HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

[Metalman_666 Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Metalman_666]

I'm having a real dilemma here... I ordered a pair of EMG's, but after some deep thought about tone, I've decided I REALLY REALLY like Daron Malakian's (System of a Down) tone. I love the dark cleans, and the harmonically rich distortion he gets. And I know he uses the SD Pearly Gates in the bridge. Do you experienced forum goers know if the Pearly Gates will get me the clean and distorted SoaD tones in an Ibanez SZ, mahogany/maple top, rosewood fretboard? And also, is this pickup aggressive enough to get me old Metallica (up to AJFA), Disturbed, old Weezer (Blue Album), maybe AFI, and some other heavy distortion/sweet cleans? Should I stick with my advancing EMG 81/60?

One final question: WILL I BE ABLE TO GET PINCH HARMONICS OUT OF THIS THING EASILY? See my sig for the gear I've got, and thanks a lot for bearing with me here.

[Curly Moe's Bluesman Find all posts View Profile Close Curly]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

I haven't used a PG, but I'll make a guess here.

You may have looked at the description on the main site, but anyway, as you probably know, the PG was modeled after Billy Gibbons' well-known Les Paul. That should give you a good idea of the tone.

here's the description from the main site:
"The original custom Pearly Gates™ pickups were wound for the famous '59 Les Paulฎ Standard that defined the raw, rebellious sound of Texas blues rock. Essentially a variation on the Patent Applied For sound, the Pearly Gates sound is sweet, but slightly rude, with great sustain and a bright top that make harmonics jump out of the guitar."

[Metalman_666 Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Metalman_666]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

yes, but Malakian gets the most rocking tones from it.... so heavy and... just... amazing... can I get those, and is it versatile?

[\m/(00)\m/ HeadBanginologist Find all posts View Profile Close \m/(00)\m/]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

he also uses a mesa boogie dual or triple rectifier

[ShredMAN Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ShredMAN]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

In an interview I heard him say that all his tone comes from his amps.

[Benjy_26 25's Nemesis Find all posts View Profile Close Benjy_26]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

The PG can get plenty heavy in my Paul. It has great output, excellent cleans, great clarity for saturated rythms, and more than enough cut for leads. I use my PG set for everything from jazzy tunes, blues, 70's rock, and modern stuff like Queens of the Stone Age, Powerman 5K, STP, and Collective Soul. Let me put it to you this way, I can play a whole gig with the PG loaded Lester only.

[Benjy_26 25's Nemesis Find all posts View Profile Close Benjy_26]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

BTW, doesn't Malakian endorse the Marshall Mode Four?

[Metalman_666 Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Metalman_666]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

he also uses a mesa boogie dual or triple rectifier

I believe you're wrong.... doesn't he endorse the Marshall M4? And does he just use the amp as is?

[jimlp Ultimate Tone Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimlp]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

I have a Pearly Gates set in my Czech Dean Caddy. The neck pickup is heaven, the bridge I am not sure about. There is just enough bass but the rest seems to be voiced towards the highs and it can get to sound thin, especially for leads. I am thinking of replacing it with a Custom but some people here have said that it is bright as well so I am not sure what I will be doing.

[flank Mojo's Minions Find all posts View Profile Close flank]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

any tones youve heard from daron is a mesa triple rectifier and multiple gibson guitars.........hes uses the iceman live........ but he also uses stock gibson pickups as well as PGs for studio........and i think PGs only for live work.....

[Metalman_666 Ultimate Tone Slacker Find all posts View Profile Close Metalman_666]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

Also, doesn't he use a Jackson Randy Rhoads in the studio?? Does his tone just come from the Marshall ModeFour? And does anyone know what he used to use before the MF?

[flank Mojo's Minions Find all posts View Profile Close flank]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

he hasnt used a mode four on any recordings yet....im sure it will be all over the new album........but any song youve heard by SOAD is a MESA TRIPLE RECTIFIER!!!!!!.....eh.... and yes he does use a jackson, but mostly gibson guitars......

[RG 2570 Toneologist Find all posts View Profile Close RG 2570]

Re: HELP!!! Do I want the Pearly Gates???

I'm having a real dilemma here... I ordered a pair of EMG's, but after some deep thought about tone, I've decided I REALLY REALLY like Daron Malakian's (System of a Down) tone. I love the dark cleans, and the harmonically rich distortion he gets. And I know he uses the SD Pearly Gates in the bridge. Do you experienced forum goers know if the Pearly Gates will get me the clean and distorted SoaD tones in an Ibanez SZ, mahogany/maple top, rosewood fretboard? And also, is this pickup aggressive enough to get me old Metallica (up to AJFA), Disturbed, old Weezer (Blue Album), maybe AFI, and some other heavy distortion/sweet cleans? Should I stick with my advancing EMG 81/60?

One final question: WILL I BE ABLE TO GET PINCH HARMONICS OUT OF THIS THING EASILY? See my sig for the gear I've got, and thanks a lot for bearing with me here.

i thought he used a JB?