i just got a squier standard strat today off a fella for very little money. i want strat a humbucker in the bridge, but wanna get strat sounds too. the jb jr is the one for me im sure. sounds like Alice i chains's facelift to me. love that tone!
I prefer the JB Jr. It just sounds like the music of the 70's and 80's to me. I'm old... The JB just seems like it would cover more musical styles than the Hot Rail... Then again, it is hard to make a judgement from a RUclips video playing through laptop speakers. I would prefer to hear them in person. But I still think I would prefer the JB Jr.
I came to this video being rather sceptical as to if I would use a single coil sized bridge pickup, especially for metal but you convinced me either of these would do it really well.
I have played both in different guitars, and own the regular JB in two guitars, i would say Hot Rails is good for metal and has a pleasant scooped tone to it. However, the Hot Rails also is nearly impossible to get a clean tone on, unless your amp has a ton of clean headroom, and even still it just sounds muddy and washed out on clean, The JB jr. is a slightly lower output version of the JB, but has a tighter less muddy/thinner articulate response than a standard JB, it sounds good, and from my memory actually has a better clean tone than the regular JB, I think in part due to the tighter aperture of the pole pieces together, I agree it sounds like an overdriven single coil here but with the right distortion doesn't sound that way at all, and is very good for tight rhythm playing. When I played it, it was in an Iron Maiden Strat, and it sounded very good, like a tighter version of the regular JB with all of the rich harmonic content that the JB is known for.
+Metallica Fan Eek dude. Are you just starting out as well? I haven't heard much good about any of the frontmans. How do you like it? The Tele on the other hand, damn. I love me some Tele's. I do prefer strats though. And since I was a prick and judged your gear, here's mine so you can judge me. Squier vintage modified Strat, Orange micro dark. No cab... At least you thought far enough ahead to get a goddamn speaker... Hope you're enjoying your playing!
I have a hotrails in the bridge of my 08 mim roadhouse strat and I play on a Marshall dsl15c The clean sound is pretty nice. Actually I left the middle and neck mim pups in cuz it’s so versatile and amazing sounding. I’m pretty sure I got super lucky and just found a guitar that’s got some good mojo to it though lol
You can make the Hot Rails sound "cleaner" by adding a series/parallel switch. It's normally in series so it sounds really fat but in parallel, the tone will clean up considerably.
I was literally on my way to go buy a JB Jr bridge pickup but wasn't too sure until I watched this video,I decided on the hot rail,that's the sound I was looking for,thanks for the video
+ozweepay What would be a better pickup for the neck position on a Yamaha Pacifica 112v? Seymour Duncan JB jr or DiMarzio DP225 BC-1? I' ve got a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge position.
+Filip Jakirac Sorry for the late reply. I'm not sure about the pickup for the neck you mentioned, but look at the Ohm rating on it. The neck pickup doesn't need to be nearly as powerful as your bridge pickup. The Invader is very powerful. Get a neck pickup with a lower power rating, and you'll find they blend nicely when switching between them.
I've had both in the bridge pos over the years. Ended up preferring the JBjr by a lot. My present Strat has JBjr, Duckbucker, and Vintage Rails. Seymour Duncan makes some fine pickups.
Great demo!!🤘. I’ve played a Hot Rails in my Strat since ‘96 and through listening to my recordings, it’s always a little buzzy in the mix, yet it’s seriously raucous!! Either way, Duncan pick ups Rock!!
Great demo, thanks. Being a vintage guy, I like the clarity/definition of the JB Jr. better, but I could see where the metal guys might go for the hot rails for that bigger low end and scooped sound. I subscribed.
Thanks for doing the video. I think you helped me confirm that I'm more of a Hot Rails kind of guy. One note: I don't understand going through all the trouble to make this video and not including a clean tone test. I guess some people only ever play distorted? In any case, it's easier to hear the actual qualities of the pickups without the distortion, as boring (I'm guessing) as that might seem to some people.
Hi thanks for the reply. Yes, as someone mentioned earlier, I decided to eschew a clean sound in this, as the pickups are high output. Most rock/metal players are looking for the hottest sounding pickup, and it would have been fruitless to show a clean tone, since most people by high output pickups for just that, high output sound. There’s other pickups that do a much better job at clean tone, so these are not the pickups you would want for that.
that's what Dave Murray of Iron Maiden uses , 2 hot rails in neck and bridge and JB in the middle..originally he used 3 x hot rails but then switched for the clean tones of the JB.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you appreciated the video. All my full spaced humbuckers are JBs. But I'm torn between the hotrails and the JB single sized. What kind of music do you play?
+ozweepay I play everything from blues to hard rock on the JB Junior,. I find it has a great variety of tones, I actually modified a JB Junior to fit into their bridge of my telecaster works great with a vintage stack neck
Screw the debating Just put in both! Hot Rails in the bridge for that snarling metal lead or rhythm, and JB Jr. for that singing lead tone like Slash, or turn it down to get some nice bluesy tones
cae pahpasay Actually I think Dave Murray from Iron Maiden has a strat with 2 Hot Rails in the neck and bridge, and also a single JB junior in the middle www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratDMSB?adpos=1o1&creative=55280229001&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&product_id=StratDMSB&gclid=CjwKEAjwtNbABRCsqO7J0_uJxWYSJAAiVo5LsPgShyWVz-c4F6zs4AsMwCCrwCQSfWG-igxbHM6f5xoCZ5_w_wcB Who knows maybe there are demos on this
That looks amazing!! I never knew this about their (Iron Maiden) guitars, or at least Murray's. Only recalled seeing strat (s) and never really bothered to take a closer look. WOW. Imagine what other destruction can be done with that (setup), haha. Now I have to dig up their songs from my music library. Thanks for link man \m/
What I actually did on my strat is I put the JB JR Neck pickup in the Bridge position - It's got around 11 K resistance, so basically I got the best of both worlds - 15 K and above is really too much for me ... it works like a charm :)
The hot rails demos were in a slightly flatter tuning than the JB Jr, and at first, it freaked my ears out, lol. But yeah, overall I'm a big fan of the JB. Great pickups!
