Split coil pearly gates

[hselburn60]

What do the pearly gates sound like split? I like mark knofler, Keith Richards, and in a clean channel, do they come close to that or too dirty even in a clean channel?

Thanks!

[Lewguitar]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

What do the pearly gates sound like split? I like mark knofler, Keith Richards, and in a clean channel, do they come close to that or too dirty even in a clean channel?

Thanks!

A PG split into a single coil sounds like a very weak Strat pickup to me. Definitely not too dirty. Too clean if anything. To me, the only humbuckers that sound good split are those are that are wound hotter than a vintage paf. The Dimarzios in my Ernie Ball Axis are the same as those in the Ernie Ball EVH guitar and they sound very good split. But they're hot pickups. The PG is not, IMO, a hot pickup.

[Chistopher]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

The Pearly Gates neck sounds alright split. They are a lighter wound, so they won't drive your clean channel.

[jeremy]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

i have a pgn that i split in one guitar. its clean, bright, and low output. in a live situation, it does what i need it to do but it sure dont sound like my strat

[zionstrat]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

One of our more popular mods for thick guitars... You can hear it pretty well in this video even though it was recorded with an iPhone...

76 Les Paul Pro Mods https://www.guitaryoudreamabout.com/...=comp-jfvcdv70

Definitely would not call it strat like. We pitch it more like a bass roll off. A quick and easy way to clean out the mud for rhythm and articulate parts and back to the full PG beautiful tone with a push of a pot.

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[Aceman]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

Yeah - I have split Pearlies in one guitar. Never use them split. They sound just fine. Very clean, but as said - weak.

But That is any PAF style split. Hot buckers always sound better split; CC, Custom, JB etc...

A DiMArzio X2N is in the Texas Hot zone when in single mode.

[Mincer]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

There are similar-output pickups that *do* sound good split, like the Alnico II pro.

[zizyphus]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

There are similar-output pickups that *do* sound good split, like the Alnico II pro.

Agreed!

[hselburn60]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

Agreed!

Sounds like I may have to wait until SD is open and talk to the custom shop. This may be why they came up with a custom version. Or I can look at the other pafs. But I want splitting. I have EMG's but a) they increase the gain noise of my Amp to an uncomfortable degree and b) I'm tired of having a 9 volt battery in a guitar with a control cavity not designed for it. (Gibson SG) I have at least 2 stripped screws because of that battery. I'm done with that. Lol.

[Toejam]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

The Pearly Gates Plus (originally made for certain Fender guitars) has an A5 magnet and is a little higher output than the standard PG. It is closer in sound to the '59 humbucker, and it splits pretty well.

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

One solution could be the resistor split, pioneered by Bill Lawrence in the 70s and used very successfully on some PRS models like the DGT.

You wire a resistor between the coil connection and ground, so not all of the coil's signal gets shunted off. This allows the split to give you cleaner, brighter tone without getting too wimpy.

Values that seem to work well with many pickups are 1.1K for neck pickups and 2.2K for bridge. Another option would be a little trimpot. That way you can dial it to taste, then close up the guitar knowing you can readjust it later if you want.

[zionstrat]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

One solution could be the resistor split, pioneered by Bill Lawrence in the 70s and used very successfully on some PRS models like the DGT.

You wire a resistor between the coil connection and ground, so not all of the coil's signal gets shunted off. This allows the split to give you cleaner, brighter tone without getting too wimpy.

Values that seem to work well with many pickups are 1.1K for neck pickups and 2.2K for bridge. Another option would be a little trimpot. That way you can dial it to taste, then close up the guitar knowing you can readjust it later if you want.

There are definitely some advantages to reducing a coil. In fact that's why spin a split is so good... you tune it till you get exactly the tone you are looking for.

And if you go this direction and find a perfect spin a split sweet spot you can either add resistors to match the same value of the spin a split pot or you could use a trim pot that you tune and then forget.

All of these approaches create similar tones but they're also a little bit different. The only challenge with the resistor direction is you are reducing humbucking but that not may not be a problem in your performance environment.



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[hselburn60]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

So a resistor between the split coil switch and ground? That sounds interesting.

There are definitely some advantages to reducing a coil. In fact that's why spin a split is so good... you tune it till you get exactly the tone you are looking for.

And if you go this direction and find a perfect spin a split sweet spot you can either add resistors to match the same value of the spin a split pot or you could use a trim pot that you tune and then forget.

All of these approaches create similar tones but they're also a little bit different. The only challenge with the resistor direction is you are reducing humbucking but that not may not be a problem in your performance environment.



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[zionstrat]

Re: Split coil pearly gates

There are definitely some advantages to reducing a coil. In fact that's why spin a split is so good... you tune it till you get exactly the tone you are looking for.

And if you go this direction and find a perfect spin a split sweet spot you can either add resistors to match the same value of the spin a split pot or you could use a trim pot that you tune and then forget.

All of these approaches create similar tones but they're also a little bit different. The only challenge with the resistor direction is you are reducing humbucking but that not may not be a problem in your performance environment.



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Spin a split diagram follows... With sas, you use the pot to ground out as much of 2nd coil as you want...

If you don't need sas, calculate the resistance of the sas pot when it's giving u the tone u want and replace the pot with resistors of that value.

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/guitar-wiring-explored-the-spin-a-split-mod

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[leonwli]

Late to the party, but in case someone else is thinking about this like me and seeking information.

I have achieved great results with the PRS partial split method on my LP copy. Went with 2k2 for both the neck and bridge after some testing as it provides the best balance between volume and the single coil chime. One thing to note is that I'm using 0.015uf for the tone caps instead of the 0.047 recommended by SD.