Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

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polishnightmare

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Guys:

Does anyone have any input on the tone difference between a pearly gates/pearly gates plus and a custom custom SH-11? Looking on SD website it looks like the custom custom has a good mid and high, but very little on the bottom from the EQ listing. Not sure how to process this tone. Any thoughts? Also I currently have a LP with stock pickups and a fender strat with a 59 in the neck and pearly gates plus in the bridge. Any input on the sound s custom custom might compare to these other guitars in a schecter C-1 custom FR?

Thanks.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Welcome to the forum.

The PG+ is designed to go in the bridge position of a Stratocaster. It beefs things up nicely without overpowering the single coils. I have only ever seen this pickup in open double white bobbins. It looks right on a Stratocaster. It looks wrong on anything else.
 
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Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

PG+ uses an A5 magnet and the CC uses and A2. Right there you're going to have some difference. A5 magnets tend to have a tighter bass and brighter highs.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Greetings Polish!

Well - first of all let me say that you picked a tough combo to deal with: PG/CC and LP/STrat. The combinations and results there are just far ranging.

Overall:

PG is a classic PAF, with a sweet top, good cut, and not too much bottom. Remember - PG is a pup made/intended for a Les Paul. It is a vintage style with a little 'extra' but in eq - not output. Many find it abrasive in a bridge position for an LP. Seems to work for Billy Gibbons all over the place.

CC is a modern pup, with the ultimate fat high end, more middle than all the cast of Biggest Loser put together, and a really loose bottom. Most CC owners will tell you the high rating of the CC on the chart is a bit shall we say, generous. People either love or hate the CC. Hate comments include no bottom, and what is there is sloppy, and no highs. There are relatively simple teaks for this, but remember the pup is for people who want mid monsters. It also works best in Floyded Strats. Van Halen 1984? Here is your pup.

They are nothing similar. As for the Schecter, can't say. Whatever it is you are trying to do - one of those will be a win and one will be a fail. Not sure which. What are you trying to do???
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Thanks guys. Looking at possibly getting a schecter C-1 Custom FR. Wanted to try to understand based on the guitars that I have, mentioned above, how the C-1 with the CC SH-11 would sound in comparison to those. Since not much out there on the guitars, wanted to understand how the pick ups would compare, stock LP pickup or pearly gates plus vs. Custom custom SH-11 in bridge.

C-1 custom is mahagony body w/maple top and maple neck w/ebony fret board. Woods similar to LP minus maple neck and in some cases fret board.

Based on the clarification any additional feedback on pickups or C-1?

Normally would go play one, but none in stock. Would have to order.

Thanks.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

I swapped recently a PG+ for PG in the Bridge of a LP. They are very different. The PG+ has a lot more attack and scooped mids - its a meatier version of the 59B. The PG a little compresses more and sound rounder/narrower.
If you like a 59 in the Bridge and need even more attack/openness, than the PG+ is for you. If you like the PG, but want more volume go with a CC.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

First of all, the ONLY Custom pup worth messing with is the C8. The regular Custom (ceramic mag) is crap fizzy tone, The C5 is hollow and lifeless, the CC (A2) is blah (kinda like a stock Epi pup).

I'm not sure what the difference is with wire winds in the PG compared to the PG+ (I know about the mag difference). Of course, the PG is the best sounding pup made for a LP type guitar...mahogany/maple cap (at least 10 times better than any of the Customs) except that the C8 is excellent in the bridge of an SG.

I would think that an UOA5 mag in the PG+ would be the best choice for the bridge of the C1.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

I disagree about the CC. I think it is a wonderful bridge pickup in many Strat or Super Strat type guitars. I find the highs pleasing enough, the mids are very present but not overbearing and the low end is not as flubby as some make it out to be. I have a heavier old double fat strat copy, and the CC is the best bridge pup I've found in that guitar, and I've tried a bunch of them. I think it would be worth a try in a Schecter. If you don't like it for some reason, you can always change the magnet and make it something else.

Check out This Song that I recorded with the guitar I mentioned. CC in the bridge, APH in the neck. CC does all the crunchy distorted rhythm parts, the APH does the clean and lead parts. It's not the perfect pickup for everyone, but I think it's the most organic sounding Custom pickup off the rack.

I've also had a PG+ vs a regular PG. I like the regular PG much more, although it can sound a bit thin at the bridge unless it's in a fat guitar. I found the PG+ to be too bright and present for my tastes. I had it stock in a Lonestar Strat and it was just ok. Of the two, the PG is my pick, but I'd go with another pickup altogether if it was me.

Just remember, all of these opinions, including mine are just that....opinions. Ultimately you will have to decide what is best for you. Take a leap of faith with something that sounds right to you. If you buy new, you have 30 days to trade it in if you don't like it, so you really can't lose.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Jeff_H said:
I disagree about the CC. I think it is a wonderful bridge pickup in many Strat or Super Strat type guitars.

