59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
- Thread starter arya44
- Start date
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
For sure. I'll keep you posted and will try to make before and after comparison audio clips for both clean and distortion sounds.
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
I was reading that A4 is a more balanced and less exaggerated tone version of A5 and A3 more balanced and less exaggerated version of A2. So if I also like to swap A2 from the bridge Pearly Gates, does it make sense to use A4 on bridge PG and A3 on neck '59? I like the idea of clean lowest output on neck and hotter but more even tone on the bridge. If A2 is making bridge PG not hot enough and not even enough (as we know PG is too low in low and too high in high mids) would it make it more even while hotter using an A4 instead?
Thanks.
I was reading that A4 is a more balanced and less exaggerated tone version of A5 and A3 more balanced and less exaggerated version of A2. So if I also like to swap A2 from the bridge Pearly Gates, does it make sense to use A4 on bridge PG and A3 on neck '59? I like the idea of clean lowest output on neck and hotter but more even tone on the bridge. If A2 is making bridge PG not hot enough and not even enough (as we know PG is too low in low and too high in high mids) would it make it more even while hotter using an A4 instead?
Thanks.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
An A3 in a '59N will add mids and give a 'larger' sound. The high-end will still be bright, but it will be more rounded, rather than sharp. A3's have less low-end than A5's, so you shouldn't have an issue with boominess. Should be a nice clean tone.
An A4 in a PGB will add high-end and reduce mids. The low-end will be firmer. A4's have a little more output than A2's, but not by much. PGB's are fairly bright to begin with, and an A4 would be adding more treble (as A2's are a warm magnet). Some guys really kick things up by putting an A8 in their PGB, which adds noticeable output and gives a fuller sound. If you want a bridge PU with some muscle, you might an A8 in there.
An A3 in a '59N will add mids and give a 'larger' sound. The high-end will still be bright, but it will be more rounded, rather than sharp. A3's have less low-end than A5's, so you shouldn't have an issue with boominess. Should be a nice clean tone.
An A4 in a PGB will add high-end and reduce mids. The low-end will be firmer. A4's have a little more output than A2's, but not by much. PGB's are fairly bright to begin with, and an A4 would be adding more treble (as A2's are a warm magnet). Some guys really kick things up by putting an A8 in their PGB, which adds noticeable output and gives a fuller sound. If you want a bridge PU with some muscle, you might an A8 in there.
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
Thanks a lot for the clarification.
I already ordered A3 for 59n and A8 for PGb.
I was thinking someone pointed out A4/A8 is a good combo.
Should I try A4 for 59n?
What would be the difference and a good match?
Thanks.
Thanks a lot for the clarification.
I already ordered A3 for 59n and A8 for PGb.
I was thinking someone pointed out A4/A8 is a good combo.
Should I try A4 for 59n?
What would be the difference and a good match?
Thanks.
Leon Of Late
New member
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
I would do the A3 59' and the stock PGb first. The PG may sound better than you think. Then you can try A3, A4, A8 and see which does it for you. One of the cheapest and most effective pickup mods there is.
I would do the A3 59' and the stock PGb first. The PG may sound better than you think. Then you can try A3, A4, A8 and see which does it for you. One of the cheapest and most effective pickup mods there is.
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
I like certain aspects of the PG bridge but still the whinny high mid frequency is a bit too much for me. Coming from a 498 with more power in the low/low mid, it's quite an adjustment.
I use the middle position a lot, and when I bring the bridge volume up, the nasal characteristic becomes too evident too soon.
I like to investigate in possibilities of taming the high mid frequency while boosting the low-mid and lows, while having a clean transparent sound.
I heard people also try unoriented Alnico V for PGb. Is that equal to rough magnet? Would that be a better fit for a A3 or A4 '59n volume-wise?
Thanks again.
I like certain aspects of the PG bridge but still the whinny high mid frequency is a bit too much for me. Coming from a 498 with more power in the low/low mid, it's quite an adjustment.
I use the middle position a lot, and when I bring the bridge volume up, the nasal characteristic becomes too evident too soon.
I like to investigate in possibilities of taming the high mid frequency while boosting the low-mid and lows, while having a clean transparent sound.
