P-Rails...is it supposed to sound like this??

[GuitarDoc]

I have been using the original P-rails since they first came out. I installed them in a 2001 Epi LP and thay have been excellent. I really like the series humbucker mode fro most of the music I play, but not so much for clean stuff. I also like the P90 and parallel sounds as well. But......

I just purchased a Epi LP Pro/fx with a Floyd Rose bridge. I am not a fan of the stock Epi pickups and have been considering my options including the JB/Jazz, JB/59, and Custom/59. I love Seymour duncan pickups. I have Alnico II's in a Gibson LP and the JB/Jazz in a Jackson. So I thought why not try the P-rails in this guitar?

The result was a dark series humbuckers in the bridge. It seemed that the rail became better and the P90 sounded about the same, maybe a little darker. The neck pickup was about the same. Ssearching I found this thread. So I decided to flip the bridge around so that the rail was closer to the Floyd. Definately decreased the darkness. It is the tyipical distortion sound I was looking for but still a little dark and the bass note aren't quite what I prefer, but some very usable tones. The P90 is about the same and the rail became even better.

I will probably put these back in the other guitar, but the results were good flipping the pickup. I have thought about replacing the .47 cap with a .22 or .20 but I just don't think this is the pickup I want for this guitar. Close, but not quite.

I think the problem with this guitar compared to my other fixed bridge is the distance from the bridge intonation point to the pole pieces. On the Floyd the pole pieces are a bit further away which tends to make it sound closer to the bridge pickup and darker. In fact, when playing with both prails active in series the sound is very close to of the neck position only. Overall in all modes, before turning the pu around there just wasn't enough distinction between the neck and bridge (I am not saying none, just not the usual). With I switched it is better, but still not quite what I want.

So, what do you think, JB or Custom? I want a fairly tight (not like the spongier alinico II) bridge pickup with increased output over say a 59 (not death metal output). I typically like lower output alnico II pickups like 57 classics. This guitar needs the qualities I like in the prails, higher output, great sustain, and excellent harmonics, but not dark. I kind of think this guitar is a little dark already.

If the P-Rails is too dark in your guitar, try putting in an A4 mag next to the P-90 coil.

Do you have the P-Rails standard or hot version? If you have the hot version, then that is your problem. It can be very dark sounding with those 2 A8 mags. Replace at least the P-90 A8 with an A5 or even an A4 and you should be good to go (assuming that you have it mounted with the rail coil toward the bridge). If it's still too dark, replace the rail coil's A8 with an A5.

[GuitarDoc]

PS...definitely replace the .047 cap with a .022 or .015. The .047 is too muddy.

[dmkozak]

I hate to be the guy who's late to the party, but to all the "flippers", did you flip the neck pickup as well as the bridge, or just the bridge? thanks.

Frank Falco, any thoughts on flipping the neck (so the rail is closer to the neck)?

[GuitarDoc]

I hate to be the guy who's late to the party, but to all the "flippers", did you flip the neck pickup as well as the bridge, or just the bridge? thanks.

Frank Falco, any thoughts on flipping the neck (so the rail is closer to the neck)?

It doesn't make much difference flipping the neck pup, but it depends on your guitar...if it's got 24 frets. It will make a bigger difference with the rail coil than the P-90.