The real bit of info that was left out was which pickup was in the guitar when you set your EQ. I can make crappy pickups sound good, with proper EQ, and then swap them for known badass pickups, not change my settings, making the badass pickups sounds like trash.
I have 2 pickguards - 1 with Duncan everything axe (jbjr, lil59) and 1 with hot rails, and cool rails. For harder rock the rails is better. I do find that on bends, the jbjr design loses signal due to small poles. With rails, bends sound much better.
@@ACMusicland They are both so good! I actually have a JB Jr in a SSS Fender. It's my best guitar. If I just played metal I would lean towards the HR but the bands I play in also go country and classic rock so for me the JB is the one. I have also never felt like it was lacking when we do metal. Even though it's not as gainy it still cuts and sounds awesome. I usually run it through H&K GM 36, old Peavey combo, Boss GT1000 or HX Stomp XL for reference.
thanks for that I have a fullsize JB in an 80's Japanese Squier strat I bought in the 90's, it's just the JB at the bridge, just a volume pot and a Schaller Floyd Rose and Schaller tuners, the guy who bought the guitar new then sold it to me did the custom work on it. Of the three strats I own (a Fender MIM 70s reissue and an Ibanez Prestige) it's the one I wouldn't sell. For those wondering about the clean tone, the Squier I have looks like an 80's shredder but sounds great clean, very much in the middle, not too high or low considering putting new pickups in the 70's reissue and was thinking HotRails but after watching this I'd go for either a JB Jr or a Quarter Pounder, the HR had a great on the verge of out of control sound but the JB Jr was sweeter and clearer also wanting a maple boarded strat as all three are rosewood, will sell the Ibanez, an Epi Les Paul and a handbuilt tele thinline, maybe my Ibanez 1975/76 protype V, buy a maple boarded strat and call it a day (unless I find a Yamaha SG 1500...)
Thanks man, was wondering about these 2 in my bridge. Have you the tone control connected to the bridge on both pickups? If so, have you the tone on 10 or lower? Looking for a strat bridge HB, but unsure whether to connect tone or not (like eddie van halen, no tone)
Great video, I like the JB Jr bridge pick up for my MIM Standard Strat, but I want to know your opinion about if the change of this pick up over the one that came with my guitar would make a difference? or do I need the kind of hears the other comentators have to notice it? Thanks!
You will definitely notice the difference between your stock pickup and the JB Jr if you install it in your guitar. It's a much hotter pickup, better for rock tones and heavier music.
Man i just don't know, the jr to me sounded clearer but still had bite, the hot rails i thought id prefer but at times sounded sorta fuzzymuddy, I guess depends on the music you play and like, i'd love to find a good video of the installation if anyone has one share the link please, I can solder just I have a SSS setup MIM Strat and would love to pop one of these into the bridge probably leaning towards the JB Jr at this point which surprises me.
Great demo! I had a Hotrails bridge pickup in my strat for years. Lots of output and strong lower midrange but a bit too dark for me. My Strat has Texas Specials in it now, but I've been thinking of swapping out the bridge for a Little '59 or a JB Jr.
I know it's been couple years but thanks for doing this video. I've been playing for about 24 yrs but I don't know much about pu's. I'm about to install new pu's in my Charvel which has a H/S/S config & I'm pretty sure I want the newer Black Winter hum in my bridge position as I like to play alot of extreme metal. No idea what I want for the mid or neck pu but these vids help give me an idea of what I want. Stil not sure but getting closer!
Kind of uncanny you say that because I thought I had decided on for the neck/middle pu, the duncan Quarter Pound SSL-4's, & my friend suggested Bareknuckle instead. So if I find any singles of theirs I like I will still do the Black Winter in the bridge & Bareknuckle in the neck & middle. As long as it all fits. Thanks for the suggestions!
Shea Hensley Will you be primarily using the SCs for tight metal rythmn as well? If its just for an all purpose "stratty" sound , the irish tours is one mean machine for blues/classic rock sounds. One caveat, I dont know how it will workout with a super high output pickup like the Black Winter. So you might consider looking at their contemporary sets just in case.
+Kian How Tan no, its for an 86 Charvel. Just mainly looking for really good metal tone. I have another guitar I'm restoring that I'll be wanting more versatility on. But the Charvel will mainly be used for thrash & death etc styles.
Shea Hensley Ah i see. I'd reckon the black winter to sound some where in the painkiller territory with nice top end in addition to its thick mid ends. I think the trilogy suit would be what you are looking for but thats just me. If you'd like a second opinion, I'm sure the lads over at BKP can help you narrow down what you are really looking for. Goodluck for finding a pickup that fits!
Not true that the higher the resistance the hotter the pickup. One of the lowest resistance pickups is the Barden - but the Barden is made so differently, with very heavy gauge windings, that its output is very high. So much goes into pickup design that a blanket statement like high resistance = high output is just wrong.
J Helak True. That's what I like in Dimarzio - they indicate resistance, but above all focus on real output value in mV. Still, USUALLY it is also true, that high resistance happen to be paired with high output. So it is less accurate but pretty nice indicator. I'm not talking about 0.5 kOhm differences (too many factors can alter it), but I would expect a 15 kOhm pickup to be a lot hotter than 7 kOhm.
Great video. I have been thinking about getting a set of everything axe pickups. My concern is that I will loose that strat tone. Do you still get that tone with the jbjr and thr little 59? My guess.is yes, but just fatter.
Thanks for the reply. I think the JB Jr retains more of the Strat tone, more than the Hot Rails. So I would agree with you, the Li'l 59 would have a little more Strat tone, just thicker.
If you just replace the neck and bridge pickups, you can get the strat type tones in the middle 3 positions, then beast sounds from first and last positions!
TangoSucka I've been playing the Hot Rails exclusively since I did this video. It offers smoother distortion, and I can clean it up nicely with rolling the volume off a bit.
ozweepay my only real complaint is cosmetics. I’m putting it on a fender deluxe. It will take some of the visual appeal from the guitar, but for the sound I think it’ll be worth it. The stock bridge pickup is too twangy for the style of music I play.
