Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

DI_IORIO

DI_IORIO

New member
Hello guys

I'm still in doubt about which pick up suits better on my explorer
I was thinking about to stay with high output pickups, like JB or distortion, but using lower gain on the amp, to get more 70's hard rock and blues tones. By the way, I was thinking about a set of pearly gates, i know they can give me the sound i want, but how does they sound when playing heavier stuff like early Van Halen, Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot and Ozzy years), or even classic heavy metal like early Judas Priest and Maiden?
People who use or tried the Pearly Gates, please let me know more about them? Thanks brothers!
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

For 70's hard rock and blues tones, you don't really want very high output pickups. They were more low output pickups, mid gain (at the most) amp kinda guys ;).
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

PG's are like a vintage 50's alnico 2 paf. Those 50 paf's vary a bit and the PG's emulate the tone of the particular pafs in Billy Gibbons Les Paul. I think they'd sound great in your guitar. EVH didn't use really hot pickups at first. He used vintage output pickups like the Seth Lovers, PG's, 59's, etc. Those are all based on mid to late 50's pafs! The 59's though use alnico 5 magnets and would have more bass and treble and less mids than the Seths and PG's.

You might like the 59's in your Explorer...but the Seth Lovers or PG's would actually be more like the pafs in an original '58 Explorer.

They're all great pickups and you couldn't really go wrong with any of them...

The Jazz and JB combo is a great one too. The Jazz is similar to the 59n but a little less bass and more sparkle and the JB is a killer...especially onstage. That set would light up your Explorer with vintage tone from the neck Jazz and hotter Jeff Beck Freeway Jam type tone from the JB.

Lew
 
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Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

If you want to know what PG's sound like plugged straight into an amp, listen to Warren Haynes on the recent Allman Brothers CD
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

if i were you id try a pearly gates neck and custom custom bridge.
that should be an interesting combo and fit all those styles.
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

+1 Madguitar! PG/CC rules!!!!!

I play Aerosmith, Zep etc...And Ozzy, Maiden, Priest. I love my PG/CC, It's my go to classic rock axe! But I'd say the straight up PG set would be better overall for you. The CC is a really interesting pup - but maybe not quite right for the straight up 80's metal. So actually, my final answer is +1 Benjy!
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

Thanks for the informations guys.. I'm sure the Pearly Gates are great blues/rock pickups, I was only a little afraid about heavier things, not extreme metal, because I don't play it anymore.. I'm more into blues, 70's rock, 80's hard rock and a little classic heavy metal and I was a little in doubt about the PG on bridge. Recently I played on a Epiphone Les Paul with one PG - neck and it sounded great, just like what i need. Some people say it's bright on bridge position, some say it's balanced..
If you imagine a JB with less gain, how would the PG bridge be compared with? brighter, thicker? I know they are different pick ups because the output and stuff... but how about the balance??
Thanks again!:smack:
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

Well, I was just messing with some videos that i've got here and I watched a Warren Haynes guitar lesson... this guy rules, great tone.
Anyone know if he was using Pearly Gates on his Les Paul and PRS?
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

I tought Satriani was a Dimarzio-guy, by the way..i'll search for this video, thanks!

Achei que o Satriani só usava Dimarzios, vou procurar esse video valeu!
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

saudações brasileiras.

he uses two ibanez guitars on the live from san francisco dvd,one with dimarzios,the other called "the pearly"
with seymour duncans written on the neck and bridge models(pearly gates).
im selling my duncan custom and alnico 2 pro both in zebra brand spankin knew,for brazilian residents only.
PM me if interested,190 reais each shipping on your account.
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

Jolly's a great player and he tends to use vintage output pickups like the Duncan Jazz...or in this case, the Pearly Gates.

Alot of younger guys are convinced that need overwound humbuckers to get a great modern rock tone and that's just not the case.

Almost any paf style humbucker has enough output to drive almost any amp into a modern overdriven tone.

Jolly gets a great tone with vintage output pickups and has a very modern lead style.

I always tell guys to check out his clips if they have any doubt that a great modern lead tone can be had from pickups like the Duncan Jazz.

I think guys who rely on super hot pickups have a tendency to all sound very similar to each other.

Vintage output pickups allow for more of your own personality, touch and tone to shine through....IMO.

Lew
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

Hey Jolly, awesome clips man, great tone! Thanks! I'm just thinking about what I'm going to do with the Zakk Wylde set that I put on my Explorer, they sound really good, but not for what I've been playing, that's why i'm thinking about the PG's

Lew: I'm trying to stop using high output humbuckers because those things that you said.. they are like cigarretes!:smokin: - at list they don't kill you! I've tried JB's, EMG's, Superdistortions, 500T and today they all sound the same for me, I can get pretty heavy stuff anytime, play loud and fast but can't get classic tones that i like just using less gain on the amps and hot pickups.
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

I installed a PG into the bridge position of a superstrat for a shredder. He doesn't play blues but he loves it. I played the guitar for several days, and I have no doubt that the PG can handle heavier stuff, than classic rock or blues. One of my own guitars has boutique A2 humbuckers with 8.3K windings. They could handle metal through the typical modern tube amp, no problem at all. A2 PAF type pickups are pretty verasatile.


The above is correct about Joe satch using a PG equiped guitar. Even his Dimarzios are not high output, but medium output, and Joe isn't exactly a blues player. Additionally I had my own Dimarzio Fred in the bridge position of the above mentioned superstrat, while we shopped for pickups. The PG didn't sound any weaker compared to the Fred.
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

The only one in your list that used low output pickups was EVH. All the others used the highest output pickups they could get at the time. We're talkin' Super D's (when they were the hottest), Duncan Distortions and JB's. However, you can get whatever you want with a good low output pickup. All it takes is a little more oomph on the amp's end. ;)

I'm liking the lower output pickups myself these days. The DiMarzio PAF is one of my favs as is the PG.
 
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Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

I've been playing mostly blues, classic rock, southern rock and 80's hard rock, that's why I'm thinking about the Pearly Gates..but never know, sometimes a friend or another can call me to jam some heavier stuff, but as youl folks said, the PG's can handle well

I always listened from Muddy Waters to Morbid Angel, but i got a little tired of heavier stuff, and nowadays I just play metal for fun
 
Re: Pearly Gates combo for Hard Rock?

Lewguitar said:
Jolly's a great player and he tends to use vintage output pickups like the Duncan Jazz...or in this case, the Pearly Gates.

Alot of younger guys are convinced that need overwound humbuckers to get a great modern rock tone and that's just not the case.

Almost any paf style humbucker has enough output to drive almost any amp into a modern overdriven tone.

Jolly gets a great tone with vintage output pickups and has a very modern lead style.

I always tell guys to check out his clips if they have any doubt that a great modern lead tone can be had from pickups like the Duncan Jazz.

I think guys who rely on super hot pickups have a tendency to all sound very similar to each other.

Vintage output pickups allow for more of your own personality, touch and tone to shine through....IMO.

Lew
Click to expand...

I remember Jolly's clips using APH1s and man did he sound HEAVY!

Slash's prelude to "double talkin' jive" on the Live in Tokyo (1992) video was heavy too... but not as heavy and as thick as Jolly's clips.

Rock on!
 
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