If i was to replace my 3 stock fender pickups on my MIM Strat, and get Seymour Duncan Hotrails placed in both the bridge and neck position, would that allow me to play metallica, and other similar music styles ? what would be a good middle pickup choice ?

Yes, it would!

You'd need to tweak the amp settings a bit because the Hot Rails sound a bit brighter than regular sized humbuckers but yes, it'll work.

To be honest, I would recommend 2x Hot Rails plus 1x JB Junior at the bridge.

I'm a big fan of this pickup configuration and I played Iron Maiden, AC DC and other rock and metal stuff with it.

Dunno if it would make sense to combine Rails with a standard SC in the middle. I don't think so, because the Duncans have a much higher output, the inbetween positions might sound a bit weak then.

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

playing something like metallica i doubt the middle pickup is even needed. im sure you can find a suitably hot SC to put in the gap though if you want.

I would say one thing about this. You will lose your Strat's signature sound if you do this. I bought a Mexican Strat three years ago on eBay that had three Seymour Duncans installed. These pickups were very high output and I wasn't able to get anything that resembled the sound of a Strat out of the Guitar. If you are going to be playing metal and hard rock then these pickups will suit you perfectly but for anything clean they won't. Basically, you'll be taking your Guitar from one extreme to the other.

_________________
2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

Actually, something else you could consider would be a pickup booster pedal.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/s ... pickup_bo/

I was all set to put a Seymour Duncan little 59 stacked humbucker in the bridge of my Jeff Beck Strat as I was looking for some meant from my bridge picjup but I chickened out at the last minute. I just couldn't do that to the Guitar. A friend of mine who owns a record shop and was going to do the pickup replacement for me recommended the pickup booster pedal from Seymour Duncan. Basically it boosts the sound of a single coil pickup and makes it sound like a humbucker. I checked out some reviews on YouTube, liked what I saw and called over to my friends shop to check out the pedal. It cost me €89 and is one of the best pieces of Guitar gear I've bought. It also meant that I didn't have to change anything on my Jeff Beck Strat. I believe Rory Gallagher used one of these and I've always marveled at the tones he got out of his legendary Strat.

_________________
2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

Okay i will look at the JB, Hotrails combo

I would rather just switch out the pickups once and for all, but that is a good idea no doubt.

Does anybody know which dual rail pickups would let me get the metallica tone, but as well sound nice clean ??

_________________

With my Strat and Tele, on a clean channel, the pedal will give you more overdrive as well as volume and you can fine tune it to your liking. On a more dirty channel you'll get even more from the pedal.

I have a Gibson ES-335 which has two classic 57 humbuckers. With the pedal on you get more volume but you also get more clarity and resonance. Some people think Gibson humbuckers can be a little muddy but this cleans it up beautifully. It also gives more clarity on a dirty channel while keeping the power.

_________________
2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

I had a good strat years ago that i put a hot rails in the bridge, with the coil tap on one of the tone controls i think. Anyway it had a heavy great tone and you want the single coil sound just pull up on the pot and there you have it.

Wish i hadn't traded that guitar in, it was a cream/yellow maple neck Japanese strat and it was really good.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

The Iron Maiden Stratocaster does bear those pickups. Alas, it was discontinued.

How much does the pedal cost ??

It cost me €89. Not sure what it costs for you locally.

_________________
2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

StratFreak:
I've an SSS Strat pictured below that was modified with
three (3) Seymour Duncan Hot Rails. They sound beautiful together.
They're matched so the blending of switch positions #2 or #4 provide
a great mixing combination of two "MATCHED" pickups working well together.



Super Strat w/three (3) Seymour Duncan Hotrails, modified switching, in/out phase options:




Super Strat w/three (3) Seymour Duncan Hotrails, modified switching, in/out phase options:





Stratfreak:
Following is another of my Super Strats with HSH convertied to HHH:
Bridge = Super Distortion III Demarzio Humbucker
Middle = Guitar Fetish 12k Stacked Humbucker (if that is the right term)
Neck = Humbucker from Hell Demarzio.

The problem is that these are not matched well and I'll have to remove the
HFHell and get a more powerful neck humbucker to match the middle GFS 12k.





Therefore, StratFreak, my suggestion to you is to make sure the three are matched
with the middle as well as the switch positon settings #2 & #4.

Hope this helps. Toppscore

_________________

Moonface has a nice looking Strat.
Is his a particular Fender model,
or customized after factory sale?
Or, is he playing his signature Strat?

_________________