Great demo. What do you think this does to the value of your guitar (assuming one would take out the hot rails and restore the original pickup when/if you sell it)? I have a '79 strat and would like some of the tones you're getting, but worry about killing the value.
Hi, thanks for the reply. Good question. Guitars that command the most money are guitars that haven't been played. Your guitar, being a '79, has most likely been played, but being a 35 year old instrument puts it in the vintage category as well. If you were to sell it, and replace the pickups back to original, without making a mess of things, that would still be considered a guitar with 100% original parts. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the guitar would still retain it's value if the original pickups were installed again. It's not like replacing a neck or pickguard, you would still have the guitar in its original state.
I will be changing out a DP174 for ether DP218 or one of these guys but what My decision mainly hinges on is the clarity of the sound with no effects on it. My Gut feeling is to go with the Junior. I heard a little Ring at the end 1:23 Thank you for posting.
AL theDoctorWho Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, I believe the JB Jr has much more clarity, without getting as dirty as the Hot Rails. Still has some dirt, but cleans up nicely rolling off the volume.
Thanks for this video. I wanted something in the bridge to get some filth out of my strat and this changed my mind about it. I want the rails now. I don't even use the bridge pickup right now, it's just kinda their lol. Maybe I should of got a Tele instead lmao! Seriously tho tanks man
Thanks for the reply. Personally, I like the Hot Rails for the music I play. It sounds more like a pure humbucker, whereas the JB gives you more of the Strat sound. I find if I dial down the volume of the guitar, it cleans up the distortion and cleans up nicely to give you the patented Fender tone.
Sorry for the late reply. The JB Jr is probably closer sounding to a single coil, but it's still a humbucker tone. The HotRails is definitely geared towards a humbucker sound, not like a single coil at all. The JB Jr cleans up nicely when you dial the volume down, so you can get closer to the single could sound by manipulating the volume pot.
Happen to consider replacing the single coil PU on my Jackson dk serie. Some ideas come to me now. Really lucky to watch this, and thank you for the comparison. It does sound that Hot rail is heavier. Maybe it's attributable for the bass reflection as you have mentioned. Thanks for the video again.
cmasc966 Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, I agree. I still haven't decided which one I prefer. The JB is more of a straight ahead rock tone, and the Hot Rails has more high gain, but less clarity.
do you think taking a hot rails neck pickup and putting it in the bridge would take some of the heat out of it? love the sound but it is very hot. I noticed you played a little softer, your picking hand, on the hot rails.
The thing is that the hotrails are supposed to make a Strat sound like a humbucker guitar. Right now I have two guitars, for classic rock, I use my Strat, when I need a more heavier tone, I use my Gibson Les Paul Studio...but I'm more comfortable playing my Strat, just feels "right". I'm torn between keeping my Strat original to keep that Strat tone but I also want my Strat to have a beefier tone, especially in the bridge position. I'm thinking of getting some Hotrails, I could always change the pups back, or I just might get a Blacktop Strat :P
Mario Gutierrez I see that. I've always played strats and teles, and I'm so used to the tones of those guitars. Now I play with people that like to play a lot heavier stuff, so I'm thinking about just getting one of these single coil sized humbuckers for one of my strats. I keep putting it off, but I love the way the jb jr sounds here...like a beefy strat!
i prefer the hot rails even if the sound is close to a "computer sound" and not "a tube amp sound".DO you still have the 4th position of the strat with a split ? this funky sound is always here or not ?
Willian Velloso Metzner thanks for the reply. I haven't considered that, but that's a very insightful idea. It would open up a few more tone options, instead of a straight humbucker sound. I will look into that, thanks for the idea.
I have a Fender Iron Maiden Strat with the mirrored pickguard. It has a JB in the bridge and 2 hot rail in the neck and middle. I noticed that the new Dave Murray pickguard has the JB in the middle position. Why the change and should I consider switching the JB to the middle and moving the hot rails to the bridge? Appreciate any help or opinions.
I had a set of Texas Specials in my strat but the bridge pickup wasn't ballsy enuf 4 me, so after watching this vid I got the chance 2 try a SD Hot Rails pup in the bridge, ended up buying 1.... very pleased, it sounds amazing an I play rock/blues/punk.... its great for all types, great vid as I needed 2 hear this pickup with good gain playing chords an a bit of soloing.... Nice 1 dude ;)
Yes, I knew it! just one more question, even when this 59 pick up has less distortion esque than the other two pick ups, it has more distortion abilities than the ones that came in the Guitar?, if so, that would work for me!
Hey i'd like to swap the single coil pickup of my strat but i do not know which of the two can give me that ACDC sound! ACDC do not use distortion just tone and lil bit of boost sometimes can you recommend which pup would sound best?
Hey man , thats a great test. May you tell me which of the two has tighter sound ? I mean which has faster response and better pick attack for riffing...
I think the JB has the tighter sound. The Hot Rails has much more harmonic saturation, which is great for searing leads, but it makes for a little more mushy riffing, not as tight.
I find JB Jr kinda sounds like a single coil still. Hot rails sound more typical of a humbucker and does the saturated gainy riffs better imo. Obviously for leads that depends on taste but the jb is less compressed and more dynamic. And has more twangy.
I prefer the Hot Rails, simply because reminds much more of a PAF. The JB Jr seems like a super duper over-wound single coil, which for the kind of things you were playing (metal licks/riffs, with some heavy distortion) sounds kinda harsh and weird, with too much treble. If you were playing some cleaner and softer stuff, maybe the JB Jr would be better.
Hi, thanks for the reply. I do prefer the Hot Rails, it sounds more like a humbucker than any other single spaced pickup I've tried. Now I put it in both my Stratocasters.
Hi, thanks for the reply. I posted in the description that I wasn't going to use the clean sound, as there are lots of videos on RUclips that show the cleans sounds of both pickups. I just wanted to show the difference between the distorted sounds both pickups have.
With the JB did you need to swap the ground and hot leads of the neck and middle pickups so it didn't sound out of phase? I have Texas specials in my strat..