I heard people also try unoriented Alnico V for PGb. Is that equal to rough magnet? Would that be a better fit for a A3 or A4 '59n volume-wise?
Thanks again.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
The A4 would have more bottom than the A3.
I have an Ibby with an A4 SH-6n paired with an Alternative 8 in the bridge. Killer combo. The neck is hot enough to keep up with the Alt8, but still has a vintage set of mids without loosing the top and bottom.
Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
The A4 would have more bottom than the A3.
I have an Ibby with an A4 SH-6n paired with an Alternative 8 in the bridge. Killer combo. The neck is hot enough to keep up with the Alt8, but still has a vintage set of mids without loosing the top and bottom.
Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
I just found out what UOA5 is and I added another order of two UOA5. So I will try A3 SH-1n / A2 PGb, A3 SH-1n / UOA5 PGb, and rough A4 SH-1n / rough A8 PGb and see which combo fit better together for volume and also to my taste for the tone. I will try to record clean and dirty for the current as well as each above combo as I continue this process, and post it here.
Thanks for all your help.
Cheers.
I just found out what UOA5 is and I added another order of two UOA5. So I will try A3 SH-1n / A2 PGb, A3 SH-1n / UOA5 PGb, and rough A4 SH-1n / rough A8 PGb and see which combo fit better together for volume and also to my taste for the tone. I will try to record clean and dirty for the current as well as each above combo as I continue this process, and post it here.
Thanks for all your help.
Cheers.
Re: 59 Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge
I was thinking if changing the magnet doesn't give enough matching character, I may consider changing one of the pickups. Originally I thought I change the bridge pickup since Pearly Gates high-mid squeal was so hard to take on the high strings and for the middle position that I use a lot, when I tried to blend the sound of bridge and neck, and brought up the bridge volume level a bit higher it just didn't match the character of '59 and felt out of place. Once I change the '59 magnet to A3, I will check see if that mismatch is still there and if so, I doubt changing Pearly Gates magnet would reduce that high-mid frequency character enough.
Although I must say, there is not much in '59 character that is a wow for me. After I applied that capacitor mod and still I had lack of enough definition for mid-range in '59n, now I'm thinking that I may end up changing both pickups, or give Pearly Gates another chance but with a different neck pickup. I agree that '59 neck is not a good option for Les Paul, at least for mine. I can make use of Pearly Gates bridge for the smooth distortion tones with a lot of mid-range and less treble (sort of like Mike Oldfield tones or Genesis Carpet Crawler). How about Seth Lover for the neck? Does it give a NOT SO PARTICULAR BUT COMPLEX ENOUGH tone to have a PAF low output transparent character and be versatile? I do not play metal or hard rock. Just soft distortion like early Genesis (which I use booster and overdrive pedals for) and I like clean blues and jazz. I will still do the magnet swapping and will post the clips even if I settle on a different pickup. Thanks for your help.
I was thinking if changing the magnet doesn't give enough matching character, I may consider changing one of the pickups. Originally I thought I change the bridge pickup since Pearly Gates high-mid squeal was so hard to take on the high strings and for the middle position that I use a lot, when I tried to blend the sound of bridge and neck, and brought up the bridge volume level a bit higher it just didn't match the character of '59 and felt out of place. Once I change the '59 magnet to A3, I will check see if that mismatch is still there and if so, I doubt changing Pearly Gates magnet would reduce that high-mid frequency character enough.
Although I must say, there is not much in '59 character that is a wow for me. After I applied that capacitor mod and still I had lack of enough definition for mid-range in '59n, now I'm thinking that I may end up changing both pickups, or give Pearly Gates another chance but with a different neck pickup. I agree that '59 neck is not a good option for Les Paul, at least for mine. I can make use of Pearly Gates bridge for the smooth distortion tones with a lot of mid-range and less treble (sort of like Mike Oldfield tones or Genesis Carpet Crawler). How about Seth Lover for the neck? Does it give a NOT SO PARTICULAR BUT COMPLEX ENOUGH tone to have a PAF low output transparent character and be versatile? I do not play metal or hard rock. Just soft distortion like early Genesis (which I use booster and overdrive pedals for) and I like clean blues and jazz. I will still do the magnet swapping and will post the clips even if I settle on a different pickup. Thanks for your help.
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