Alternative to PG+ for HSS Strat?

b3john

b3john

New member
I did enjoy the history lesson. :)

One question... I have a pair of Area 61 singlecoils in an alder HSS Strat and I was looking at finding a Pearly Gates Plus for the bridge. However...

After reading Evan's post saying the PG+ was specifically matched to the Texas Specials, I'm thinking a PG+ would be too hot combined with the "Straty" 61s. :scratchch

If I was looking to go to down a notch from the PG+ in an alder HSS Strat, would you guys recommend a regular Pearly Gates or the '59 or something else entirely? Hopefully something available in a trem spacing, but the only deal breaker would be that it has to look like a normal humbucker (the P-Rails or PATB don't have that look I'm going for with a classic Strat). Genres are blues to classic rock to '70s rock, but no metal, etc.

Any help is appreciated.

John

Evan Skopp said:
Actually, the pickup is a Pearly Gates Plus, not a Pearly Gates. Mike Lewis, who was then head of Fender's guitar marketing (he's now running Gretsch) and I were the ones who worked out the pickups on that pickup. Mike had a background in retail sales knew what the Pearly Gates sounded like and he wanted that tone for this Strat. But, he wanted around 6dB of boost over and above a regular Pearly Gates for the bridge pickup. According to Mike, "When you go into the bridge position, I want a noticeable boost. And the Texas Specials are already on the hot side." So we took a stock Pearly Gates, changed the magnet from an Alnico 2 to an Alnico 5, and added a few hundred more turns. And viola! The Pearly Gates Plus was born.

Fender still uses it on some of their Special Edition guitars, like this one:
0263080_md.jpg


I hope you enjoyed today's history lesson. :22:
Click to expand...
 
Re: Alternative to PG+ for HSS Strat?

i have an air classic set in my strat. definitely my new favorite pickups. my go to pickup used to be the Duncan 59, but the air classic is better to my ears. it sounds very similar to the 59, but it doesn't have quite as much scoop in the mids. Dimarzio's EQ description is: bass, 5.5, mids: 4.5, treble: 6.5. where as the 59 (i think) is about 6, 3, 9.

if you like the 59, i can't help but think you will like the air classic. and, the air classic would probably be a great match for your area 61's. you can find demos on youtube.
 
Re: Alternative to PG+ for HSS Strat?

Hey B3John:

Like uOpt, I would recommend a regular Pearly Gates Trembucker. It should be exactly what you're looking for.

Enjoy.

- Evan
 
Re: Alternative to PG+ for HSS Strat?

another vote for the PG trembucker! amazing pup! the best sounding P.A.F i ever heard/tried.
 
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