LP and Pearly Gates

gitapik

gitapik

New member
I just did a makeover of my Paul. When I bought it (many years ago), it was a completely beat up '69 Gold Top. I had split coil DiMarzios from the early '80s and a preamp installed, changed the functions of the knobs, and had a dark cherry sunburst put on it. I won't bore anyone with why I modded it, but suffice it to say that it was the '80s and it was my goto electric for a long time.

I then got totally into single coils and put the Paul away. But my interest came back a couple of months ago. I brought it to Main Drag Music in Brooklyn, where Ian, the main repair guy, advised that I take out the preamp, set the controls back to standard LP settings, and put some new pups on there.

He gave the guitar to Jon Warran, who's an amazing tech. We decided on the "Pearly Gates" pickups and put an out of phase switch where the preamp on/off toggle used to be. The other two toggles are splitters.

I just got it back, today. Man...I've gotta say that these pickups are incredible!! Any style. Clean to dirt to filthy. And they clean up so well. I'm blown away!

Here 'tis. The neck and fingerboard are perfect and it sounds amazing, now. It's like I got a new ax but with the same feel of the one I've loved for decades:

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Re: LP and Pearly Gates

Congrats. It looks awesome! I have them in my Les Paul. The Pearly Gates are nice. Enjoy!
 
Re: LP and Pearly Gates

That's beautiful! Pearly Gates sound terrific in the right wood, sounds like they fit yours perfectly. Now quit reading forums, or you'll decide in a month to change it again & screw it all up;)
 
Re: LP and Pearly Gates

lemonman said:
That's beautiful! Pearly Gates sound terrific in the right wood, sounds like they fit yours perfectly. Now quit reading forums, or you'll decide in a month to change it again & screw it all up;)
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LOL...I know that one, but I usually don't fall into that trap. I tend to put a lot of time into any new gear so I can get to know what the maker had in mind when he or she built it. That's especially true with guitars. I'm really happy with this exactly the way it is.

I am, actually, thinking about a compressor, now. I've been using a Humphrey modded CS-3 for a few years and I really like it. But then I read about how great the Keeley, Wampler, Suhr, Diamond, etc units are and I start to wonder. Thinking of bringing the Boss along with me to some shops and asking if I can A/B it with the boutiques.

Interesting observation about the way the pups work with the wood type. I've known some great builders and that's a common mantra: the electronics have to pair well with the qualities of the wood. You're right on it: we've got a great match, here. I spent the whole afternoon playing. Then I went to a party and guess what I was thinking about...

(heheheh...guess I've got a new avatar, now)
 
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Re: LP and Pearly Gates

Nice axe!! I have a set of Pearlies in my trad pro. I snubbed them for years cuz I figured they would be too vintage for my liking. WRONG... What a great do it all (and well!) set..
 
Re: LP and Pearly Gates

BloodRose said:
Nice axe!! I have a set of Pearlies in my trad pro. I snubbed them for years cuz I figured they would be too vintage for my liking. WRONG... What a great do it all (and well!) set..
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I really like these techs at Main Drag Music. They steered me right on my Strat and have done it again with the Paul. In fact, the guy who recommended the Pearlies said that there were some serious misconceptions about them being limited in their scope. He was totally into them and asked me to trust him. Now that I've got them, I can definitely say that they do everything very well. I lean more towards blues/rock/jazz/fusion and they're amazing in those areas. But I also play some country and metal (there's nothing like shredding) and they sound excellent in those genres, too.

Thanks. It's a beautiful ax. I think about it all the time, now.
 
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