Skateslave215 Thanks for the reply. Do you have the Neck version of the Hot Rails in the neck position of your guitar? I know the Neck version isn't made as hot as the Bridge version. I'd like to try one, I was thinking of getting a Cool Rails for the neck, but the Hot Rails might match up better for me.
ozweepay yeah it's the neck version for it. I have both neck and bridge.. its still a really bright sound but not as hot as the bridge.. I recommend trying it out.. i really like it.. i also like splitting them with my jb jr haha definitely get some cool tones
Thanks for the video I think your placement versus string heights on the hot rail may have been a little off I have had the JB Jr and the hot rails In my Stratocasters and telecasters Adjusting the height on The hot rail is Critical I did the same thing you did the 1st time after adjusting the hot rail completely dominated the JB In clarity and tone I've actually talk to Seymour Duncan He has a starting reference each guitar has to be adjusted accordingly but when you get it right you will know it You will get No Mud Just clear tight tone that screams
JB Jr, no question. Hot Rails are only good if you want that muddy/heavy mid tone. But I hate that scooped tone. They’re not versatile at all. I would never consider the Hot Rails as I have other guitars better suited for heavier sounds.
Did you change any of the capacitors or the pots? I've been told that these kinds of pups sound thin with the standar caps and pots that come on single coils. Yours sound killer though so that's why I'm asking
alaja200798 Thanks for the reply. No, I kept the caps the same, just wired the pickups in. I never thought of that, but it might be an interesting experiment.
Well then! I've been told that a .047uF cap or higher and 500k pots would make it sound thicker since they're the ones usually used on humbuckers, but tbh yours sound amazing as they are
jb jr retains the stratness whilst the hot rails sort of ignores the inherent guitar tone. thats my thoughts anyway. i prefer the jb jr
Thanks for the reply. I agree, the JB shows more of the patented Strat sound, the Hot Rails doesn't really add any distinction to the tone.
i just got a squier standard strat today off a fella for very little money. i want strat a humbucker in the bridge, but wanna get strat sounds too. the jb jr is the one for me im sure. sounds like Alice i chains's facelift to me. love that tone!
When you drop a 16.9K ceramic humbucker in a guitar, you pretty much renounce to stratness ;)
JB all the way rails to synthetic
JBs all the way better tone rails to trebly synthetic sound again that’s just a opinion I know a lot of guys that use rails just not my cup of tea
What I learned from this video? Seymour Duncan makes badass pickups!
Po1itica11yNcorrect YES!!!
Only ones I use lol
Yea they do, and imho, that hitrails is by far the best and very hard to beat
I prefer the JB Jr. It just sounds like the music of the 70's and 80's to me. I'm old... The JB just seems like it would cover more musical styles than the Hot Rail... Then again, it is hard to make a judgement from a RUclips video playing through laptop speakers. I would prefer to hear them in person. But I still think I would prefer the JB Jr.
Yea you can get the Van Halen sound from the JB Jr through the right amp of course, it Chunks (Guitar Cab thump)
I have a JB Jr. in my bridge and it really retains tone even with tons of gain. I can really get a great Cantrell tone from it.
I am surprise, I am a Hot Rail user since 1985 and now I want a JB Jr, it's way more Straty.
Thank you for the video.
Thank you for the video. Finally a straight forward demo of pick ups.
Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the tuning difference, I screwed that up. But you got the idea.
I came to this video being rather sceptical as to if I would use a single coil sized bridge pickup, especially for metal but you convinced me either of these would do it really well.
the hot rails has more of a humbucking sound
It's entirely a real humbucker and it sounds bigger than many full size humbuckers.
bec it’s a humbucker
r/woosh
iplayloud2 Yes, it’s beefy, muscular, creamy .
Yeah, a few people said it already. It has more of a humbucking sound because it is in fact a Humbucker lol
Like the sound of the Jb junior for lead. But rhythm sounds nicer on hot rails.
Jb jr for vintage tones, hot rails for modern tones and metal. I just got a hot rails but I love the jb jr as much as the hot rails.
I have played both in different guitars, and own the regular JB in two guitars, i would say Hot Rails is good for metal and has a pleasant scooped tone to it. However, the Hot Rails also is nearly impossible to get a clean tone on, unless your amp has a ton of clean headroom, and even still it just sounds muddy and washed out on clean, The JB jr. is a slightly lower output version of the JB, but has a tighter less muddy/thinner articulate response than a standard JB, it sounds good, and from my memory actually has a better clean tone than the regular JB, I think in part due to the tighter aperture of the pole pieces together, I agree it sounds like an overdriven single coil here but with the right distortion doesn't sound that way at all, and is very good for tight rhythm playing. When I played it, it was in an Iron Maiden Strat, and it sounded very good, like a tighter version of the regular JB with all of the rich harmonic content that the JB is known for.
Zachary Doering Great insight. I completely agree with you on all your points. You obviously have experience with quite a few pickups.
I have a Fender Frontman 25R, a Squier Affiniy Tele, and a Hot Rails in the neck position. Sounds perfect on both clean and distortion.
+Metallica Fan Eek dude. Are you just starting out as well? I haven't heard much good about any of the frontmans. How do you like it? The Tele on the other hand, damn. I love me some Tele's. I do prefer strats though. And since I was a prick and judged your gear, here's mine so you can judge me. Squier vintage modified Strat, Orange micro dark. No cab... At least you thought far enough ahead to get a goddamn speaker... Hope you're enjoying your playing!
I have a hotrails in the bridge of my 08 mim roadhouse strat and I play on a Marshall dsl15c
The clean sound is pretty nice.
Actually I left the middle and neck mim pups in cuz it’s so versatile and amazing sounding.
I’m pretty sure I got super lucky and just found a guitar that’s got some good mojo to it though lol
You can make the Hot Rails sound "cleaner" by adding a series/parallel switch. It's normally in series so it sounds really fat but in parallel, the tone will clean up considerably.
