I have had hot rails in the neck position of a few of my guitars (most notably the Ibanez RBM models I used to play) but never really depended on them for the grinding or heavy chunka chunk I need out of a bridge pickup.
I have been looking at Duncan Hot Rails, JB Junior, Lil 59 as well as other, cheaper brands like GFS Lil Killers, Artec Alnico Rails and Mighty Mite hot Rails. I have listened to amny online samples but it really is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately judge a pickup through onlone mp3 or even worse Youtube videos.
Anyone chiming in on their experience with any of the above pickups would be appreciated.
I will be direct mounting the pickup in a One piece Warmoth swamp ash body already routed for 3 singles. Need the ability to play anything from Metallica to Floyd, etc...
I installed a GFS Lil Puncher in the bridge of my Aerodyne Tele hoping to get rid of the extreme brightness and somewhat thin sound of the original pu. The Lil Puncher helped considerably but it did not mesmerize me like I was hoping. I'm not sure anything in the bridge of a Tele would be of my liking as it turns out.
I can't comment on the neck position but my experience with GuitarFetish was problem free.
My fear is that I just won't be able to get ANY single sized humbucker to sound as good as the full sized. Then I will have to get the cavity routed for the real deal, and then touch up the finish where the routing is done...
I just installed a Little 59 in the bridge position of a mexi strat, for the guy who bought my Classic 30. I didn't get a lot of time to check it out afterwards but it sounded pretty good in my limited testing. I did have to sand out the pickup hole to get it in, which is what added time to the install and took away from me having time to play it.
Dimarzio Tone Zone S (a single spaced Tone Zone). It's voiced a little different than a standard Tone Zone so it will work better with Strat singles.
JB Junior would be a good one also.
spaivxx — Dec 30, 2008My fear is that I just won't be able to get ANY single sized humbucker to sound as good as the full sized. Then I will have to get the cavity routed for the real deal, and then touch up the finish where the routing is done...
I have 2 little 59'ers in one guitar and it rocks, in the same guitar I have a full sized Duncan Distortion Hbbkr in the rear and the 2 Little 59'ers middle and front And they stand up to the distortion very well.
The way I see it....if it's good enough for Andy Timmons.....it's good enough for me.
The Nez has a Cruiser(neck) in the middle position.
It's a GREAT pick up. I use it a lot. Splits well and plays well with others.
I have a lil'59 in the bridge of my Strat Plus. It's a little brighter than the full sized 'bucker in the Levinson but then the Levinson is a much richer sounding axe full stop.
I'd say that it really depends on what you install in the other 2 positions. The Fender has SD Duckbuckers in the middle and neck and the volume/gain jump when you switch to the 59'er is very pronounced. The other thing that may effect the way I hear it is that I have wired to a "HOT" switch. In other words, it doesn't matter where the selecter swithch/volume/tone controls are set, flick the switch and you get full output of the 59'er direct to the output jack. Result......NO tone sapping interferance whatsoever. You CAN hear the difference between sending the bridge pup through the vol/tone and bypassing them.
I have to say that I'm really happy with the sound/crunch/output of the 59'er to the point where I may get a neck position one to swap with the Duckbucker that's in there right now. Depends whether I keep the strat or loose it and go all out to get another 'Nez Artist........
Hope this helps Shaun. If you want to know how my Strat is wired to give you these options, let me know and I'll post details/diagrams here.