.

So that's what you should do. On the one hand, if you look at the output of the guitar when it isn't tapped:
15k neck
16k middle
18k bridge
vs. Tapped
7.5k neck
7.8k middle
8k rail coil, 10k bridge p-90

it'll be the best of all worlds, when i get it together it should be righteous indeed.

+1

[SwedishHumbucker]

I´d put the Hotrails in the brigde position, has them on my strat (brigde & neck)
But i like a powerfull brigde pickup and a pickup for more clean sofer things in the neck and for middle i´d prefer something that goes well with 100% clean sound or a acoustic simulator..
That´s me hope it helped you in someway.
I my Les Paul i´d prefer a neck pickup with a maximum of 11kOhms DC and neck around 7-9

[balboala]

Well, if you were asking HSS in general, I would've told you: Two forum singles and a p-rails. It's what's going to be in my strat come christmas, and I'm telling you, It simply won't get more versatile than a strat that can get strat, telecaster, Les paul & Les paul junior sounds. Realistically, between those 4 you've got just about all the bases covered.
5. P-90, Single coil - My two favorites for cleans
4. P-90s in parallel, single coils in parallel, bringing us to quack city and the second most used position on my 5-way
3. Middle position - a dedicated telecaster sound neck + split coil bridge
2. Bridge split + middle
1. Bridge series (switchable to parallel)

So I'm going to need two push-pulls - one to tap the singles in the neck and middle, and one to switch the bridge from series to parallel. I'm going to use a blender/split pot so I can get just the bridge p-90 or the single coil without having to use them with other pickups.

So that's what you should do. On the one hand, if you look at the output of the guitar when it isn't tapped:
15k neck
16k middle
18k bridge
vs. tapped
7.5k neck
7.8k middle
8k rail coil, 10k bridge P-90

It'll be the best of all worlds, when I get it together it should be righteous indeed.

Thanks for the input...great advice...but i just purchased the hotrails and already have them in the neck position...im trying to make the best of it so figured id have to replace the middle pup too...so now im only thinking of putting in a cool rails in the neck and moving the hotrails to the middle OR getting another hotrails for the middle.

Im liking the idea of hotrails middle and neck but i also want a nice bluesy clean sound when i fiddle around...so what say any of u ?

[balboala]

I´d put the Hotrails in the brigde position, has them on my strat (brigde & neck)
But i like a powerfull brigde pickup and a pickup for more clean sofer things in the neck and for middle i´d prefer something that goes well with 100% clean sound or a acoustic simulator..
That´s me hope it helped you in someway.
I my Les Paul i´d prefer a neck pickup with a maximum of 11kOhms DC and neck around 7-9

My guitar's a HSS and has a JB in the bridge

[balboala]

or would it be better to put cool rails in the middle? just dont really like the idea of the neck overpowering the middle...i like it pretty balanced...then again im no expert...hope to get input form any of u with experience on these pups.

[A-Ro]

or would it be better to put cool rails in the middle? just dont really like the idea of the neck overpowering the middle...i like it pretty balanced...then again im no expert...hope to get input form any of u with experience on these pups.

From what I understand you want the middle pickup to have the least amount of output so when in positions 2 & 4 it isn't overpowering.

As long as the neck position is less output than the bridge and the middle pickup is less output than the neck and bridge you should be good to go.

So...I'd say cool rails in the middle.

[balboala]

alright thanks man...i always thought the the neck pickup should have least output...bridge hottest, middle hotter, neck hot...something like that..

[A-Ro]

This explains it a little better on the why...I had the same question a little while ago:

http://www.dimarzioforum.com/forum/i...hp?topic=770.0

[jimijames]

Well, if you want a old style vintage rails (or cool rails) in white, I have both of them and I'm trying to get rid of them. FWIW, the vintage rails would go a long way to making that guitar ridiculously versatile. HR-VR-JB can cover a lot of ground, more so than two hot rails. Having one hot rails and one cool in there will be a little more versatile, but for maximum versatility, I'd get a vintage rails for the middle position.