Sloefman Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Hi all! Since last saturday I'm the owner of a 2009 vintage orange H535. Bought it used for €925 (about the same in $ these days), so a fair deal I guess. The guitar is equipped with SD P-rails though, which give me the choice between humbucker, P-90 or single coil via push-pull system in the tone knobs. The original SD Antiquities came with it. So now I have the choice to keep the P-rails, or ditch them and put in the original ones (of which I like the looks better - the P-rails are cream colored). What would be your advice sound-wise, since changing out the pickups equally means changing out all the pots and a load of work. I would not like to do that just to find out I liked the P-rails better, if you know what I mean. Thanks a lot in advance! Regards, Tom.
DetroitBlues Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 If the P-rails were done right, you'd have a mini toggle switch in there instead since each pickup has three different settings, push/pull pots do not give you all the tonal possibilities of the P-Rails. Changing pickups and pots are best left to pro's on semi-hollow bodies that do not have rear access panels. I'd put the Antiquities back in there. Those are sweet pickups. A decent guitar tech should be able to do it for maybe $60. You don't want to run the risk of ruining the top of the guitar with a soldering iron or scratching it up with wire.
mars_hall Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 I would say keep the P-rails in. The tonal palette is not going to be the same as the Antiquities but you will have a wider range of possibilities. While the P-rail doesn't do the single coil thing as well as a true single coil, the P90 voicing there is quite respectable and should bring you to a place not that far removed from the Antiquity (think Seth Lover with weakened magnets and tarnished covers). It will have greater clarity and do a respectable humbucker to boot. Note this is all from a guy who has only heard P-rails (not owned) and has had Antiquities. I have P-90s or clones in several guitars.
Sloefman Posted December 15, 2011 Author Posted December 15, 2011 Thanks already. As for looks, it's still on the sales site with pictures, have a look at how it looks now, with the P-rails: I'm thinking it would look nicer with the original chrome colored pickups and brown knobs... Especially the Fender type knobs make it look cheap. Your thoughts? As for pickup switching with the P-rails: indeed I can only choose humbucker, single coil or P-90 for both pickups together, I can't switch them individually. Thanks
SouthpawGuy Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Personally I'd stay with the P-Rails, maybe change the knobs and get some Triple Shot mounting rings for accessing 4 tones per pickup and combining them in any manner. I have P-Rails in a 535, don't have Antiquities but I have '59s in another 535 and Seths In a Prospect. The P-Rails have the fattest fullest tone of them all, which may or may not be what you're after. 535 with P-Rails and triple shots, the mini switches are in the pickup rings
mars_hall Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Seems like Duncan make a slick, though pricey, adapter mounting ring that can give you all the options, or at least most. Black rings might look better. The nickel covered pups would definitely look better and Fender knobs belong on a Fender. You might have a problem finding brown knobs but black would be good as well. They have cream speedknobs available as well.
FredZepp Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Very nice 535. You got a good deal also. If I were you, I'd play the P-Rails for a while, as you won't want to change back if you swap them out. If you decide that you want the vintage humbucker sound and look of the Antiquities .. ( and it's not a terrible idea ) then do it when convinced it's what you want. It sounds like you are leaning that way really. And yes... Cream speed knobs could complete that look.
SouthpawGuy Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 I'd go for black mounting rings and black or amber knobs.
H Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Welcome to the HOC from another European member Very nice 535 you have there. As someone who has done a pickup swap/wiring work on a 535 I would advise you not to undertake it lightly, it's a tough job. A satisfying one to do though
tbonesullivan Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Personally, I wouldn't change a thing except the rings (put in triple shots) and maybe the knobs. The cream on cream look suits that guitar.
hinesarchtop Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Most good repair people would charge more than $60.00. Semi hollows are not fun to work on.
SouthpawGuy Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 Most good repair people would charge more than $60.00. Semi hollows are not fun to work on. Nearer to $100 is my experience, worth it to have it done the right way, not something I'd like to have done more than once though.
hinesarchtop Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 That sounds right. The pots barely fit through the F holes and you have to be very careful not to scratch the guitar.
kidsmoke Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 I agree that it's offputing to look at at first, but it's not terrible, and it IS original, which lets face it, isn't that easy to accomplish. As far as looking cheap....I can see that, but after watching more and more guys that can play ANYTHING they want play older silvertones, harmonies and danaelectro's, my appreciation of them, and the reflex in my brain of what's cheap or not, has changed. I saw David Hildalgo in a small theater a couple of weeks ago. He was coaxing some very cool tones from an old tuxedo silvertone semi....that was probably sold for $150.00 at Sears 45 years ago. http://www.vintagesilvertones.com/forsale_silvertone_1446-4-2009.html#SILVERTONEH621385L Too bad you're on that side of the pond, I'd call dibs on those antiquities....
bolero Posted December 17, 2011 Posted December 17, 2011 I'd put the antiquities back in, and get those gold/amber tophat knobs that is a really nice looking 535 though, whatever you decide to do!! congrats!
Sloefman Posted December 20, 2011 Author Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks for all your replies. I'll take out the P-rails and put the Antiquities back in. As soon as I find the time. One more question: I'll have to buy new tone pots, since the ones that are currently installed have the push-pull system and (as I figure) won't be suitable for the Antiquities. Any ideas on which ones I should get?
mars_hall Posted December 20, 2011 Posted December 20, 2011 You are just as well to leave the current tone pots in and bypassing the switches.
bobmeyrick Posted December 21, 2011 Posted December 21, 2011 Obviously it's your guitar and your choice of pickup, but try living with the P-Rails for a while. I installed a pair (with Triple Shot mounting rings) in my 150 Special, and they make it a very versatile guitar. However if you do change the pickups, you could keep the P-Rails and get another guitar to put them in...
Sloefman Posted December 21, 2011 Author Posted December 21, 2011 Thanks for the advice guys. I already have another guitar (a Jazzmaster with SD antiquities for Jazzmaster in it) and thought of putting the P-rails in there, however I don't want to part with the Jazzmaster sound either... And my wife won't let me buy a third guitar .
H Posted December 21, 2011 Posted December 21, 2011 And my wife won't let me buy a third guitar . Ask for forgiveness, not permission
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