High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

[Chistopher]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

A JB coil smokes a Custom coil for splitting every day of the week, especially with an A2, my friend.

With a normal split, yes, but with a partial split or spin a split, 59/C is pretty much perfect.

 

[gregory]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

if I had to go for a hotter tone I'd do the Dimebag Darrell approved '59/Dimebucker combo.

Except that SD wasn't able to make a Dimebag Darrel-approved neck pickup.

...not that I think Dimebag had the be-all-end-all neck pickup tone, or that the Dimebucker holds a candle to the the original BL pickup from which it was based.

 

[Synapsys]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

Custom / PG set is the one I hqve on a PRS SE with the same woods as the guitar the OP has. Business in the front, party in the back.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

Except that SD wasn't able to make a Dimebag Darrel-approved neck pickup.

...not that I think Dimebag had the be-all-end-all neck pickup tone, or that the Dimebucker holds a candle to the the original BL pickup from which it was based.

Fine, I'll admit Dimebag used the 59/L500XL combo. I was just trying to keep the pickups in the same brand, but the L500XL is only 50 dollars new.

 

[Aceman]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

I have used a lot of PG's in LP/LP styles. And I often/usually match them with high output:

PG/Distortion.
- both pups on takes the edge off the Distortion scream, great rhythm sound.
- PG has enough cut for neck

PG/Custom
- Fantastic Rock to whatever combo.
- Volume on Custom is your friend for an array of mixed/blended/switched tones.
- Do NOT need to do 50's mod and Custom volume changes move towards PG tone!

PG/JB
- Very cool Combo. JB spike is similar to PG spike
- Top ends are distinctly different
- Cool for similar but different bridge/neck lead tones

Regarding JB in Mahogany: My opinion on this is that it is 1/3 intarweb myth - 1/3 misunderstood - and 1/3 reality.

I HATED the JB in a all mahogany LP style w/ 500k pots. Just a spikey piercing horrible sound to my ears. I also got beacoup tone compliments from a lot of players on stage with that guitar. JB is built for the band mix to some degree.

Myth: I have had one in a number of guitars and it was fine. Strats and trems seem awesome. Might be the 250k pots, or the trems. Who knows? It IS a great all around pickup.There is a reason they sell so many. Most guys who buy them throw them in and rock on and never discuss them here. There are not a ton of used ones out there...like 4 on eBay right now.

Misunderstood: Bedroom shredders hate it and stage players love it. Mahogany and ebony would worry me. See my personal experience. How are you using it? I get exactly why you might over-eq it in a quiet bright room. But in the mix or off the stage - it just is RIGHT THERE, where it needs to be. So many players do not understand that scooped mid, pushed highs bump the bass tone is just crap in a band.

1/3 reality: Again - made for a guy playing Tele and Strats, who was playing in bands and recording. Don't forget God-like touch with fingers. Like I said - I REALLY did not like it at home. I ended up putting an A8 mag in it and now it is awesome to me everywhere!

Also, mag swap on the JB to a A2 or an A8 will sit nicely with the PG...so think about that if you go JB


All in all, PG/CUstom I think is the best all around

 

[Mincer]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

So, if you need something bigger sounding than the Hybrid, try a Custom, and have several types of magnets on hand to swap them out. The Customs tend to have very different sounds when you swap out magnets, and you might find the one that works for you.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

Custom / PG set is the one I hqve on a PRS SE with the same woods as the guitar the OP has. Business in the front, party in the back.

It's a good combo. Had it in a Strat.

Never got tired of the PGn. It's one of the best neck humbuckers you can find.

Did get tired of the Custom eventually and its ceramic voice is a little less "organic" than the alnico voice of the PGn.

Still...it was good combo if you want a little more of a "metal" tone from the bridge pickup.

The Distortion might be a good choice too.

Never tried the Custom/59 bridge pickup...but I'd like too.

 

[gregory]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

There are not a ton of used ones out there...like 4 on eBay right now.

...and 10 used Custom variants (I just checked).

Also, mag swap on the JB to a A2 or an A8 will sit nicely with the PG...so think about that if you go JB

I suggested a JB2 (and Custom 2 and Custom RUA5).

 

[Aceman]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

10 used Customs - any given Custom could easily be the wrong one! Not enough mins, too much or too much bass + Treble + ceramic tone.

 

[gregory]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

...and they might be a magnet swap away from tonal bliss (or not ).

 

[Chistopher]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

...and they might be a magnet swap away from tonal bliss (or not ).

Or, as we have learned from the 59/C, a coil swap.

 

[gregory]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

59/JB
C/JB

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: High output bridge humbucker with a Pearly Gates neck?

Custom is a great pick, I have that paired with a Pearly Gates neck in one of my guitars. From memory, Eric Melvin from NOFX uses a Custom too.