Custom Shop Pearly Gates - what's the point?

[darthphineas]

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.

I'm going to go ahead and sorta hijack this thread for a minute.

Lew seems to know a bit about the CS PGs, as maybe do a few others that will hopefully chime in.

the AC/DC rig rundown suggests that Angus is using some custom Duncans at about 7.7-7.8k range. which makes sense, considering the range of T-Tops that he was quite probably using in his SGs back in the day. yet, his custom shop set is said to be a tweaked Pearly Gates, which is a little hotter and supposedly patterned after a PAF out of Billy G's 59 Lester. and then the word that Gibson was flat out using PGs in the Angus models.

so I asked MJ, and she indicated the Angus set is closer to an Antiquity, which is supposedly what you'd get if you currently have a Seth that was theoretically made way back in the day.

now, the Seth and the production PG have pretty similar specs on paper... knowing that what's on paper doesn't equate to the actual tone. so that's why I'm interested. I do have a production PG I'm about to check out...but that's no CS PG. still.... isn't Angus known more for a T-Top that a PAF style, which is what the PG and the Antiquity would be. does simply underwinding a PAF style (like a PG) by about 5% and using a tweaked magnet all add up to put it in that ballpark?


is there anyone with a CS PG set or with a CS Angus set (or both) that could comment?

 

[Lewguitar]

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

still.... isn't Angus known more for a T-Top that a PAF style, which is what the PG and the Antiquity would be. does simply underwinding a PAF style (like a PG) by about 5% and using a tweaked magnet all add up to put it in that ballpark?


is there anyone with a CS PG set or with a CS Angus set (or both) that could comment?

My understanding is that T-Tops were wound with 42 ga. copper wire with a thicker insulation than the 42 ga. copper wire that was used in the 50's PAF's and early 60's Patent Number humbuckers.

That makes the copper wire itself microscopically further apart from the next layer of copper wire when it's layered onto the T-Top bobbin.

And that and the short magnet (about 2 1/4" +) gives them a different sound than a PAF with a 2 1/2" magnet.

Seems like 7.75K is an average DCR for T-Tops from the 60's. But they're often lower too: 7.5K.

And there were no neck and bridge models as there are today.

The pickups in Larry Carlton's ES-335 would be original T-Tops. That's my idea of a great sounding 335. BB King would have had T-Tops in his 355 for the recording of The Thrill Is Gone in 1969 or 70. More great tone.

I think (I could be wrong...) that the APH-1 and the Jazz also uses that 42 ga. wire with the thicker insulation as well and some people put a short A5 magnet in them to approximate a T-Top.

It's just an approximation though. Not a real T-Top.

 

[darthphineas]

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

thanks for the reply.

I did speak to MJ about these again and she explained some of the comments that have gone around suggesting the CS AY model being a tweaked CS PG model. she said something to the effect of how she was making some AY pickups at the same time she was making some PG for Billy G (which she suggested are tweaked specifically for him, which is neither here nor there). but... because of some of the superficial similarities (mainly because the are in the same ballpark, at least more than a PG and a DD), it appears to be that some people took off with the narrative of the CS AY being a variation of the CS PG.

also, she said the CS AY bridge has a mid-8 DCR (I think maybe 8.8) and the neck has a mid-7 range. I shared was Angus' tech said in that rig rundown, and she was perfect fine with confirming the facts as only MJ can. haha! we're holding strong with a 8.8 DCR in the bridge. lol!

otherwise, I did try out that production PG bridge today and I do like it better than I remember. I found out the guitar I tried it in years ago was a bit of a tone robber, so I'm glad I gave the PG another go. now... to track down a PGn. haha!

 

[Nonetrackmind]

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?

I'm trying to decide whether to go the CS route or buy off the shelf PG's, so I was wondering: I've seen custom shop PG's for sale from JMI that have higher resistance values similar to what's posted here, so I'm wondering if JMI orders them that way, or are all CS PG's "tweaked?" Thanks in advance.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but since it started in 2011 and was resurrected in 2014, and again in 2016, I felt like it was okay.....

 

[darthphineas]

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

Although in theory there are some that want people to believe that a PG is a PG and a JB is a JB and a 59 Model is a 59 Model, you're getting a bit of the expertise of MJ when you get something from her rather than the production floor.

As for the resistance, there are some threads where people claim the PGs they get from MJ are a little overwound, to which there are pros and cons depending on your goals.

There are some places out there that order from the CS to re-sell. Most CS pups are going to be a little unique unto themselves. If you want something that is specifically tweaked, go with calling MJ directly.

 

[Lewguitar]

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

PG's use polished A2 magnets and have a clearer and more spacious tone.

CSPG's use Roughcast A2 magnets and have less treble and a thicker, denser tone.

I prefer the regular neck PG for cleaner tones.

But I really like the bridge CSPG for its thicker tone tone and great pinch harmonics.

That doesn't mean I don't also love the stock bridge PG tho. I do!

 

[JMI Music]

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

The only thing I spec is what cover to use and lightly waxed or no wax.

So, if I order ten sets at a time, the DC doesn't vary more than a couple of tenths
between all of them so I would say these are built to a very specific sonic profile.

 

[Mpcoluv]

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

Sorry to necro the thread, but can you buy just one (Bridge) custom shop pearly gates?
I'm thinking unpotted...

 

[beaubrummels]

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

You can buy an individual pickup from the custom shop instead of a set. You buy any combination you want. You could spec a 3-pickup Pearly Gates set with different specs for each pickup if you want.

 

[Mincer]

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

Sorry to necro the thread, but can you buy just one (Bridge) custom shop pearly gates?
I'm thinking unpotted...

Yeah, you totally can.

 

[B2D]

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

I've been finding out that the PG and it's versions might be THE Duncan pickup for me, after all these years.

I've got a covered one in the neck of my Tele, a Lone Star Strat with a PG+, and the Tele is getting one of THESE shortly.

It's not too hot, great at reproducing dynamics and picking textures, and good for almost any style. I can't believe I didn't use one before. I think the A2 magnet was what got me thinking it wasn't going to serve me as well as something with an A5 magnet. I was wrong!

Better late than never, I guess!

 

[jeremy]

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

Been a big fan for a long time! A buddy of mine plays metal and he loves the pgb

 

[Starman]

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

I have a set of PGCS in my LP standard and it is just incredible. The guitar makes you play and play for hours. You can pull off anything rock, blues, metal, thrash etc., it just delivers with the coolest tones the sweetest center mids ever. The normal PG is great but isn’t the same animal as the CS version. I got this set from JMI and he is a great dealer to buy from.

 

[Mincer]

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

I am not a big fan of the regular Pearly Gates, but this thread makes me think I'd love the Custom Shop version.