59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

[arya44]

Hi guys,
This is my first post to SD forum. Hello hello...
I got some web reading and sound samples and talk with local dealer, so far I got a 59 for neck (hasn't installed it yet instead of my 490R) and have ordered Pearly Gates for bridge (will take a couple of weeks to arrive to Calgary) for my 95 Les Paul Studio.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I hear people commenting on not liking Pearly Gates for LP bridge (sounding too thin, etc.) but some say it's a great pickup overall and also for bridge. I'm worried about the shrill high mid frequencies building up as part of that rudeness they advertise. A JB like thick mid-range could perhaps mask out that high frequency but I'm not sure if there is such thing as JB like mid-range but with open yet smooth highs. Something with a typical PAF output.
May be my worry for shrill highs of Pearly Gates is non-sense. I can still change the order perhaps. Please let me know your thoughts.
I like 70s British rock kind of tone, so for humbucker it would be Steve Hackette (Genesis), Steve Howe (Yes), Andy Latimer (Camel). I also like to have tone options for blues and some jazz if that make sense. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

 

[stratguy23]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

59n and PGb is a great starting point. They are excellent pickups.

59n may get boomy in your LP; 59n has that tendency in mahogany. However, 59n is a good choice for the progressive sound you seek. The mid scoop means your tone won't mush up there; it will remain clear (except for possibly boomy bass). Boomy 59n is not necessarily a problem; you could just get a similarly bass-heavy bridge pickup and just EQ accordingly at the amp. Custom 5 would be a good bridge match in this respect.

PGb should sound great in your LP; that combination is like chocolate and peanut butter. All that mahogany in the LP makes up for the PG's lack of low end. The tone may be more rude/sizzly than you want.

If you like 59n but don't like PGb, Custom 5, Custom/Hybrid, or Pegasus might be good bridge matches in terms of having similar clarity but with more output. Perpetual Burn also has much clarity and is sort of JB-style but with even EQ.

If you like PGb but not 59n, Jazz neck would be my first recommendation for 70s prog sounds. Sentient and Pearly Gates neck might also work.

Not all LPs are the same, so a better time to ask this forum would be after the install, if/when you've identified issues you need to fix. Who knows, 59n and PGb might be exactly what you want - you don't know until you find out.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

I would go for the Pearly Gates set instead of the Pearly Bridge and 59n. The 59 neck may sound way too boomy compared to the bright PG Bridge. The Whole Lotta Humbucker set would cover that territory well too.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

^ +1. PGn goes with the PGb better.

Actually, a great set is the 59/Custom Hybrid/PGn.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

This thread would have been a lot more useful if it was started before the OP ordered the pickups.

 

[arya44]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

This thread would have been a lot more useful if it was started before the OP ordered the pickups.

Sorry guys. I kept leaving messages for Seymour Duncan hoping to hear back the comment from them prior to the order but I didn't have any luck so I went ahead. At some point it occurred to me that the forum could be an easier way to get feedback. I don't know why my local sales person thought 59n and PGb is a good combo. I think he thought if I like blues I use the neck and if I like to play rock I use the bridge. I bought the 59 very cheap so I can get rid of it with that price if it is too boomy. I was also reading that putting A3 instead of A5 can reduce the boominess, and A2 make it sound more complex:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?203830-SD-59-with-alnico-2-magnets
I appreciate if you can comment on this.
Thanks.

 

[NotCardio]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

OK, first let me say that I'll admit that I'm a relative novice to the intricacies of the pickup game. But, that being said, I'm wondering what your thought process was regarding the bridge. Let's see, I like Genesis and Yes, so what comes to mind...I know! I'll get a pickup designed to play ZZ Top! Yeah, that's the ticket. So, got your JB ordered to go in your Ibanez George Benson yet?

Hey, I'm just yankin' yer chain. But you've gotta admit, it sounds pretty funny when you think about it.

 

[NotCardio]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

BTW, I've got a PG bridge ready t go into an Epi LP, but then, ZZTop and Allman Bros (Warren Haynes used PGs in his LP) is exactly what I'm going for.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Sorry guys. I kept leaving messages for Seymour Duncan hoping to hear back the comment from them prior to the order but I didn't have any luck so I went ahead. At some point it occurred to me that the forum could be an easier way to get feedback. I don't know why my local sales person thought 59n and PGb is a good combo. I think he thought if I like blues I use the neck and if I like to play rock I use the bridge. I bought the 59 very cheap so I can get rid of it with that price if it is too boomy. I was also reading that putting A3 instead of A5 can reduce the boominess, and A2 make it sound more complex:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?203830-SD-59-with-alnico-2-magnets
I appreciate if you can comment on this.
Thanks.

Oh yeah, you can totally get the '59 to match the PGb with a mag swap if it's a bit boomy. You may actually like the increased depth and crispness of the A5 in the neck juxtaposed against the more in-your-face-strong midrange-attack of the PGb. Might sound really cool! You're spot on about the A3 or A2 swap if you want them to match a little better but I think you might like them the way they are. You might want to drop the '59 neck as far down as you can get it in your cavity and play with the height of the PGb a bit.

... and then there's this mod which is magic for the '59 neck's bottom octave without losing the character of the A5. With this mod, you can have the '59n closer to the strings than without it.

FWIW, the PGb is perfect for Hackett and Howe and is awesomely suited for blues and jazz... same goes for the '59n.

 

[mtsv]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Well, I agree mostly with the already said comments, while I can also recommend JB (SH-4) for the bridge position to match '59 neck pups. I have them on my Epiphone, and I just roll the volume of '59 a little bit down and I use the middle switch position with both pups active, the I can have a killer sound.

