I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

[Curly]

Today I switched out the bridge pickup in my thinline tele for a "Pearly Gates for tele":

I already liked this guitar a lot .... I finished the body & neck with Tru Oil, and it looks and feels great. It also plays well, and it's light and responsive.

There was just one thing buggin' me -- the regular tele bridge pickup just couldn't quite hang with the mini hum in the neck. I know there are some things you can do about this, but I opted for the Pearly Gates, especially after someone said that despite the 17k output, it's still a medium output pickup -- and I agree.

I still have some minor height adjustments to balance things, but I can already tell that won't be a problem, and I definitely don't have the nagging drop off in volume I had before that meant I really had to work the volume & tone knobs.

and yes, the PG is a lot like a PAF type pickup, with punch, sustain, and a great voice.

I know there have been a few threads about these pickups, so I wanted to give my initial impressions, and say thanks to MJ for another great job. I haven't seen this same combination of pickups before, so I asked her if they would balance well, and she was right -- no problem.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

You have a gorgeous tele!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Very cool!

I tried the PG for Strat once, dig the overall tone and feel however it was too hot for SSL-1's in the neck and middle to I pulled it, I'd bet it sounds killer with that Epi style Mini (Is that an Antiquity?).

Sweet set up for sure G!

 

[ACH91332]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

That does look killer. Idk if I'd ever have the balls to take a Tele Lead out of a Telecaster though.. haha.

 

[Curly]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

You have a gorgeous tele!

thanks! I agree!

Is that an Antiquity?

yup
I think the lower output of this one, and some of the other minis, makes them so great in teles -- fatter than a regular tele pickup, but with more clarity than a full size hum

Idk if I'd ever have the balls to take a Tele Lead out of a Telecaster though.. haha.

haha ... maybe not if it was my only tele
I have other teles that do the regular tele thing though, and that gave me the freedom to do something different with this. I'd wanted to try a mini neck pickup for quite a while, and I'm pretty satisfied with the combination of a thinline with these pickups.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Yeah I plan on doing a '52 Tele build which will basically be my take on the '52. I plan on going mini hum in the neck as well.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Cool. I love it when someone who's opinion matters reviews a pickup I have no clue about! LOL

 

[Curly]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Yeah I plan on doing a '52 Tele build which will basically be my take on the '52. I plan on going mini hum in the neck as well.

I have a friend down in Florida named Pete Quigley who's a great player. years ago, he had a vintage early 50s tele. I asked him what pickup he had in the neck, and it was a Firebird pickup. That's where I first got the idea, and I've wanted to try a mini ever since.

Cool. I love it when someone who's opinion matters reviews a pickup I have no clue about! LOL

hey thanks Joe ... one thing led to another .. there were a couple threads lately about the PG/ tele, and also your thread about ceramic magnets made me decide to go with the PG instead of a Lil '59.
I have a couple ceramic mag pickups that sound good, but for my playing, I prefer alnicos -- to me, they have a little more touch, and clarity at lower volumes, plus they seem to have a little more "vocal" quality, if that makes sense.

 

[jeremy]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

gary that is a sweet tele for sure! im all about the hollow teles and that pup combo is right up my alley. thanks for the review!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Today I switched out the bridge pickup in my thinline tele for a "Pearly Gates for tele":

I already liked this guitar a lot .... I finished the body & neck with Tru Oil, and it looks and feels great. It also plays well, and it's light and responsive.

There was just one thing buggin' me -- the regular tele bridge pickup just couldn't quite hang with the mini hum in the neck. I know there are some things you can do about this, but I opted for the Pearly Gates, especially after someone said that despite the 17k output, it's still a medium output pickup -- and I agree.

I still have some minor height adjustments to balance things, but I can already tell that won't be a problem, and I definitely don't have the nagging drop off in volume I had before that meant I really had to work the volume & tone knobs.

and yes, the PG is a lot like a PAF type pickup, with punch, sustain, and a great voice.

I know there have been a few threads about these pickups, so I wanted to give my initial impressions, and say thanks to MJ for another great job. I haven't seen this same combination of pickups before, so I asked her if they would balance well, and she was right -- no problem.

Gorgeous buddy! Sounds like a winning combination..

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

Looks great Curly!
Bet it has that sweet signature sound that you make!!!
Going to get a normal PG for my Tele, see if it is a better fit than my old L-500L

 

[bagouser]

Re: I'm VERY happy with the Pearly Gates for tele bridge

If I ever considered putting a Stacked Humbucker in the bridge of my Tele, the PG would be my first choice. I have a PGb on a 335 style guitar and it's unbelievable how single coilish it can sound when split or with the volume rolled down.

Nice Tele man.......