I like my current Strat with a JB in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck, but after listening to the Pearly Gates bridge reviews, I’m looking into replacing my JB soon. I’ve wanted to try out an hsh config as well, so I thought “why not make a blues Strat with some oomph in it”. Has anyone tried the set or something similar with an alnico 2 pro strat middle pickup? If not, what do you guys think?
Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
- Thread starter RGZ184
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Nagisa
New member
Re: Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
You said you like your currect setup. Why not put the money towards another guitar in the future? JB and pg neck should be pretty versatile for rock. You could get a MIM strat with single coils for more versatility and I happen to listen to many blues players who use a strat. As for the oomph, I imagine a jb would be able to do that kind of thing like a zz top thing without too much compromise. It's hotter than a PAF but if you roll back the volume (may want a vol kit?) it should tame down. Having that guitar + an sss strat should do about anything you want, except for super heavy stuff.
You said you like your currect setup. Why not put the money towards another guitar in the future? JB and pg neck should be pretty versatile for rock. You could get a MIM strat with single coils for more versatility and I happen to listen to many blues players who use a strat. As for the oomph, I imagine a jb would be able to do that kind of thing like a zz top thing without too much compromise. It's hotter than a PAF but if you roll back the volume (may want a vol kit?) it should tame down. Having that guitar + an sss strat should do about anything you want, except for super heavy stuff.
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gregory
New member
Re: Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
I would keep the JB and PGn, buy a 5-Way Super Switch, a push-pull switch (maybe two or three) and put an STK-S4N in the middle.
1: Bridge (option to split to slug coil)
2: Bridge slug coil + Middle split
3: Middle noiseless
4: Middle noiseless + Neck series
5: Neck (option to split to screw coil)
Positions 2, 3 and 4 operate independently from any split/series selections for positions 1 or 5. I would also consider swapping mags for the JB as well as a push-pull option for a treble bleed.
I would keep the JB and PGn, buy a 5-Way Super Switch, a push-pull switch (maybe two or three) and put an STK-S4N in the middle.
1: Bridge (option to split to slug coil)
2: Bridge slug coil + Middle split
3: Middle noiseless
4: Middle noiseless + Neck series
5: Neck (option to split to screw coil)
Positions 2, 3 and 4 operate independently from any split/series selections for positions 1 or 5. I would also consider swapping mags for the JB as well as a push-pull option for a treble bleed.
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Re: Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
Welcome to the forum!
The Alnico II Strat pickup in the middle is warmer than the Pearly Gates, but that might be a really good thing. I think it would provide a nice contrast to the humbuckers- a warmer, single coil sound.
Welcome to the forum!
The Alnico II Strat pickup in the middle is warmer than the Pearly Gates, but that might be a really good thing. I think it would provide a nice contrast to the humbuckers- a warmer, single coil sound.
Re: Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
i wired up a guitar years ago with aps2 neck and middle with a pgb and i thought it sounded great. there was a volume boost going from the singles to the bucker but it worked well for the guy and he was quite happy with the tone. i could see the aps working in the hsh config as long as you are ok with the volume difference. i dont know if i agree with the aps being warmer than the pg, assuming the same control values. the pg with 250k pots (what i used in the hss wiring) isnt that bright and the aps with 500k is plenty bright.
the jb isnt really a good choice for zz top type stuff, at least the older classic material. way too hot and not open enough on the top
i wired up a guitar years ago with aps2 neck and middle with a pgb and i thought it sounded great. there was a volume boost going from the singles to the bucker but it worked well for the guy and he was quite happy with the tone. i could see the aps working in the hsh config as long as you are ok with the volume difference. i dont know if i agree with the aps being warmer than the pg, assuming the same control values. the pg with 250k pots (what i used in the hss wiring) isnt that bright and the aps with 500k is plenty bright.
the jb isnt really a good choice for zz top type stuff, at least the older classic material. way too hot and not open enough on the top
Re: Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck with Alnico 2 Pro in middle
I was thinking of putting my JB into another guitar and have it as my rock guitar. I love how clean the neck pup is right now, and I love that openness and clarity from the pearly bridge pup, especially some low/med gain. Pick hard and you can get that rock sound, and sounds clean when rolling the volume down. With the JB, I find it a bit too hot for that classic stuff, at least the stuff I play.
I was thinking of putting my JB into another guitar and have it as my rock guitar. I love how clean the neck pup is right now, and I love that openness and clarity from the pearly bridge pup, especially some low/med gain. Pick hard and you can get that rock sound, and sounds clean when rolling the volume down. With the JB, I find it a bit too hot for that classic stuff, at least the stuff I play.