Tell me about the Seymour Duncan Hot Rails

[Random Hero]

As a replacement bridge pickup in a Strat. Any good? I know it probably sucks clean, but I don't like any bridge bucker clean. How about on gains? Leads?

[buddastrat]

I don't like it but I'd guess it'd depend on what kind of tones you like. tight and crunchy? Nope. Thick and sludgy? Yep. If you like darker, fuzzy gain tones, it's your pickup. It's really, really hot and bassy.

[Random Hero]

Thanks. I'm actually looking for something really dark in a Strat bridge. I've found a Strat Plus with a Hot Rails in the bridge, so I'm really curious...

[speedtaco]

I think you should try a Seymour Duncan Little '59. I liked it, and it's darker. The hot rails that I had really sucked. I mean the tone was pretty bad. Just bad, clean or not. I took it out pretty quick. I've heard good things about Barden's, but I have never had 1st hand experience with them.

[amphead777]

I think the DiMarzio Chopper or the Pro Track would be my choice.

[pipedwho]

I had a 'strat' a while back with a Hot-rails in the bridge. That guitar sounded fantastic. It was a 1980's Fernandes strat copy, and I still regret selling that guitar. :Spank

The Hot-rails needs to be dialed in like a humbucker, otherwise you'll just end up with it fluffing out your amp. The trick is to turn down the bass.

In fact, I know a guy that likes this pickup so much that he has it mounted in the humbucker cavity on his Gibson SG. No pick-guard, just mounted like you'd mount a humbucker without the pickup ring. That guitar is a rock machine! :JAM

If you like any kind of rock, this pickup is great. If you like crystal clean glasslike cleans, it's probably not the pickup for you. :AOK

[scottywompas]

I use a hot rails in one of my guitars and a lil 59 in another. They both sound decent to me but the hot rails is hotter. It may be tough to find a balance between your hot rails and the stock neck and middle pups.

Scott

[Random Hero]

FWIW, the other two pickups are Lace Sensor Golds, although I may put a DiMarzio Cruiser in the neck?