Pair PGn with CC bridge?

[JimmyO]

I recently got some great advice from the folks on the forum and installed a custom custom in the bridge of my alder body/maple neck Floyd Rose charvel style partscaster. It sounds really good in that guitar, has a nice growl when overdriven, the highs are sweet and the Alnico ii gives a nice thick tone with a slightly vintage vibe. Importantly it gives a good clean tone, bluesy tone and rock tone and works great for rhythm and lead guitar.

I currently have a 59 in the neck. It sounds nice but I think I could find a pickup that would pair a bit better with the custom custom. The 59 is soft in the mids and strong in the lows and bright in the highs and the custom custom is stronger mids with rounded highs and lows. When matching overall output the 59 sounds softer due to the lower midrange, or too bassy if I raise it up some. I have found a middle ground and have it working pretty well now though the voicing of the pickups is different.

I am thinking of swapping in a Pearly Gates in the neck, still a PAF style but a bit more mids than the 59 and I am thinking having an Alnico ii in the neck would match the voicing of the custom custom more when switching between bridge and neck.

What do you guys think? Pearly gates would be good or are there better options?

Thanks

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

Sounds like a great choice. I'm actually in that same situation with my hh guitar. Thinking about replacing the 59 with a PG or making a 59/PG hybrid.

 

[dalo]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

i'm leaning towards PG neck n JB bridge for my nitefly

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

Consider the Demon with an A2 mag. It would match with the CC better than a PG which is pretty bright in the highs.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

The PG is great with a CC. Based on your EQ description, the PG is exactly the cure for what ails you. The A2 mag will give it a tonal match for the CC in many ways, the upper mid bump will let it cut in the neck, and it's got a little less lows than the 59. Go for it. PG/CC is a great great combo.

That said - if you feel you REALLY need more highs in the neck, the demon might be the way to go.


I had a PG/CC in an (Alder? Basswood? Mahogany? Nah...Table top?) Epiphone Les Paul for a long time and it did everything you are talking about. Different guitar, yeah. But the fundamental of the pups are the same, and the CC is only that much better in a Floyded guitar. (Currently where I have one)

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

I dig the Alnico II Pro with a CC (in alder, in my case). The softer A2 magnets work well together, and there is a nice transition from neck to bridge pickups. It works with the same EQ on the amp.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

A2P + CC = FAT CITY!!!! Big, round, corpulent, artery clogging, fat highs. You'd think they were potted with lard!

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

Well, they will be zebra for full cookies and cream!

For this guitar I think I could do the APii in the neck, but as I'm mostly missing mids and want to retain clarity in the neck I may start off with the pearly gates and go from there.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

I dig the Alnico II Pro with a CC (in alder, in my case). The softer A2 magnets work well together, and there is a nice transition from neck to bridge pickups. It works with the same EQ on the amp.

Had a CC/AII Pro combo on my Hamer long ago, and it was fantastic.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

Pearly Gates neck pickup arrived on Friday and have spent the weekend rawking out. I already have a PGn in an Epiphone Les Paul, so knew it was good, but damn it sounds fantastic in this guitar and is a great match for the Custom Custom in the bridge. The PG has a really dynamic, sweet and textured tone. It has brightness, richness and sweetness in equal measure. I really like it. Very bluesy, sounds great clean and holds together really well with gain. The custom custom sounds great with it clean and starts to growl as you wind up the gain, nice and middy with smooth highs and a nice honk with a tubescreamer but nice and open when clean. The middle position is very good with this pair. With Marshall style gain I find myself in EVH and Satriani territory. Really vocal melodic leads from both pickups.

Had a JB/59 set in there before which wasn't bad at all, but based on forum advice I went with the custom custom/PGn and it is working out really well. Exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for the advice guys, really good recommendations.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

That guitar looks killer!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pair PGn with CC bridge?

A2P + CC = FAT CITY!!!! Big, round, corpulent, artery clogging, fat highs. You'd think they were potted with lard!

This is what I use on my #1 Music Man.