Ive been thinking about trying an MIM HSS so I could get the humbucker sounds on occasion when I want to play some evil metal with my son without spending too much. Ive tried about a dozen but cant find one that feels and plays as good as my beloved American Standard. I cant even find another American standard that seems as nice as my used prized MIA strat so I have decided maybe a hotrail at the bridge would pacify my occasional urge to pretend Im Kerry king for an hour or two
Any input from anyone that has one would be much appreciated. If they live up to the advertising it may be a cheap way and I could still have it on the guitar that I play better then any other.

I bought a MIM Deluxe Strat on ebay last year that had three hot rails pickups on it. Because I never owned a Fender Strat before, I thought they were OK. Then I bought another Strat, this time a MIM HSS Standard Strat and I could not believe how sweet and clean the sound was from the stock pickups it had. The Strat with the Hot rails was sold a week later. Since then, I have also acquired a USA Deluxe Strat. It's all down to personal preference but I buy a Strat for it's beautiful clean sound. If you are looking for the sound that hot rails gives you, buy a Jackson or a Charvelle.

i agree with the post above. however, i just installed a hotrail in mine for the same reason you describe. it's dirtier on the heavy stuff with more sustain than the original pickup. i find it has a great sound on my clean channel also. but like the above post, it just doesn't have that classic strat sound anymore. it's all about your preference.

It's good for metal or any other heavy distorted tones you're looking for. I've had a hot rail in my bridge position for several years now and it's consistently given me a good solid rock tone which I think it's made for. For clean tones though, when compared to stock fender single coils, I find it very muddy. Aside from that, it'll put some evil in your metal playing!

Love em', can make your guitar sing.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Well, I can't really speak to "metal" but I have a set of the Duncan "Scorcher Rails" (the import version of the Hot Rails) in my '96 MIM and I -LOVE- them! I play mostly classic rock, blues and oldies and I can get most of the tones I want out of these. Add a compressor and crank up the distortion and I can get some really sweet "vintage metal" ala Black Sabbath as well...very nice all around sound in my book.

Now if you're looking to put just one in the bridge position, I would add that you're likely to end up with a seriously mis-matched output. Those Duncan rails (import or US) are really HOT pickups. For some folks this isn't a problem at all...if for example you do most of your playing on the neck or neck/mid pickups and you're just looking for something "extra" to get your rocks off, then it's not really a problem. However for some folks, it -can- be really annoying. Either way, it's something to be aware of.

Personally I just don't think you can really go wrong with Duncans...if you're looking for something with more "edge" than a traditional Strat pickup, it's definitely worth a try in my book.



Peace,
Jim

Ok...I'm -NOT- trying to be rude here but...I honestly have to say that "sweet and clean" is -NOT- the only thing a Strat is good for! As I just told the OP there, I have Duncan's in my '96 MIM and I love it! There's simply no reason a person should have to go out and buy a Jackson or Charvelle just to get a "dirty" sound, especially if they -LIKE- Strats. I'm sorry but that really just doesn't make any sense to me. To me one of the really beautiful things about a Strat is just how flexible they are...take your favorite Strat, swap out the pickups and it sounds like a completely different guitar! To me that's like saying that you can -only- use a Strat for such and such kind of music and you can only use a Gibson for such and such music and you can only use a Charvelle or a Jackson for metal...and that's just simply soooooo -NOT- true. Come on...honestly...can you imagine if someone like Hendrix had of only tried to get a "clean" sound out of his Strats?? Clapton? SRV? Gilmour???

Yea, the stock sound of a decent set of traditional Strat pickups -is- nice for that good clean sound but that should -never- be the only thing a Strat is good for...why limit one's self or one's guitar like that?

Just my own personal opinion as always,
Jim

(Sorry but I just really felt that needed to be said)

STRATS + MAIDEN = METAL

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People say I'm a nice guy, I can't figure why

Thank you! That's an awesome pic! Finally found some other Maiden-fans here I've been thinkin' of Hot Rails to neck position, but im fine with my SCN's

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Fender American DLX Hss Strat RWOP->
Biyang OD-8->
Marshall JCM800 4211 -combo->
THE sound;)

I agree. The point is I like the strat I have and use the normal clean sound 99% of the time. If I was wanting to play nothing but metal I would get a guitar with humbuckers and all the other high speed low drag stuff. I was just asking about adding a hot rail to the bridge position on the guitar I have. I was wanting some opinions from the guys that have tried them. I usually play on the middle and neck pickups anyway. The post about the mismatching I will need to consider. Still havent made up my mind. I guess if I dont like it I could always put it back to stock..

Ever try Lace Sensors? I play metal 90% of the time and those pups are perfect. For everything really.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

hey does the guitar body routed for HSH or HSS routing, if the first one then look for humbuckers, if its the second one then go with hot rails.

I picked up the hot rails pickup. Going to attempt to install it tonight after I have a few more beers.. J/K
Seriously though I will try to install the new bridge pickup tonight. Thanks for all of the advice guys.

Well I got it done and it works. Wife is sleeping so I cant crank it to test it out but it sounds pretty good with my little practice amp. I will try it with a bigger amp with some overdrive in the morning.

Im keeping the hot rails. Kind of fun having that option on the strat. sounds pretty good even clean