Hot Rails pickups are a popular choice for guitar players who are looking for a high-output pickup with a single-coil sound. They are designed to fit in a standard Stratocaster pickup cavity, and they provide a thicker, more aggressive tone than traditional single-coil pickups. However, installing Hot Rails pickups requires some basic knowledge of guitar wiring. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to wiring Hot Rails pickups, as well as some frequently asked questions about this popular pickup.
What is a Hot Rails pickup?
Before we dive into the wiring diagram, let’s take a closer look at what makes Hot Rails pickups unique. Hot Rails pickups are designed by Seymour Duncan, a leading manufacturer of guitar pickups. They are a humbucker-sized single-coil pickup, which means that they have the same dimensions as a humbucker pickup but they are wired like a single-coil pickup. This design allows the Hot Rails to provide a high-output, humbucker-like sound with the clarity and definition of a single-coil pickup.
One of the key features of Hot Rails pickups is their ceramic magnets. Ceramic magnets are known for their strong magnetic pull, which means that they can produce a strong and dynamic signal. The Hot Rails also has a high DC resistance, which contributes to its high-output sound. The combination of the ceramic magnets and high DC resistance is what gives the Hot Rails its distinctive tone.
Wiring Hot Rails pickups
Now that we understand what makes Hot Rails pickups unique, let’s look at how to wire them. The wiring diagram below shows how to wire a set of Hot Rails pickups in a Stratocaster guitar.
| Hot Rails wiring diagram |
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As you can see from the diagram, there are three Hot Rails pickups: one in the neck position, one in the middle position, and one in the bridge position. Each pickup has two hot wires, a ground wire, and a bare wire. The hot wires are connected to the pickup switch, which allows you to select different pickup combinations. The ground wires are connected to the back of the volume pot, which provides a ground for the entire circuit.
The bare wires are used to shield the pickup signal from interference. They are connected to the back of the volume pot as well as the bridge, which helps to reduce noise and hum. The wiring diagram for the Hot Rails pickups may seem complicated at first, but it is actually quite simple once you understand the basic principles of guitar wiring.
FAQ
1. Can I install Hot Rails pickups in any guitar?
Hot Rails pickups are designed to fit in a standard Stratocaster pickup cavity, but they can also be installed in other guitars with some modifications. However, you will need to make sure that the pickups are compatible with your guitar’s wiring and electronics before you attempt to install them.
2. How do Hot Rails pickups compare to other high-output pickups?
Hot Rails pickups are known for their high-output sound, which makes them a popular choice for rock and metal guitar players. They are similar in tone to other high-output pickups like the Seymour Duncan JB and DiMarzio Super Distortion, but they have a unique single-coil sound that sets them apart.
3. Can I wire Hot Rails pickups in parallel?
Yes, you can wire Hot Rails pickups in parallel to create a brighter, more transparent sound. To wire them in parallel, you will need to connect the two hot wires from each pickup in parallel to the pickup switch. This will create a brighter and more transparent sound compared to wiring the pickups in series.
4. Can I use a push-pull pot to split the coils on a Hot Rails pickup?
Yes, you can use a push-pull pot to split the coils on a Hot Rails pickup. This will allow you to switch between a single-coil sound and a humbucker sound, which can be useful for creating different tones and textures. To split the coils on a Hot Rails pickup, you will need to connect the red and white wires to the push-pull pot and then connect the black and green wires to ground.
5. What is the output of a Hot Rails pickup?
The output of a Hot Rails pickup varies depending on the model and the position. The neck and middle position pickups have a slightly lower output than the bridge position pickup, which is designed for high gain and distortion. However, all three pickups have a high-output sound that is ideal for rock and metal music.
Conclusion
Hot Rails pickups are a popular choice for guitar players who are looking for a high-output sound with a single-coil tone. Wiring Hot Rails pickups requires some basic knowledge of guitar wiring, but it is a straightforward process that can be accomplished with some basic tools and a little patience. Hopefully, this article has provided you with a better understanding of Hot Rails pickups and how to wire them in your guitar.
