Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

[Guitarmusic]

I have been thinking about many different pickups for this guitar because over time I think it feels too thin for me with the stock pickups.

I was going to go Custom Custom in the bridge and wondered what the difference would be between a APH-1N and the Pearly Gates neck?

How could you describe the differences?

I play in a cover band and this guitar would play stuff from Journey(Separate Ways) to Cool and the Gang through a Line 6 Helix LT.

The guitar also has a coil split option.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

The difference (to me) is that the APH-N has morenlowids and more true highs than the PGn. The PGn is a. Bit diealed back in the low mids and treble but has boost on the upper mids. Both are clear and not boomy in the lows, but, to me, the APHn sounds better clean than the PGn while the PGn gets my nod for dirtpersonally, I preffer the PGn, especially if you plan on splitting, as that gives you a very good clean sound (from either, actualluly).

 

[Mincer]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Indeed...the PG has more highs, the Alnico II Pro has more mids. They both will lose a little clarity in a 24 fret guitar however, due to where the neck pickup is. Listen to the guitar now- does it need more mids in the neck or highs?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Based on the wide range of tones you seek, and the split, I like the Pearly Gates also.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

+1 to the Pearly Gates. It feels a little more open that would make more sense in the position of the neck pocket of your guitar relative to the string length.

Very nice G&L BTW.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

I've got the PG in the neck of a couple guitars and think it sounds great. It's a little brighter than the A2Pro and certainly has clarity when split and might be the best choice if you put the CC in the bridge.

However, you might consider putting the C5 in the bridge (for brighter tones than the CC) and the A2Pro in the neck for a greater variety of available tones. And the A2P still sounds very clear and bright when split, but it will have more mids and warmth in humbucker mode than the PG...great for when you want the warm, smooth lead tones.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

What Doc said. I'm honestly not feeling the CC in the bridge. If this were a Floyded Superstrat, sure. But this isn't. C5 might be way better choice.

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

I hadn't considered the custom 5 but that sounds cool too. I think the mids in the guitar are fine, I just feel like the highs when soloing are a little brittle for me.

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions!

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

+1 to the Pearly Gates. It feels a little more open that would make more sense in the position of the neck pocket of your guitar relative to the string length.

Very nice G&L BTW.

Thank you! It is a nice guitar and I love its unique characteristics from G&L.

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Would the 59/Custom hybrid be advisable to use in the bridge instead of the regular custom 5? I ask because I hear alot of good things about it.

I have been researching the Custom 5 and they say that it is louder than the 59 with tighter bass. Does the custom/59 have the same output with slightly more pronounced mids?

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

I haven't tried an A2Pro but I can say from experience the CC and PGn make a great pair. Very nicely balanced, but I'm personally not a fan of setups that change the EQ drastically between pickups - some prefer that.

If you're worried about brittle sounding highs, that should never be a concern with that set.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Would the 59/Custom hybrid be advisable to use in the bridge instead of the regular custom 5? I ask because I hear alot of good things about it.

I have been researching the Custom 5 and they say that it is louder than the 59 with tighter bass. Does the custom/59 have the same output with slightly more pronounced mids?

The Hybrid is a great pickup and a good choice here. The C5 is really scooped, so unless your guitar has tons of mids you want to get rid of (like mine), or love a severely scooped sound, it might not be one I'd pick. The Hybrid is not as loud as the C5, though, maybe 90% the volume.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

To my ears, A2P's have a little more high-end than PGN's (it's been graciously pointed out here in the past that I'm wrong & my ears must be defective). PGN's have been too warm for me, don't care for them. I'm a big fan of A2P's, in the bridge & neck.

As for the bridge, you're bouncing all over the EQ map, as CC and '59/Custom have very different EQ's. CC's are warm with lots of mids and a looser low end. Some members have commented that CC's (SH-11) have been too warm & rounded for them in mahogany guitars, and that a better match in that wood is a C5 (SH-14). '59/Customs have very unbalanced coils, 7K + 4.1K. Both parent pickups are bright & mid-scooped, so the 'child' isn't going to fall far from the tree. Being a hybrid, the coils don't have the full 'humbucker effect'; balanced coils increase volume and mids, and reduce noise, high-end, and clarity. Unbalanced do that partially, so that some single coil tones come thru. For myself, that's a godsend for neck humbuckers. I love a neck pickup with a sharp high end and thinned-out mids, and no hint of being dark or muddy. I don't think the bridge slot is in need of that nearly as much.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

sorry,

outside the box here: StagMag in the neck with Triple Shot ring!!!

especially if you go Custom series in the bridge.

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Last weekend, I put a Pearly Gates into the neck position of a 24 fret Carvin DC400 and the results were very gratifying.

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Last weekend, I put a Pearly Gates into the neck position of a 24 fret Carvin DC400 and the results were very gratifying.

Nice man! What Is in the bridge?

 

[SAguitar]

Re: Alnico 2 Pro or Pearly Gates for neck?

Thanks! I put a JB in the bridge, because I had one laying around, and I'm really enjoying the way those two interact. Plus, I was very surprised at the nice Strat-like tone it gets when I split both of the pickups.