At the heart of each P-Rail is a full-sized alnico V P-90 with average DC resistances of 7.25kW (neck) and 10.20k (bridge). Alongside the P-90 is a single-coil alnico V rail with average DC resistances of 5.60k (neck) and 8.56k (bridge). While that approximately 1.60k difference isn’t theoretically optimal for hum cancellation purposes, in practice it works out just fine.
Depending on how the four leads from each pickup are wired, and the number and type of switches used, lots of variations are possible from a set of two P-Rails. In our review guitar, the single mini-toggle lets you select P-90, rail, or both wired in series (humbucker) when using a single pickup, and two P-90s, two rails, or two humbuckers when both pickups are selected—for a total of nine distinctly different sounds. Obviously, adding switches for phase, parallel/series operation, etc., would result in even more options.
The P-90s lacked a little of the squawk found in some vintage Gibson P-90s, but they were exceptionally big and warm sounding, with amazing clarity across their wide frequency range. The rails also produced a very clear sound, with lively upper mids and highs, and a tight low end. The two rails were particularly impressive when combined, yielding Strat-like spankiness and sparkle. In humbucker mode, the P-Rails delivered fat tones with a wonderful richness and smoothness, though with a somewhat different harmonic balance than standard humbuckers. The individual P-90 and rail pickups hummed a bit, though no more than any other single-coils, and the noise went away entirely once they were switched to any of the double-coil options.
Will having one guitar equipped with a set of P-Rails give you all the sounds you currently get from, say, your Stratocaster, McCarty Soapbar, and Les Paul guitars? Not likely, but that really shouldn’t be the point. The P-Rails are truly innovative products and the many sounds that they do make are outstanding—and that’s why they receive an Editors’ Pick Award.
