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Topic: Rail guitar pickups |
Stephen R Wells
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 3:01 am |
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I have used rail pickups in two of my upgrade lap steel projects. The problem is since the rails are not flat, I get drop off on the 1 and 6 string. It's not much but is noticeable. Otherwise they sound amazing.
Can I file the rails flat (without harming the pickup in order to get consistent sound on all strings?
Thanks
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6 string laps
Buffalo Nickel Semi hollow
Fenderesque Tele-Lapster
Heavily modified Rogue
Heavily modified Harmonia
Dobro style resonator
Fender FR-50
Amps
Fender Frontman 100 2x12
Fender Ultimate Chorus 165 2x12
Several 15-20 watt amps
(Fender, Squire, Marshall, & Peavy)
Fender Rumble 25&100 watt bass amps |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 5:41 am
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| That's usually not recommended, and I'd also doubt you could file them enough to make any difference. I've heard of some players adding small magnets under the weak strings to boost their output, but the results are varied. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. |
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Stephen R Wells
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 6:27 am
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Thank you. I have a cheapo China pull off that I'll take apart and give it a try. I did not want to experiment with either of my $85 pickups. I'll give the magnet thing a try also. I could angle the pickup a bit and only leave one string to drop off. Or I can raise the pickup a little more. The rail pickup idea seemed sound in concept but in practice....Not so much.
Thanks again
_________________
6 string laps
Buffalo Nickel Semi hollow
Fenderesque Tele-Lapster
Heavily modified Rogue
Heavily modified Harmonia
Dobro style resonator
Fender FR-50
Amps
Fender Frontman 100 2x12
Fender Ultimate Chorus 165 2x12
Several 15-20 watt amps
(Fender, Squire, Marshall, & Peavy)
Fender Rumble 25&100 watt bass amps |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 10:46 am
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Since the rails are not the magnetic source, you should be able to file them down without too much difficulty. It should smooth it out a bit. It really depends on the arc angle of the steel rails and how much you can flatten to match the string height.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 10:51 am
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...or you can try the other Strat-style humbucker pickups with adjustable screws.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Stephen R Wells
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2019 1:58 am
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This is true. But I did not want to buy more pickups (prices as they are) I could pull two from one of my Strats and switch them out with the rails on my Rogue/Harmonia. That would put 2 Demarzio Rails and one SD Hot Rails in my Mexican Strat and a pair of Lil 59s (bridge & neck) into my steels. That could work out pretty nice for all three guitars.
Thanks for the inspiration.
_________________
6 string laps
Buffalo Nickel Semi hollow
Fenderesque Tele-Lapster
Heavily modified Rogue
Heavily modified Harmonia
Dobro style resonator
Fender FR-50
Amps
Fender Frontman 100 2x12
Fender Ultimate Chorus 165 2x12
Several 15-20 watt amps
(Fender, Squire, Marshall, & Peavy)
Fender Rumble 25&100 watt bass amps |
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