I was literally on my way to go buy a JB Jr bridge pickup but wasn't too sure until I watched this video,I decided on the hot rail,that's the sound I was looking for,thanks for the video
Great, glad the video helped you. My favourite is the Hot Rails as well, as I play more of a hard rock metal style, so it fits those need perfectly.
+ozweepay What would be a better pickup for the neck position on a Yamaha Pacifica 112v? Seymour Duncan JB jr or DiMarzio DP225 BC-1?
I' ve got a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge position.
+Filip Jakirac Sorry for the late reply. I'm not sure about the pickup for the neck you mentioned, but look at the Ohm rating on it. The neck pickup doesn't need to be nearly as powerful as your bridge pickup. The Invader is very powerful. Get a neck pickup with a lower power rating, and you'll find they blend nicely when switching between them.
I've had both in the bridge pos over the years. Ended up preferring the JBjr by a lot. My present Strat has JBjr, Duckbucker, and Vintage Rails. Seymour Duncan makes some fine pickups.
Great job. You did exactly what I needed to see. Thanks
Great demo!!🤘. I’ve played a Hot Rails in my Strat since ‘96 and through listening to my recordings, it’s always a little buzzy in the mix, yet it’s seriously raucous!! Either way, Duncan pick ups Rock!!
I'm always tuned to drop D,and those pickups lit up the room,especially with a chorus effect and a 3/4 gain
Which one?🙂
Hot Rails has that nice rock and metal growl. I like the Hot Rails because it seems to have way more bite and mids.
Great demo, thanks. Being a vintage guy, I like the clarity/definition of the JB Jr. better, but I could see where the metal guys might go for the hot rails for that bigger low end and scooped sound. I subscribed.
Thanks for doing the video. I think you helped me confirm that I'm more of a Hot Rails kind of guy. One note: I don't understand going through all the trouble to make this video and not including a clean tone test. I guess some people only ever play distorted? In any case, it's easier to hear the actual qualities of the pickups without the distortion, as boring (I'm guessing) as that might seem to some people.
Hi thanks for the reply. Yes, as someone mentioned earlier, I decided to eschew a clean sound in this, as the pickups are high output. Most rock/metal players are looking for the hottest sounding pickup, and it would have been fruitless to show a clean tone, since most people by high output pickups for just that, high output sound. There’s other pickups that do a much better job at clean tone, so these are not the pickups you would want for that.
JB is better for my ears :-))....Thanks !
Both of these have their place. The hot rails sound like a Les Paul, doom metal sounding. The JB sounds more versatile though.
But maybe putting treble bleed on vol pot with pu hot rails can be versatile too?
that's what Dave Murray of Iron Maiden uses , 2 hot rails in neck and bridge and JB in the middle..originally he used 3 x hot rails but then switched for the clean tones of the JB.
Cool, that's interesting to note. Thanks for the reply.
Great comparison! Right to the point, and having had the JB Jr before, I must try the Hot Rails now! 🤘
Great demo well done, it's about time someone stuck a proper video on these to pick ups. I like the sound of jb junior, does it for me all day long👍🏼
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you appreciated the video. All my full spaced humbuckers are JBs. But I'm torn between the hotrails and the JB single sized. What kind of music do you play?
+ozweepay
I play everything from blues to hard rock on the JB Junior,. I find it has a great variety of tones, I actually modified a JB Junior to fit into their bridge of my telecaster works great with a vintage stack neck
Well I play everything from blues to heavy metal, and I say both!
+Will M. [Music] everybody to their own I suppose
KARL SHERIDAN Lmao yep
Screw the debating Just put in both! Hot Rails in the bridge for that snarling metal lead or rhythm, and JB Jr. for that singing lead tone like Slash, or turn it down to get some nice bluesy tones
thats what i was wondering too. both on, just like the way you said. i wonder if anyone has that setup, and would share what they think/found on here.
cae pahpasay I recall seeing it once or twice, but I could not remember where it was or who had it
cae pahpasay Actually I think Dave Murray from Iron Maiden has a strat with 2 Hot Rails in the neck and bridge, and also a single JB junior in the middle
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratDMSB?adpos=1o1&creative=55280229001&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&product_id=StratDMSB&gclid=CjwKEAjwtNbABRCsqO7J0_uJxWYSJAAiVo5LsPgShyWVz-c4F6zs4AsMwCCrwCQSfWG-igxbHM6f5xoCZ5_w_wcB
Who knows maybe there are demos on this
That looks amazing!! I never knew this about their (Iron Maiden) guitars, or at least Murray's. Only recalled seeing strat (s) and never really bothered to take a closer look. WOW. Imagine what other destruction can be done with that (setup), haha. Now I have to dig up their songs from my music library. Thanks for link man \m/
nope, these are 250k pots. i got that guitar
What I actually did on my strat is I put the JB JR Neck pickup in the Bridge position - It's got around 11 K resistance, so basically I got the best of both worlds - 15 K and above is really too much for me ... it works like a charm :)
That's interesting, I would have never thought of that. I might try that out.
The JB Jr still has that Strat sound. But if I was playing metal, I'd go for the Hot Rails.
Hi, thanks for the reply. That is my thinking as well.
so much more low end and fat mids from Hot Rails. Two very different magnets, I would choose JB for rock and Hot rails for metal.
That's what I would choose as well.
thought you should know... the JB was used throughout the 80's during metal's heyday as the go to for many players.
It seems to me that Di Marzio Super Distortion was far more popular indeed.
The Prisoner I have my guitar set up like Dave Murray. Hot rail in the bridge, Jb Jr in the middle. Best of both worlds.
agreed
these Seymour Duncan are the hell of good tone to play Heavy metal now i understand why Dave Murray uses it
The hot rails demos were in a slightly flatter tuning than the JB Jr, and at first, it freaked my ears out, lol. But yeah, overall I'm a big fan of the JB. Great pickups!
If you are looking for that compressed Charvel or Ibanez sound, Hot Rail
If you want the early metal Dave Murray tone JBjr
The real bit of info that was left out was which pickup was in the guitar when you set your EQ. I can make crappy pickups sound good, with proper EQ, and then swap them for known badass pickups, not change my settings, making the badass pickups sounds like trash.
