Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

[TattooedCarrot]

Can someone explain why one would order a PG from the custom shop for $165 when you can get the same pickup from the production line for half that?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Seymour-Dun...146?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a6c5ff8f2

Hand wound by Seymour Duncan Custom Shop

Pickup is Trembucker or F-spaced designed for guitars that have Floyd Rose Tremelo System, however, you can still use it in a regular spaced position for unique tones in the bridge.

This pickup reads Hot 9K ohms, Alnico II based, 7 inches 4-conductor lead wire. A much better alternative to the Pearly Gates Plus!

 

[uOpt]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

Maybe it isn't available trem-spaced outside the CS?

I'm still tempted to order a pair of floor shop customs, PGs with cover unpotted.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

trem spaced pg's are in the normal line, that one is wound hotter than mine by quite a bit and doesnt have screws protruding like a typical pg. no idea about what it really is

 

[Varg]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

The Angus model?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

Probably the confusing part is that MJ put "Pearly Gates" in the sticker, when really it's a "Pearly Gates-ish" pickup that is really not the same as any Pearly Gates from stock. At least we know the wind and the pole piece screws are different, who knows what else like the gauss, rough cast magnet, etc.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

What's the diff,Frank?

More winds/output?

Why wouldn't it just have a CS sticker?

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

It looks as if it has 12 slugs instead of 6 slugs and 6 screws. Maybe it has the smooth, Iommi-ish cover? A few youtube vids Ive seen of the Pearly had smooth covers instead of the classic 6-screw cover.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

It looks as if it has 12 slugs instead of 6 slugs and 6 screws. Maybe it has the smooth, Iommi-ish cover? A few youtube vids Ive seen of the Pearly had smooth covers instead of the classic 6-screw cover.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

That is one pickup that I want for my PRS McCarty. It has a Brobucker, and there are times in which I think it is simply too thick, too muscular...

This clearly is not a regular PG.

B

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

What's the diff,Frank?

More winds/output?

Why wouldn't it just have a CS sticker?

I have no idea, you'd have to ask MJ. She's the one who makes the stickers for the back. I imagine it's like ordering a Big Mac without onions. Is it still a Big Mac? Well that's how they'd key it into the computer, but it has been customized to your liking. It doesn't say that it's a Pearly Gates, it says "SWD Custom Shop Pearly Gate" across two lines. You have to read it together.

If you order a JB with 5% more turns and an Alnico II magnet, it might say "JB" or "JBII" on the sticker or something, but that doesn't make it interchangeable with a production floor JB. When you order from the Custom Shop you might use one pickup as a starting point. "I want a 59 with two rows of screws" or "like a Custom Custom but with fewer turns and degaussed magnet".

What's missing from the two photos is the part of the description label that has all the information about it, including DCR and gauss strength. If anyone has that picture put it up it could help.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

Maybe the screws are fake and under the cover it's a PATB Pearly.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

or maybe it just has short screws lol

looks like a pup that i would like

 

[rosssurf]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I'd like to hear that and then swap in an A5 to compare!

 

[Varg]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I love how even Frank has no idea. That has to be the best pickup ever!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

its the custom shop they make one offs all the time, frank has other things to do besides spend all his time watching over mj & seymours shoulders to see what custom goodies are going out

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I don't think Varg's comment was an attack on Frank that requires defending. I just think it was commentary on the pickup being unusual enough that a Duncan employee who has more knowledge than most of us was also unsure of it.

 

[frankencat]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I am getting ready to order a set for my LP and I was thinking of getting the bridge pickup 5% overwound. Is it worth it?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

ive ordered 9.4k and 10k antiquitys and they are both sellar pups

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I bought a floor shop PGn off RockStarNick a while back purely because I was intrigued. I had a PGn in my LP a few years ago and to be honest I just didn't like it. I did try various magnets and ended up with an A4 and it was better but not quite there so I sold it. Anyways, I don't know what is different but I put the pick up in the same LP and it will stay there, it just kills. I have it paired with a Ant A8 and it's a magnificent pairing.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

I have two sets of the Custom Shop Pearly Gates pickups.

Normal PG's measure 7.3K neck and 8.21K bridge.

My Custom Shop versions measure 7.8K neck and 8.8K bridge in one set, and 7.7K neck and 8.8K bridge in the other set.

Have one set in a PRS Custom 22 and the other set in my PRS SE Singlecut.

Also have a set of regular PG's (7.3K and 8.21K) in another PRS SE Singlecut.

The CS sets are louder, fuller, thicker, rounder and slightly warmer sounding. So "YES"...there is quite a difference between the CS set and regular set.

Both sets do pinch harmonics more easily than any pickup sets I've ever used. The CS set might be better for heavier rock styles and "Les Paul through a Marshall" British Blues. The higher output makes getting those overdriven tones easier.

But I'll always have a set of regular PG's in a favorite guitar. They're better at getting a more vintage 1959 PAF sound and better for classic, not heavily overdriven, Chicago blues...although they'll do British Blues and those overdriven tones just fine too.

I don't do much ZZ Top, BTW. Never seriously followed that band. But I do like Billy's pickups.

Never paid much attention to Slash either. But I love the APH-2 Slash set I have in my other PRS SE Singlecut.

Those PRS SE Singlecuts are great guitars! I have three now. And they're cheap used. $300 or so. The pickups are awful...that's the one and only weak spot.

But all of mine were purchased to put new Duncan pickups in anyway...so who cares?