'59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

[toneseeker74]

Generally speaking, what would be the tonal differences of a set of '59s vs a set of Pearly Gates pups in a Gibson SG Special? I find the stock 490T/R pickups quite bland. Looking for something with more air and liveliness for cleans, but can get fat with a bite when overdriven.

I've narrowed my pickup choices down to these two models after reading many discussions. I want low/vintage output pickups, so the Custom family is ruled out. I have considered the Screamin Demon, but all the soundclips I listen to have a midrange that is crunchier/not as smooth as I want. The Demon also has a really tight and fast response, not so much the softened attack of most PAF type pickups. If the Demon can be smoothed and softened a little bit with a magnet swap (UOA5 maybe) and replacing the hex screws with filister screws, I'll put it back on my watch list.

My tone target would be close to Angus Young on the live album "If You Want Blood You Got It." But it would also be cool to get some of the brighter "kerrang" tones that Malcolm Young has on that album too, but I know he's playing a totally different guitar/pickup/amp setup than Angus.

My amps are Gibson GA-8 combo and Traynor YBA-1 through Celestion G12-65's. Mostly playing with clean to lightly overdriven tones. Usually guitar straight to amp.

 

[CTN]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

I too wanna know the answer to this...it's been on my mind for a while.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Your description sounds much more like the 59 set than the Pearly Gates. I like a bridge pickup that is a little hotter (Gibson 498t) but the 59 bridge is great too, and the 59 neck is the best thing I have ever found in an SG.

 

[SFW]

'59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

PG bridge. 59 neck.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

PG's. much cooler than 59's.

 

[blueman335]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Your description sounds much more like the 59 set than the Pearly Gates. I like a bridge pickup that is a little hotter (Gibson 498t) but the 59 bridge is great too, and the 59 neck is the best thing I have ever found in an SG.

+1. '59N's are very good in an SG, don't get boomy like they sometimes do in LP's. I have a pair of '59's in an SG, with an UOA5 in the bridge for warmth and dynamics. Works very well. If you want 'air and liveliness' in a neck PU, definitely a '59N and not a PGN. Both '59B's and PGB's are bright.

 

[symptom]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Generally speaking, what would be the tonal differences of a set of '59s vs a set of Pearly Gates pups in a Gibson SG Special? I find the stock 490T/R pickups quite bland. Looking for something with more air and liveliness for cleans, but can get fat with a bite when overdriven.

I've narrowed my pickup choices down to these two models after reading many discussions. I want low/vintage output pickups, so the Custom family is ruled out. I have considered the Screamin Demon, but all the soundclips I listen to have a midrange that is crunchier/not as smooth as I want. The Demon also has a really tight and fast response, not so much the softened attack of most PAF type pickups. If the Demon can be smoothed and softened a little bit with a magnet swap (UOA5 maybe) and replacing the hex screws with filister screws, I'll put it back on my watch list.

My tone target would be close to Angus Young on the live album "If You Want Blood You Got It." But it would also be cool to get some of the brighter "kerrang" tones that Malcolm Young has on that album too, but I know he's playing a totally different guitar/pickup/amp setup than Angus.

My amps are Gibson GA-8 combo and Traynor YBA-1 through Celestion G12-65's. Mostly playing with clean to lightly overdriven tones. Usually guitar straight to amp.

I can see why you don't want any higher output pickup. But a Custom 5 or UO Custom 5 would deliver exactly what you want. About the neck, the 59n is THE choice for the SG.

+1. '59N's are very good in an SG, don't get boomy like they sometimes do in LP's. I have a pair of '59's in an SG, with an UOA5 in the bridge for warmth and dynamics. Works very well. If you want 'air and liveliness' in a neck PU, definitely a '59N and not a PGN. Both '59B's and PGB's are bright.

Just a curiosity: do you have a SG loaded with Seth Lovers?

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Sadly, I sold my Seth Lover bridge & neck pickups...along with my Screamin Demon, Custom, and Distortion bridge & neck pickups. I went on pickup collecting spree for a while then decided that I really didn't need all these extra humbuckers lying around.

There seems to be pretty good consensus on using a '59 in the bridge. I'm curious to know why some people rave about the Pearly Gates neck in an SG while others rave about the '59 neck.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Brobucker in the bridge is the tone!

 

[blueman335]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

I can see why you don't want any higher output pickup. But a Custom 5 or UO Custom 5 would deliver exactly what you want. About the neck, the 59n is THE choice for the SG.

Just a curiosity: do you have a SG loaded with Seth Lovers?

No, my Seth's are in LP's and a PRS Santana SE. My A2P's, Ant's, and BB's are in LP's too; they just seem like the ideal place for A2 PAF's.

 

[symptom]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

No, my Seth's are in LP's and a PRS Santana SE. My A2P's, Ant's, and BB's are in LP's too; they just seem like the ideal place for A2 PAF's.

You're one of the most experienced guys here in pickups and mag swapping. I'm sure you're getting great tones of your guitars. Do you have any soundclips?

 

[blueman335]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

You're one of the most experienced guys here in pickups and mag swapping. I'm sure you're getting great tones of your guitars. Do you have any soundclips?

I'm working on it. Posting clips is all new stuff to me.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

^
Ctrl + ¿ :naughty:

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

OK, I'm leaning toward getting a set of '59s. Will they work for Clapton's live Cream tones?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

if you have settled on 59's then thats all cool - cos you can always tweak them with magnet swaps if you are not totally happy with their sound, the great thing about them is that they sound good with pretty much any magnet combination, just different types of good.

 

[symptom]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

if you have settled on 59's then thats all cool - cos you can always tweak them with magnet swaps if you are not totally happy with their sound, the great thing about them is that they sound good with pretty much any magnet combination, just different types of good.

We have a lot of options and very good pickups to choose. But I have a theory that a pair of 59's would work great for most situations of the average player (so will a lot of others, but the 59 is like a standard choice).

I'm sure the OP will be happy with them, especially with the 59n. Works great in SGs.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

Thanks for all the great replies, folks

 

[Aceman]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

PG bridge. 59 neck.

I honestly like this choice. I'd definitely go 59 in an SG neck. But I think a PG bridge will really deliver the sounds you want.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

The 59b with an A8 is a really good choice for the bridge.

The 59n is a little too scooped for me in the neck (I like the neck to be full and warm), so I prefer it with an A4.
But I like the Pearly better in the neck.
But I like the Demon best in the neck out of these three choices. I don't find the mids crunchy. I find it very smooth with the Demon. But if it isn't smooth enough for you an A4 or A2 will fix that. Also, filister screws will help a little (the hex screws make the sound a little more focused and bright).

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: '59 vs Pearly Gates in SG Special

I think either would sound just fine.

But since SG's do sound thinner and twangier than a Les Paul, I can see why some might prefer the 59's.

A vintage Gibson SG, such as the one played by Eric Clapton in Cream, would have had two identical Gibson humbuckers with the same wind and same output.

A pair of 59B's would be pretty close.