Play the turtle song.
You should have used the same tuning for both!
I have 2 pickguards - 1 with Duncan everything axe (jbjr, lil59) and 1 with hot rails, and cool rails. For harder rock the rails is better. I do find that on bends, the jbjr design loses signal due to small poles. With rails, bends sound much better.
Thank you very helpful. Great playing
Thanks for the reply. Which one do you prefer?
@@ACMusicland They are both so good! I actually have a JB Jr in a SSS Fender. It's my best guitar. If I just played metal I would lean towards the HR but the bands I play in also go country and classic rock so for me the JB is the one. I have also never felt like it was lacking when we do metal. Even though it's not as gainy it still cuts and sounds awesome. I usually run it through H&K GM 36, old Peavey combo, Boss GT1000 or HX Stomp XL for reference.
Definitely liked the Hot Rails MUCH better.
Gabriel Mahound 100% agree .Hotrails is MUD!
Very good demo, thank you very much.
thanks for that
I have a fullsize JB in an 80's Japanese Squier strat I bought in the 90's, it's just the JB at the bridge, just a volume pot and a Schaller Floyd Rose and Schaller tuners, the guy who bought the guitar new then sold it to me did the custom work on it. Of the three strats I own (a Fender MIM 70s reissue and an Ibanez Prestige) it's the one I wouldn't sell. For those wondering about the clean tone, the Squier I have looks like an 80's shredder but sounds great clean, very much in the middle, not too high or low
considering putting new pickups in the 70's reissue and was thinking HotRails but after watching this I'd go for either a JB Jr or a Quarter Pounder, the HR had a great on the verge of out of control sound but the JB Jr was sweeter and clearer
also wanting a maple boarded strat as all three are rosewood, will sell the Ibanez, an Epi Les Paul and a handbuilt tele thinline, maybe my Ibanez 1975/76 protype V, buy a maple boarded strat and call it a day (unless I find a Yamaha SG 1500...)
That was excellent that really showed the difference
Great video. Thanks!
Thanks man, was wondering about these 2 in my bridge. Have you the tone control connected to the bridge on both pickups? If so, have you the tone on 10 or lower? Looking for a strat bridge HB, but unsure whether to connect tone or not (like eddie van halen, no tone)
How have you set the position 2 (bridge + middle)? The humbucker split or complete?
Iván Maguiña Hi, thanks for the reply. I actually have the middle pickup disconnected, like Yngwie, Ritchie Blackmore, etc.
Can't wait until I get my own strat
Do u hace?
Great video, I like the JB Jr bridge pick up for my MIM Standard Strat, but I want to know your opinion about if the change of this pick up over the one that came with my guitar would make a difference? or do I need the kind of hears the other comentators have to notice it? Thanks!
You will definitely notice the difference between your stock pickup and the JB Jr if you install it in your guitar. It's a much hotter pickup, better for rock tones and heavier music.
Man i just don't know, the jr to me sounded clearer but still had bite, the hot rails i thought id prefer but at times sounded sorta fuzzymuddy, I guess depends on the music you play and like, i'd love to find a good video of the installation if anyone has one share the link please, I can solder just I have a SSS setup MIM Strat and would love to pop one of these into the bridge probably leaning towards the JB Jr at this point which surprises me.
Great demo! I had a Hotrails bridge pickup in my strat for years. Lots of output and strong lower midrange but a bit too dark for me. My Strat has Texas Specials in it now, but I've been thinking of swapping out the bridge for a Little '59 or a JB Jr.
Great comparison. Very useful
Thanks for the reply. Sorry about the slight tuning difference, but you were able to hear the overall details between the two pickups.
I know it's been couple years but thanks for doing this video. I've been playing for about 24 yrs but I don't know much about pu's. I'm about to install new pu's in my Charvel which has a H/S/S config & I'm pretty sure I want the newer Black Winter hum in my bridge position as I like to play alot of extreme metal. No idea what I want for the mid or neck pu but these vids help give me an idea of what I want. Stil not sure but getting closer!
+Shea Hensley you can check out the Sinner by Bareknuckle Pickups, been pondering between that and the air norton s.
Kind of uncanny you say that because I thought I had decided on for the neck/middle pu, the duncan Quarter Pound SSL-4's, & my friend suggested Bareknuckle instead. So if I find any singles of theirs I like I will still do the Black Winter in the bridge & Bareknuckle in the neck & middle. As long as it all fits. Thanks for the suggestions!
Shea Hensley Will you be primarily using the SCs for tight metal rythmn as well?
If its just for an all purpose "stratty" sound , the irish tours is one mean machine for blues/classic rock sounds. One caveat, I dont know how it will workout with a super high output pickup like the Black Winter. So you might consider looking at their contemporary sets just in case.
+Kian How Tan no, its for an 86 Charvel. Just mainly looking for really good metal tone. I have another guitar I'm restoring that I'll be wanting more versatility on. But the Charvel will mainly be used for thrash & death etc styles.
Shea Hensley Ah i see. I'd reckon the black winter to sound some where in the painkiller territory with nice top end in addition to its thick mid ends.
I think the trilogy suit would be what you are looking for but thats just me. If you'd like a second opinion, I'm sure the lads over at BKP can help you narrow down what you are really looking for.
Goodluck for finding a pickup that fits!
Not true that the higher the resistance the hotter the pickup. One of the lowest resistance pickups is the Barden - but the Barden is made so differently, with very heavy gauge windings, that its output is very high. So much goes into pickup design that a blanket statement like high resistance = high output is just wrong.
J Helak True. That's what I like in Dimarzio - they indicate resistance, but above all focus on real output value in mV. Still, USUALLY it is also true, that high resistance happen to be paired with high output. So it is less accurate but pretty nice indicator. I'm not talking about 0.5 kOhm differences (too many factors can alter it), but I would expect a 15 kOhm pickup to be a lot hotter than 7 kOhm.
Great video. I have been thinking about getting a set of everything axe pickups. My concern is that I will loose that strat tone. Do you still get that tone with the jbjr and thr little 59? My guess.is yes, but just fatter.