CC does all the crunchy distorted rhythm parts, the APH does the clean and lead parts.
Click to expand...


werd - that's the guitar type it was intended for. And I concur - it crunches like nobodies business because of those monster mids.

If the bottom is too loose, shorter poles on the bass strings. Easy adjustment/fix.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

I've played a few Strats with the PG+ at music stores and through good tube amps, it's a little bright. I like FAT mids in a bridge pickup and something more scooped or "Stratty" in the neck. I had a Super Distortion in the bridge (hard-mounted) and liked the mids but the bass was too much for me. I like a sloppy, loose bass response since I like old school metal/70 riff rock kind of tones. I got a Custom Custom and am IN LOOOOOVE with it. Very much post-Diver Down Van Halen tones and the harmonics are awesome...warm, complex yet they jump out easy! I have a bright EL34-driven amp and when cranked something like the PG+ would make my eyes bleed.

Keep in mind, most "Strats" are fairly bright guitars so I'd avoid a A5 pickup in the bridge.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

The UOA5 takes the bite out of the highs and warms it up a bit. Could just be what the PG+ needs. If that's not enough smoothness, you can always go to the A2 which the original PG was designed for. Haven't tried that PG+ with A2, might be good to get the shrill out if the UOA5 doesn't do it.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

GuitarDoc said:
The UOA5 takes the bite out of the highs and warms it up a bit. Could just be what the PG+ needs. If that's not enough smoothness, you can always go to the A2 which the original PG was designed for. Haven't tried that PG+ with A2, might be good to get the shrill out if the UOA5 doesn't do it.
Click to expand...

+1. If you're looking for a warm, rich bridge tone, a UOA5 will improve most PU's.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

The cc sounds good in every guitar I have ever put it in , Strats , les pauls etc .
its very smooth and has enough bite to get good over tones . One thing to keep in mind that most people over look is put quality pots in your guitar . You won't get the full potential out of any pickup if the other electronics are low quality .
I have never tried the pg so i cant comment on it . I don't think you can go wrong with a cc though . I have wcr darkburst in one lp and a cc in the bridge of the other and the difference is hardly noticeable . I think the darkburst were $325 for the set . So for my money the cc is the way to go.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Jeff H, I agree with what you are saying, but I think the OP is refering to his Schecter C1 (mahogany with maple cap) not the Strat. The brightness of a Strat would certainly bring out the best in the CC. The tonal strong points of the CC and Strat would tend to compliment each other.

My experience with the Custom, C5, CC, C3, C4, and C8 is only with mahogany guitars (LP and SG), not alder, ash, etc.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

My experience with the CC is also very good. It's got lots of output and works well in otherwise bright guitars. It's also a great pickup that you can further customize to Custom 5, Custom 8 or back to the standard Custom with a magnet change.

I think the PG is fine too, I had this setup in a Big Apple Strat a while back and while the PGs are warm, they aren't super hot. Lots of folks seem to really like the PGn or A2PH in a mahogany guitar.

But no experience with the PG+.
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Reaper of Doom said:
Really??? I might have to get a couple of those:naughty:
Click to expand...

Yup, UOA5 sounds very similar to an A2, but it has more power, slightly more high end, and the lows aren't as flabby. I haven't directly compared to an A4, but the A4's I've tried were missing something, the UOA has "it".
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

Any additional thoughts to the comments below of a CC in the bridge with a mahogany body with maple cap and Ebony fret board concerning tone, attack, bottom end, etc??

Thought on how this would sound vs.

Strat with PG+ in bridge

or

LP Studio with 498R in bridge

GuitarDoc said:
Jeff H, I agree with what you are saying, but I think the OP is refering to his Schecter C1 (mahogany with maple cap) not the Strat. The brightness of a Strat would certainly bring out the best in the CC. The tonal strong points of the CC and Strat would tend to compliment each other.

My experience with the Custom, C5, CC, C3, C4, and C8 is only with mahogany guitars (LP and SG), not alder, ash, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Custom Custom vs. Pearly Gates Plus

polishnightmare said:
Any additional thoughts to the comments below of a CC in the bridge with a mahogany body with maple cap and Ebony fret board concerning tone, attack, bottom end, etc??

Thought on how this would sound vs.

Strat with PG+ in bridge

or

LP Studio with 498R in bridge
Click to expand...

I have a 75 Les Paul Custom that was a VERY bright guitar and the CC is by far the best sounding pickup I've put in it. This guitar made an Antiquity sound bad if you can believe that! Mahogany, maple, ebony, not sure how close those guitars are in tone, but the woods seem the same. In my case, the CC matched up very well with my guitar. In your case, if you haven't bought it already since this thread is about none months old, you may have to buy the guitar first, and then dope out what pickup will match the woods to make up for anything lacking. One thing I've learned from pickup swapping is that one single pickup will sound completely different in different guitars. I had a Mo'Joe that ranged from bleeding eyes ice picky to hot and sweet in four different guitars.
 
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