Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Mr. B

Mr. B

New member
I have lucked into a Pearly Gates neck on the cheap, and I want a bridge to match well in a Les Paul. I have owned the Pearly Bridge model before, and remember it being overly bright and a bit thin. I had the neck version years ago too, and remember liking it much more. I can't decide whether to go with a CustomCustom or a Slash A2Pro Bridge, or maybe a Gibson Burstbucker 2 or 3. I am a stickler that the CHARACTER of the pickup set matches. I don't like one pickup to feel spongy and loose, and the other stiff and immediate. Which one of those is the closest to the character of the Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul?

I have used the CustomCustom in a strat, and like it there. I have a set of Seth lovers in another guitar, so I don't want to repeat that, plus I want a little more power out of the bridge. I have a Gibson 57 Classic set in there now, and the power is about right, but I find the pickups a bit boring and one dimensional.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Custom Custom! If you already have a Seth set, then go for something with full power.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

The Pearly Gates bridge model is neither overly bright or too thin.

It's the opposite.

Try it again.

I have never heard an Alnico 2 pickup that was too bright or too thin.

Which doesn't mean that there isn't one. Just that I don't remember ever hearing one.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

i love the pearly bridge but the slash bridge would be another good option, the custom custom would be a bump up output wise but still match tonally
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Mr. B said:
I have lucked into a Pearly Gates neck on the cheap, and I want a bridge to match well in a Les Paul
Click to expand...
An A2-modded '59b will be a great tonal match to that PGn of yours.

HTH,
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

LtKojak said:
An A2-modded '59b will be a great tonal match to that PGn of yours.

HTH,
Click to expand...
If each had the same polished A2 magnet, the stock magnet for a PGb, how would a PGb and a 59b differ in tone? I'd expect them to sound very similar.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

He said he already has a vintage output set and that he wants more power.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

I think an overwound A2 based bridge would match the A2 based PG neck.

The 78 or slash would be my choice. Try 300k pots all around.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

PGb was never overly bright or thin my my Les Paul or SG. I wonder if the previous experience was in the same Les Paul? Or a different guitar?

Bright and thin is what my '78 Model sounds like in my Les Paul and SG. I'm convinced that's how it can reach that first VH album starved-tube sound without having a Variac.

Whole Lotta Humbucker would match a Pearly Neck character, and have a little power also. It's not bright, it's pretty sweet on the top end. Used can be had for reasonable.

FWIW when I swapped the PGb and JB in and out of my Les Paul I didn't have to change my settings much as far as gain/volume. Not more than a notch or so. So I think the idea of 'vintage output' vs 'hi gain' as far as what the pickup puts out is a touch exaggerated sometimes. The differences are more acute when it comes to response with the amp, IME.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

I wonder if any of you have ever had the CustomCustom together with a PGn or similar in a Les Paul? I have read a few people say it was a terrible match for a Les Paul. I seem to remember Lew liking it in a Hamer hollow body?? Does the Slash bridge have the same gritty character that the PG does, or is it much smoother?
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

I find the Custom to be rather harsh and grating. There are very few ceramic pickups I like.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

First - The Custom Custom is going to be the definition of overly spongy and loose. With a mega mid hump. I had that pair for a long time. I played a lot of classic rock; Stones (loose), Aerosmith (Loose), Allmans (Spongey), Zepplin (Loose), etc...But it really really worked for that. Awesome bridge slide stuff/tone. And the cleans together with a PG were awesomely bendable!!!!

IMO, a cool combo - but not for everyone.

The A2P is going to really balance the guitar. Not spongy in the bridge, but maintains the A2P character. Its the darker pickup, but you are putting it in the brighter location. I'd go with that, based on what you want.
 
Last edited:
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

If each had the same polished A2 magnet, the stock magnet for a PGb, how would a PGb and a 59b differ in tone? I'd expect them to sound very similar.
Click to expand...


If the walls could talk.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Seems the PGb is picky on guitars.

I'm looking to replace mine for being a hair bright and thin as well. Maybe if I switched pots it would help it but pickup height doesn't help it much. Mine needs to be raunchier/higher output sounding.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Lewguitar said:
If each had the same polished A2 magnet, the stock magnet for a PGb, how would a PGb and a 59b differ in tone? I'd expect them to sound very similar.
Click to expand...
The A2'59b have an open vowel-y tone (think ah), where the stock PGb has more of a closed vowel-y tone (think oh).

HTH,
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

Thundermtn said:
Seems the PGb is picky on guitars.

I'm looking to replace mine for being a hair bright and thin as well. Maybe if I switched pots it would help it but pickup height doesn't help it much. Mine needs to be raunchier/higher output sounding.
Click to expand...

If all you want is a little less bright and a little less thin than a switch to a roughcast A5 magnet will do that beautifully.

It will change the EQ curve of the pickup so that it sounds like you've added thickness and texture to the mids and taken a little edge off of the treble.

It will not increase the output though.
 
Re: Help matching a Pearly Gates Neck in a Les Paul

I may try that out, first time for me though. I'll have to do some looking on where to get them and how to do the swap. Up till now I've just had a tech do stuff but that needs to change.
 
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