Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

Gamera

Gamera

New member
Can anyone confirm whether or not the Fender DH-1 (stock pup in Fat Strat & others) is actually a Pearly Gates pup? I'm considering replacement humbuckers for this and I'm curious as to how the DH-1 specs compare to the others. Can anyone shed some light? Thanks!
 
Hmmm....I think it's the Fender "Big Apple" Strats have the "Pearly Gates Plus" pickup, which many forum members seem to dislike. I wouldn't put it past Fender to put the PG+ in a Fat Strat but one cannot be sure.
 
Actually I asked this same question over at the Fender forum and I got a response that the DH-1 is actually a Fender-made pup w/ specs similar to that of a Pearly Gates, which apparently was based on the DH-1. Regardless of who makes it or which came first, I guess it's safe to use the Pearly Gates specs from the duncan spec chart when considering replacements.
 
The PG + is found on the American Standard Double Fat-Strats, and American Texas Special Fat-strats. It was the WORST pick up I have ever heard in a strat. I am annoyed by just remembering it.

The DH-1 is found on the DELUXE Fat-Strat. When I tried one, it was still bright, but definitely not as shrill as the PG +

I'd like to know how the DH-1 compares to the Duncan Pearley Gates, myself.
 
The Pearly Gates Plus was designed in the mid-90s when Mike Lewis asked me for a pickup that gave the same tone as the Pearly Gates, but with 3dB more output, to better match with Texas Specials. We switched the Alnico 2 magnet to an Alnico 5, and Fender was happy with it -- and that's how the Pearly Gates Plus was born, and the Lonestar Strat (and eventually Big Apple and Hot Rod Fat and Hot Rod Double Fat) that used that pickup.

The original Pearly Gates was not based on a Fender pickup. It was based on the pickups that came out of a certain Texas blue guitarist's '59 Les Paul, which he nicknamed Pearly Gates, because of the heavenly sound.

I hope that helps.
 
Famous people get what they want.

Still, if we all continue to bring up our ideas for the Custom series (Cusom 2 - 5 with Alnico 3, and 4 magnets) someone just might listen.
 
i used to have the DH-1 pickup in one of my fenders.....it stayed there for only one week and i changed it for the much better CC.....i find the DH-1 to be quite shrill with a lot of treble and low to medium output....i think you can find much better pickups for a strat out there......
 
I find that PG + to be a very good pickup it and to be a great match with the Texas Specials. I've tried replacing it a few times but in the end i get the best tones of my Fat Strat Texas Special with the Stock pups, Obviously the type of amp and pedals will play a big roll in how good it sounds!
 
Well, I hate to be negative (heheh) but IMO the PG+ doesn't sound too good to me. I've had a few different humbuckers in the bridge of a strat before...many were worse sounding than the PG+ (DiMarzio PAF Pro comes to mind). However, many of the Seymour designs that I've tried are much better. Those that come to mind are the JB and the Full Shred. I like the PGn in my strat, which I'm using currently, but I haven't tried a PGb (yet). Of course the amp has a lot to do with it; my PG+ sounded much better on my Marshall Dual Super Lead than it did on my other, lower gain, amplifiers. I think it's all relative to your style, technique and preferences, but for my 2 cents worth, I'd probably plan on replacing the PG+ if I bought a new strat and it was in there...

Farkus
 
Thanks for all the responses and the little history, Evan. Interesting stuff.

The reason I'm curious about the DH-1 is that I've just ordered a 2004 AM DLX Fat Strat and it comes w/ a DH-1 and 2 noiseless singles. To be fair, I'll give the DH-1 its day in court and see if it'll cut the mustard. It did seem to balance nicely w/ the singles on there that did sound really good. But after using a Duncan Invader for the past 15+ years, I'm anticipating the DH-1 falling a little short in the "chunka, chunka" territory. ;)
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

I had the PG+ in one of my strat's bridge position for a short time and I hated it...Too harsh,shrill,and toppy for my tastes...Now the original PGB is a different story.
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

Not intending to hijack this thread, but...

The most common complaint that I've heard about the PG+ is that it is very "shrill". What about replacing the A5 mag with an A2? Or would the A2 make it sound muddy since the PG+ has 3db more output than the PG?
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

GuitarDoc said:
Not intending to hijack this thread, but...

The most common complaint that I've heard about the PG+ is that it is very "shrill". What about replacing the A5 mag with an A2? Or would the A2 make it sound muddy since the PG+ has 3db more output than the PG?
Click to expand...

I'd put an A8 in it but, y'know, that's my answer for everything.
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

GuitarDoc said:
What about replacing the A5 mag with an A2? Or would the A2 make it sound muddy since the PG+ has 3db more output than the PG?
Click to expand...

If I'm reading Evan correctly, the 3db was achieved by swapping the A2 for an A5. Putting in an A2 would simply revert it back to being a PG.
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

I noticed most of the talk is about the DH-1 usually found on Fat Strats. How about the one on the US Hot Rodded Series Fat Tele? is it the same as the one on the Strat?
 
Re: Fender DH-1 = Duncan Pearly Gates?

ArtieToo said:
If I'm reading Evan correctly, the 3db was achieved by swapping the A2 for an A5. Putting in an A2 would simply revert it back to being a PG.
Click to expand...

I've read in another thread that it has a few more turns of wire to it than a regular PG, but with an A2 it should sound similar but not exact.
 
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