Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

Ballgame

New member
Tough question I know. I have a LP custom silverburst that has the Classic 57 in them. They don't have enough punch for me. I love Billy Gibbons tone and Zakks tone. My concern is that the ZW set is too harsh and that the Pearlys won't be tough enough. Can anyone confirm or deny....or recommend something to me. Can you crunch the Pearlys?

I am looking for a smooth warm tone but something that you can crunch out with some palm mutes. The rhythms I write are hard in Drop D or standard but I use the blues pentatonic to solo(just to give you an idea of what I play) and for melodies.


Thanks in advance
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

The PG set can definagtely rock! I have a pair in my LP and coulnd't be happier with them. If you find the bridge PG to be a bit anemic, the Custom or C5 would fatten up the bridge position nicely, though I don't think any of these pickups I mentioned get terribly close to the ZW tone.
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

Benjy_26 said:
The PG set can definagtely rock! I have a pair in my LP and coulnd't be happier with them. If you find the bridge PG to be a bit anemic, the Custom or C5 would fatten up the bridge position nicely, though I don't think any of these pickups I mentioned get terribly close to the ZW tone.


thanks!!! I'm just worried the ZW's are too high and harsh and would think the PG's are warmer and smoother. Just want to make sure they can crunch and have a bite to them
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

I know Darren of System of a Down and Tony of Godsmack both use the Pearly Gates.

Listen to Jolly's clips and you can hear Zakk all over his PG clips!
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

custom custom.. smooth tone, lots a punch and you can never have enough mids.

you can crunch any pup imo. they will differ in clarity, compression, voice, punch, but you can crunch with any of the duncans =)

screamingdaisy i think has the 81/85 combo so he can give you an idea
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

papersoul said:
I know Darren of System of a Down and Tony of Godsmack both use the Pearly Gates.

Listen to Jolly's clips and you can hear Zakk all over his PG clips!

Jollys? Where or what is that? Ill look for it. thx
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

Davey said:
custom custom.. smooth tone, lots a punch and you can never have enough mids.

you can crunch any pup imo. they will differ in clarity, compression, voice, punch, but you can crunch with any of the duncans =)

screamingdaisy i think has the 81/85 combo so he can give you an idea


A custom custom is not really like a PG or ZW at all.

I think you're better off going with the regular Custom IMO.
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

go ZW!!! go ZW!!!!

this is definately a biased opinion since i haven't even been anywhere near a PG. but i don't care. i like my 81/85 combo in my les paul. i doubt i would trade them for anything else.

go ZW!!!
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

I also do a lot of pinch harmonics so I knwo the ZW's can do them, can the PG's or the Customs?
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

I am selling my zakk wylde set! why?
well for me they were all about just output
i would go with the duncans overall
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

ranalli said:
A custom custom is not really like a PG or ZW at all.

I think you're better off going with the regular Custom IMO.
i never said they were. he said he was looking for a smooth warm tone but something that you can crunch out with some palm mutes
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

RG 2570 said:
I am selling my zakk wylde set! why?
well for me they were all about just output
i would go with the duncans overall


what Duncans do you use instead of the ZW's?
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

Pickups alone do not make you do pinch harmonics better its about your technique. Higher ouptut humbuckers will make it easier though but only slighlty. aLSO if you need more gain or crunch its all up to what amp and pedals you are using. No pickup will work if the amps lead channel doenst have enough gain to put you into that category. So before choosing pickups try and sort out what your pickups are going through. Sure the custom and CC are good choices for hard rock. Though they do use pearly gates and EMGs its more to do with their amps and guitars, with the setups theyre using they can make even the lowest output humbukcers sound great.
 
Re: Need PU help. ZW or Pearly Gates?

Ballgame said:
I also do a lot of pinch harmonics so I knwo the ZW's can do them, can the PG's or the Customs?
about the PG harmonics, Billy Gibbons does a whole lot of harmonics also. About what pickups, I love the CC/Aph
 
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