Thanks for the reply. I think the JB Jr retains more of the Strat tone, more than the Hot Rails. So I would agree with you, the Li'l 59 would have a little more Strat tone, just thicker.
If you just replace the neck and bridge pickups, you can get the strat type tones in the middle 3 positions, then beast sounds from first and last positions!
This is good comparison. Could you let me know the pickup height setting for both please? Thanks...
Thanks for the reply. The pickup height for both pickups was as close to the strings as possible, about 2 to 3 millimeters away from the strings.
Great review, great demo.
JB sounds like it won't get lost in the mix as easy, gets my nod.
Thanks for the reply. The JB definitely cuts through more, and retains more of the pure Stratocaster tone.
I agreed
never knew the jb was so freakn hot
That's a hot pickup. Megadeth uses them, as well as other metal bands, and I'm surprised at how well it performs in the single space form.
Glad I ordered the hot rails. They seem to sound better IMO.
TangoSucka I've been playing the Hot Rails exclusively since I did this video. It offers smoother distortion, and I can clean it up nicely with rolling the volume off a bit.
ozweepay my only real complaint is cosmetics. I’m putting it on a fender deluxe. It will take some of the visual appeal from the guitar, but for the sound I think it’ll be worth it. The stock bridge pickup is too twangy for the style of music I play.
Both sound great but it's the hot rails for me. I wouldn't really complain with either but ordered a hot rails
Great demo. What do you think this does to the value of your guitar (assuming one would take out the hot rails and restore the original pickup when/if you sell it)? I have a '79 strat and would like some of the tones you're getting, but worry about killing the value.
Hi, thanks for the reply. Good question. Guitars that command the most money are guitars that haven't been played. Your guitar, being a '79, has most likely been played, but being a 35 year old instrument puts it in the vintage category as well. If you were to sell it, and replace the pickups back to original, without making a mess of things, that would still be considered a guitar with 100% original parts. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the guitar would still retain it's value if the original pickups were installed again. It's not like replacing a neck or pickguard, you would still have the guitar in its original state.
I will be changing out a DP174 for ether DP218 or one of these guys but what My decision mainly hinges on is the clarity of the sound with no effects on it. My Gut feeling is to go with the Junior. I heard a little Ring at the end 1:23 Thank you for posting.
AL theDoctorWho Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, I believe the JB Jr has much more clarity, without getting as dirty as the Hot Rails. Still has some dirt, but cleans up nicely rolling off the volume.
Are you using 250k or 500k pots?
Hi, I'm using the stock 250k pots.
Thanks for this video. I wanted something in the bridge to get some filth out of my strat and this changed my mind about it. I want the rails now. I don't even use the bridge pickup right now, it's just kinda their lol. Maybe I should of got a Tele instead lmao! Seriously tho tanks man
Thanks for the reply. Personally, I like the Hot Rails for the music I play. It sounds more like a pure humbucker, whereas the JB gives you more of the Strat sound. I find if I dial down the volume of the guitar, it cleans up the distortion and cleans up nicely to give you the patented Fender tone.
Thanks! Nice comparsion between two beautiful pickups.
I like your channel, I did subsribe, please subscribe to mine if you don't mind. Thanks in advance.
Hot rails sounds muddy and compressed. JB is more articulate.
Agreed that's why I bought a jb jr. Great pickup
Very nice do they sound more close to single coils or more to humbuckers in ur opinion ? Thanks
Sorry for the late reply. The JB Jr is probably closer sounding to a single coil, but it's still a humbucker tone. The HotRails is definitely geared towards a humbucker sound, not like a single coil at all. The JB Jr cleans up nicely when you dial the volume down, so you can get closer to the single could sound by manipulating the volume pot.
Thanks a lot 😊
Happen to consider replacing the single coil PU on my Jackson dk serie. Some ideas come to me now. Really lucky to watch this, and thank you for the comparison. It does sound that Hot rail is heavier. Maybe it's attributable for the bass reflection as you have mentioned.
Thanks for the video again.
the rails have IT! Thanx for the vid...the rails sound brighter and speak a bit more...I would use both though although I'm loving my pearly gates!
Hot rails sounded more "scooped" I prefer the JB Jr.
cmasc966 Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, I agree. I still haven't decided which one I prefer. The JB is more of a straight ahead rock tone, and the Hot Rails has more high gain, but less clarity.
do you think taking a hot rails neck pickup and putting it in the bridge would take some of the heat out of it? love the sound but it is very hot. I noticed you played a little softer, your picking hand, on the hot rails.
I like the sound of the jb jr way better here. More clarity in the notes
The thing is that the hotrails are supposed to make a Strat sound like a humbucker guitar. Right now I have two guitars, for classic rock, I use my Strat, when I need a more heavier tone, I use my Gibson Les Paul Studio...but I'm more comfortable playing my Strat, just feels "right". I'm torn between keeping my Strat original to keep that Strat tone but I also want my Strat to have a beefier tone, especially in the bridge position. I'm thinking of getting some Hotrails, I could always change the pups back, or I just might get a Blacktop Strat :P
Mario Gutierrez I see that. I've always played strats and teles, and I'm so used to the tones of those guitars. Now I play with people that like to play a lot heavier stuff, so I'm thinking about just getting one of these single coil sized humbuckers for one of my strats. I keep putting it off, but I love the way the jb jr sounds here...like a beefy strat!
Brent Blankenship I finally went ahead and got a Fender Strat Blacktop HH, bought it as a steal for $225 and it plays and sounds great :)
B B
Hell No!!!
Did you end up swapping the pots out to compensate for the humbuckers?
Thank You for this video :)
Hot Rails has a "Snottier" sound - more aggressive -Both Great for the application
i prefer the hot rails even if the sound is close to a "computer sound" and not "a tube amp sound".DO you still have the 4th position of the strat with a split ? this funky sound is always here or not ?
Have you considered doing a treble bleed and coil split using the hot rails? I believe that it wont lose that much of stratness in that case
Willian Velloso Metzner thanks for the reply. I haven't considered that, but that's a very insightful idea. It would open up a few more tone options, instead of a straight humbucker sound. I will look into that, thanks for the idea.