 

[arya44]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Oh yeah, you can totally get the '59 to match the PGb with a mag swap if it's a bit boomy. You may actually like the increased depth and crispness of the A5 in the neck juxtaposed against the more in-your-face-strong midrange-attack of the PGb. Might sound really cool! You're spot on about the A3 or A2 swap if you want them to match a little better but I think you might like them the way they are. You might want to drop the '59 neck as far down as you can get it in your cavity and play with the height of the PGb a bit.

... and then there's this mod which is magic for the '59 neck's bottom octave without losing the character of the A5. With this mod, you can have the '59n closer to the strings than without it.

FWIW, the PGb is perfect for Hackett and Howe and is awesomely suited for blues and jazz... same goes for the '59n.

Thanks for that info. It's great to know such a simple mod can do the trick. I'm wondering if it's good to have a parallel signal with a potentiometer to bring back some of the filtered frequency in case it sounds a bit hollow. I'm also wondering if anyone has a before and after audio clip for 59n mod either with magnet swapping or adding the cap.
Cheers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

My choice for blues PAF's would be an A2P set. Compared to PG's, the bridge is fuller sounding, and the neck has a little bite on the high end.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

I reckon the PGn is a better match for the PGb than a 59, mainly due to the magnets being the same.
However, if you dial in the amps eq to suit the Pgb and then find that the 59 is too bassy, you can put an alnico 2 magnet in there. It will smooth off the tops end and trim a little bass while giving you a sweet and singing midrange. That way you will get a pretty nicely balanced set. The 59 with an a2 is one of my favourite sounding pickups and will definitely complement the PGb.


...or better still, return the unused 59 to your local shop and swap it for a PGn. It is one of the best, warmest and most musical pickups out there.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Genesis is a post modern prof band. You don't even know who they are.

I would have said PGn and 59B or PG set. But - try it for a whole and see how YOU like it.

If you really don't dig the sound, swap the bridge and neck (or try that mod mentioned above).

 

[Aceman]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Sorry guys. I kept leaving messages for Seymour Duncan hoping to hear back the comment from them prior to the order but I didn't have any luck so I went ahead.

I do not in any way want this quote as being misconstrued that there may be serious problems with Duncan customer service. If that were to happen, then this thread could disappear and this guy wouldn't get any help.

 

[arya44]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

I reckon the PGn is a better match for the PGb than a 59, mainly due to the magnets being the same.
However, if you dial in the amps eq to suit the Pgb and then find that the 59 is too bassy, you can put an alnico 2 magnet in there. It will smooth off the tops end and trim a little bass while giving you a sweet and singing midrange. That way you will get a pretty nicely balanced set. The 59 with an a2 is one of my favourite sounding pickups and will definitely complement the PGb.


...or better still, return the unused 59 to your local shop and swap it for a PGn. It is one of the best, warmest and most musical pickups out there.

Thanks a lot. I like your idea of dialling the amp bass to cater PGb and then deal with the 59 neck pickup to tame the bass. So do you think A2 is a better option than A3? How about using a cap instead of A2/A3? Or what about reducing the pickup height and bringing up the poles on the high strings? I should check to see my options in magnet swapping. Is it easy? Where would I buy the magnets? Unfortunately SD 59n is already bought used so I can't reverse the transaction. Even PGb return would cost me half the price of the pickup so that's going to stay as well.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

Thanks a lot. I like your idea of dialling the amp bass to cater PGb and then deal with the 59 neck pickup to tame the bass. So do you think A2 is a better option than A3? How about using a cap instead of A2/A3? Or what about reducing the pickup height and bringing up the poles on the high strings? I should check to see my options in magnet swapping. Is it easy? Where would I buy the magnets? Unfortunately SD 59n is already bought used so I can't reverse the transaction. Even PGb return would cost me half the price of the pickup so that's going to stay as well.

Some people would rather swap magnets but I believe strongly that the cap mod would do the trick to tame the '59's boominess without a magnet swap. A5 in the neck is great because of the extra highs you get... the only downside is the boomy bass.

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

I also like the 59' better in the bridge position of a Les Paul and prefer the PG in the neck.... if I am going to mix two different magnet types. I like the A2P's, but not in a LP. The bridge to my ears is too thin and the neck too muddy.... usually, unless your LP is very bright, then the A2P would be great in the neck. I would have recommended either the Whole Lotta set, the Slash sig pups, deigned to make a modern LP sound like his Derrig copy, which is very bright, or even the Antiquity set.

Here's the thing. Don't panic. Put what you ordered in the guitar and see what you think. You get the 21 day guarantee on the new pickup, so return it if you don't like it. Who knows... you might. Also, the 59n has been known to sound mighty nice in the bridge position of a Les Paul.

Everyone has valid points and comments, but only your ears can tell you what you will like. That's my two cents. Like any other opinion, my opinion + $1 will only get you a useless doctorate degree.

 

[Natman]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

^ +1. PGn goes with the PGb better.

Actually, a great set is the 59/Custom Hybrid/PGn.

That's what I use in my Hamer Newport. I didn't plan it that way, the SH-16b was an immediate keeper (got mine unpotted) and I tried the PGn just because it was there. I LOVE the SH16 but think a Seth Lover would be better than the PGn at the neck.

I really do wish they made a neck pickup to match the Hybrid as there is something special that happens with the mismatched coils. But I digress.

Another suggestion is to check the pots in your Studio. They might be 300k and if so, they're shedding treble off your tone and new 500k pots will help in the clarity department.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge

I would say to wait and see. What you ordered are 2 great pickups which have a great chance of sounding awesome in the guitar. Since they are not there yet, and we don't know what it sounds like, it is useless to speculate on replacements yet. If you had done all the research in the world, you still wouldn't know what they would sound like in your guitar, with you playing, which is the same boat a lot of us are in when ordering new pickups we haven't tried before.