Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

[Zheddar]

So, I have this lightish (in wieght) ash (Probably not swamp ash) tele with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. I am going to be using a phat cat in the neck. My choices for bridge are either Custom Custom (can be magnet swapped) or a Pearly Gates bridge, either can be covered or bare. I am kind of trying to go for more diversity amongst my guitars. I have ssl1's and a Screamin Demon in a strat, a Sentient and Pegasus in a Schecter SVSS, and a 59 and JB (rough alnico 5) in another strat. I'm looking for opinions about those pickups (Custom Custom or Pearly Gates) in ash. I like to be able to go from metal to EVH to SRV and enjoy a little twang/honk from time to time. I use a Blackstar ID:60 amp, so it can do lots of different things and I can compensate enough to not really have to make a pairing based on amp. Thanks for your input.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

If ash is too bright, (it can be), go for the CC. If it is mid-heavy, go for the PG. I like diversity, too, but you also have to listen to how the guitar sounds. Personally, I like the tone and power of a CC in ash. But it is really a personal thing.

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

Right now it has a JB and 59 in it, which is part of why I want to do the change, I was seeing which guitar I liked that set in more, and a strat won (I also have a socal style strat pickguard on the way to make it more Charveltastic). The JB isn't overkill in brightness, so it's probably not a super bright ash, I noticed that my Screamin Demon running through a 250k volume and tone in my all maple neck alder strat is a little brighter. This ash guitar seems pretty balanced with perhaps a bit of a mid scoop. Nope, I took a little more time with it, I think it is possibly mid heavy. I do like the JB in it, it has a pretty aggressive Megadeth "Youthanasia" kind of thing going on. I kind of hate to have the same pickups in multiple guitars though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

Tough call because I've never combined a Phat Cat with a Custom Custom or Pearly Gates.

I do hear the Phat Cat as being warm rather than bright.

So maybe the Custom Custom would be a good match. It's too warm for me, although it does have some treble. Just not very transparent, spacious or breathy treble. It's a thick sounding pickup.

If it was me, I'd just put a set of Pearly Gates, Seth Lovers or Antiquitys in there.

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

I have had the Custom Custom and phat cat in an Ibanez RG 321mh which was mahogany with a maple neck and rosewood board. I actually liked them alot in that guitar, but I don't have it anymore. I have had the Pearly Gates in an alder all maple neck strat running through a 250k volume and tone pot free, which I also liked alot. It was one of those deluxe ios usb strats and I wanted to get back the headphone ability so I ended up putting the headphone volume pot back in and then it was a master volume and tone setup, the Demon kind of worked better with the SSL1's in that rig. The Phat cat didn't seem super warm in that RG I had it in, it's been a long time though and I don't really remember. I would bet that the 24 fret thing pushed it into being brighter. I'm glad you mentioned it's warmth though, I had it in a 24.75 scale all mahogany with an ebony fretboard Schecter Solo 6 Custom and it was way to dark/warm for me. This ash guitar has 22 frets. I wonder if it will be too dark again...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

I like Customs with RC UOA5's in them, a little more bite than a CC, which be rounded on top in some guitars. I think Phat Cat necks seem to do better in brighter woods; if yours needs more treble you can swap a magnet or two in it.

Of course, Lew's suggestion of a pair of Seth's is hard to beat.

 

[mxaniac]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

I have the CC in a Firebird Zero and I love it, punchy as hell. I'm not sure it will cut through in a live situation though.

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

I was also debating throwing an alnico 2 and cover at the 59 neck, then rolling the phat cat neck in the bridge. I have a humbucker addiction though and always end up with one in the bridge. I would bet that the same issue of which to use the CC or the PG would come up with that modified 59 neck pickup. Maybe I should just get my soldering iron out and stop trying to think so much about it. It's not like I am buying something new, just playing with what I already have. Has anyone ever tried a polished alnico 3 in a Custom or Pearly Gates?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

Nothing is going to do Metal to EVH to SRV well.

I'd say the CC just because it will do EVH (circa 1984) and when split will do your SRV for you. It will blend well with the Cat, IMO, but I've never don't it. (Meaning a different sound than neck or bridge alone)

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

Actually Clint from Sevendust uses the Custom Custom in his PRS Customs. I would say they are somewhat heavy sounding.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

I love the CC in my korean PRS Cu22. I wouldn't want to use it for metal though. The pick attack is like a spoon in a bowl of custard- quite smooth. The low end is looser than what I would pick for metal use.

Check this out if you haven't already

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Custom Custom vs Pearly Gates

Oh yeah, that's a pretty good video for comparison. I have actually recently heard all those and the Custom 8 in my Schecter SVSS while I have been trying to find the right pickup for it. I've also tried the JB/Custom Hybrid with one side fillister and the other side hex screws. Here is a terrible recording of my sucky playing that I did a little over a year ago with a Custom Custom in a Schecter Solo 6 Custom that proves it can hit some Metal'ish territory. https://soundcloud.com/clint-willard/better-then-angry-edit-test-cause-compression-helps