difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

T

telemaster8

New member
Can anybody explain the physical differences between the pearly gates and the pearly gates plus models? My assumption ( spelled guess) is that the plus might have a stronger magnet, while the winds on the coils remain the same. I have two guitars equiped with pearly gates, one has a pair with triple shot rings on a stagg copy of a PRS, This is a surprisingly good guitar and was my first experience with Pearly Gates. I fell in love with their tone. The other is a "strat" type partsocaster which I cobbled together with joe bardens in the bridge and middle with the Pearly Gates in the neck position. I have wired the strat knobs with the top knob as a fader for the rear coil of the PG so that at zero the front coil only yields a single coil sound, fading to full humbucking at 10. middle knob volume and tone active for all. For my playing this is a great combination. I did pick up a PGP to try out, but I was wondereing if anybody had any experience in comparing their tone differences? Also as I asked already, what are the physical differences?
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

As far as I know, it is just a magnet thing. I can't remember which way round they are; I think one is A2 and the other an A5.
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

Well, the PG+ has a higher DC resistence than either the PG neck or bridge, so it probably has a few more winds as well.
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

I guess it's time to get out the multi meter. I suspected the A2 vs. A5 scenario was more likely the difference. Anybody know for sure??? I'll repost with dc resistance numbers soon.

looks like I can just edit this post so here goes:
three pearly gates pickups on hand two are plus all three are bridge.
pearly gates = 8.08k gold
pearly gates + = 8.26 zebra
pearly gates + = 8.50 gold
there seems to be as much of a discrepancy between the lower reading PG+ and the PG as there is between the two PG+ types so I theorize again that the alnico magnet may be another source of difference. I also have a PG neck pickup but it is mounted in my strat clone and I don't really feel like messing with it at this time.
 
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Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

The magnet will certainly be the biggest difference, by far since the published resistence for the PG+ is only 8.65k and that of the PGb is 8.35k (PGn = 7.3).
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

My measurements are lower than your published resistance measurements for the PG+ (btw Doc, where did you find them published, I couldn't locate them???). Mine measure out at 8.26 and 8.50 for my PG+ models. 8.08 for my PG. All three are Bridge and all three are lower than the 8.65k that you quoted Doc. Obviously we must allow for meter calibration or other discrepancies.
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

Thanx Doc, your links lead me to my answer. Not only did the dc resistance reside in those links so did the magnet types. Indeed the alnico 2 is in the PG and alnico 5 in the pearly gates plus. The reason I couldn't find it is that the plus is not a regular retail item. It was offered only on the lone star strat. I just didn't look long and hard enough. Thanx for the lead.
 
Re: difference between Pearly Gates and PG plus

I doubt it's a purposeful overwinding, they just grab all the higher DC coils and use them for PG+'s.
 
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