I would love to see a Jb Jr. vs Quarter Pound comparison
I have a Fender Iron Maiden Strat with the mirrored pickguard. It has a JB in the bridge and 2 hot rail in the neck and middle. I noticed that the new Dave Murray pickguard has the JB in the middle position. Why the change and should I consider switching the JB to the middle and moving the hot rails to the bridge? Appreciate any help or opinions.
going from a single coil to a bridge humbucker, does anything change with the position 2 pickup? (bridge and middle)
I had a set of Texas Specials in my strat but the bridge pickup wasn't ballsy enuf 4 me, so after watching this vid I got the chance 2 try a SD Hot Rails pup in the bridge, ended up buying 1.... very pleased, it sounds amazing an I play rock/blues/punk.... its great for all types, great vid as I needed 2 hear this pickup with good gain playing chords an a bit of soloing.... Nice 1 dude ;)
Yes, I knew it! just one more question, even when this 59 pick up has less distortion esque than the other two pick ups, it has more distortion abilities than the ones that came in the Guitar?, if so, that would work for me!
Yes, the 59 will offer more distortion than your stock pickups.
how will it sound if both the hot rails and the little 59er are both hooked onto an Indonesian Fender Bullet Squire Strat?
Hey i'd like to swap the single coil pickup of my strat but i do not know which of the two can give me that ACDC sound! ACDC do not use distortion just tone and lil bit of boost sometimes can you recommend which pup would sound best?
Hey man , thats a great test. May you tell me which of the two has tighter sound ? I mean which has faster response and better pick attack for riffing...
I think the JB has the tighter sound. The Hot Rails has much more harmonic saturation, which is great for searing leads, but it makes for a little more mushy riffing, not as tight.
1:58 what a sweet harmonic that was. Not easy to get everytime for me. Sometimes I hit it and sometimes I dont lol.
I find JB Jr kinda sounds like a single coil still. Hot rails sound more typical of a humbucker and does the saturated gainy riffs better imo.
Obviously for leads that depends on taste but the jb is less compressed and more dynamic. And has more twangy.
никого не колышит, что на Hot Rails он играл в строе на пол тона ниже?
Он предупредил об этом
dflkdkfyg forif ikdesjdysa halsreds!
Is there something comparable to the hot rails in a regular humbucker size? I really liked it alot
I prefer the Hot Rails, simply because reminds much more of a PAF.
The JB Jr seems like a super duper over-wound single coil, which for the kind of things you were playing (metal licks/riffs, with some heavy distortion) sounds kinda harsh and weird, with too much treble. If you were playing some cleaner and softer stuff, maybe the JB Jr would be better.
dimiaraujo90 thanks for the reply. Most Hard Rock and Metal players use the JB, which is why I was doing a comparison using harder edged music.
I really like the hot rails! It sounds beefier than the Jb, at least how i heard it
Hi, thanks for the reply. I do prefer the Hot Rails, it sounds more like a humbucker than any other single spaced pickup I've tried. Now I put it in both my Stratocasters.
which one suit for more versatile playing
What type of amp?
HR sounds better sometimes but also sounds very muddy other times. Based on this vid, I'd have to switch back and forth depending on the song/part.
No clean tone demo?
Hi, thanks for the reply. I posted in the description that I wasn't going to use the clean sound, as there are lots of videos on RUclips that show the cleans sounds of both pickups. I just wanted to show the difference between the distorted sounds both pickups have.
With the JB did you need to swap the ground and hot leads of the neck and middle pickups so it didn't sound out of phase? I have Texas specials in my strat..
Dino Giolitti Hi, thanks for the reply. That's a good question. I actually have my middle pickup disengaged, I only use the neck and bridge pickups.
Hey There, Great sound! Wich Fender Strat is this? It seems like a short scale guitar.
Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm using a USA Standard Fender Stratocaster. I think it's from about 2003?
ive got hot rails in my bridge and neck and i have a jb jr in the middle! love the tones i can get.. great pickups!
Skateslave215 Thanks for the reply. Do you have the Neck version of the Hot Rails in the neck position of your guitar? I know the Neck version isn't made as hot as the Bridge version. I'd like to try one, I was thinking of getting a Cool Rails for the neck, but the Hot Rails might match up better for me.
ozweepay yeah it's the neck version for it. I have both neck and bridge.. its still a really bright sound but not as hot as the bridge.. I recommend trying it out.. i really like it.. i also like splitting them with my jb jr haha definitely get some cool tones
ozweepay I've never tried cool rails. i personally like to play heavy metal, so hot rails matches better for me..
Sorry but I can't tell if someone else has asked; what amp n pedals if any are used?
This may have been noted in another comment - but what amp are you playing these through? Thanks.
Hi, thanks for the reply. I think I played direct through a JVM 410c.
Thanks for the video I think your placement versus string heights on the hot rail may have been a little off I have had the JB Jr and the hot rails In my Stratocasters and telecasters Adjusting the height on The hot rail is Critical I did the same thing you did the 1st time after adjusting the hot rail completely dominated the JB In clarity and tone I've actually talk to Seymour Duncan He has a starting reference each guitar has to be adjusted accordingly but when you get it right you will know it You will get No Mud Just clear tight tone that screams
JB Jr, no question. Hot Rails are only good if you want that muddy/heavy mid tone. But I hate that scooped tone. They’re not versatile at all. I would never consider the Hot Rails as I have other guitars better suited for heavier sounds.
SOLD! Jb Jr all the way.
Did you change any of the capacitors or the pots? I've been told that these kinds of pups sound thin with the standar caps and pots that come on single coils. Yours sound killer though so that's why I'm asking
alaja200798 Thanks for the reply. No, I kept the caps the same, just wired the pickups in. I never thought of that, but it might be an interesting experiment.
Well then! I've been told that a .047uF cap or higher and 500k pots would make it sound thicker since they're the ones usually used on humbuckers, but tbh yours sound amazing as they are