Pearly Gates equals?
- Thread starter Pep2019
- Start date
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
I don’t think Dimarzio makes any PAF with Alnico 2 pickups and mismatched coils. So really I’d just go for which PAF sounds better to n you on demos as neither will be close spec wise.
I don’t think Dimarzio makes any PAF with Alnico 2 pickups and mismatched coils. So really I’d just go for which PAF sounds better to n you on demos as neither will be close spec wise.
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BluesIsBlood12
New member
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
What is it you are trying to accomplish? The guys around here can usually be very helpful if you can describe what you want out of a pickup/guitar.
What is it you are trying to accomplish? The guys around here can usually be very helpful if you can describe what you want out of a pickup/guitar.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
I want to have Sigler custom design me either an H/H or H/S/H Strat pickguard. I am a Dimarzio guy (although I am familiar with quite a few Duncans).
I was going to have them make me an AT-1/Heavy Blues 2/Bluesbucker pickguard but Jimmy at Sigler said he presently can’t get those p’ups ‘cause DMZ is still closed
So I was considering a PGb/PGn pickguard that Sigler currently has in stock.
I think I would like the PG set.
I know the PGb won’t be like the DMZ AT-1, but that’s okay.
The DMZ Bluesbucker is the best neck p’up I have ever heard- it is virtually mud- free on the low notes, but still has lots of mids to give it character on the high notes (I could care less if it sounds like a P-90, which is it’s claim).
I could give more info, but let’s start here.
I want to have Sigler custom design me either an H/H or H/S/H Strat pickguard. I am a Dimarzio guy (although I am familiar with quite a few Duncans).
I was going to have them make me an AT-1/Heavy Blues 2/Bluesbucker pickguard but Jimmy at Sigler said he presently can’t get those p’ups ‘cause DMZ is still closed
So I was considering a PGb/PGn pickguard that Sigler currently has in stock.
I think I would like the PG set.
I know the PGb won’t be like the DMZ AT-1, but that’s okay.
The DMZ Bluesbucker is the best neck p’up I have ever heard- it is virtually mud- free on the low notes, but still has lots of mids to give it character on the high notes (I could care less if it sounds like a P-90, which is it’s claim).
I could give more info, but let’s start here.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
In the past, I had heard they never used Alnico 2 as Dimarzio himself doesn't like it, but knowing that it's a newer pickup I decided to check. It's Alnico 5.
https://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/vintage-output/paf-master-neck (click on the specs tab and it says Alnico 5). Or the site's wrong?
But I was surprised to see that the bridge use Alnico 4.
In the past, I had heard they never used Alnico 2 as Dimarzio himself doesn't like it, but knowing that it's a newer pickup I decided to check. It's Alnico 5.
https://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/vintage-output/paf-master-neck (click on the specs tab and it says Alnico 5). Or the site's wrong?
But I was surprised to see that the bridge use Alnico 4.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
I heave a Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck in an American Special strat. It's a killer combination although I found that I liked the tone better in Eb than E standard as it was a bit bright with 500K pots. And I wouldn't suggest 250K pots for this set. When I got this guitar they had used 250K pots, it sounded great split but it was too dark for the humbuckers. 500K was a tad too bright but sounded fantastic tuned a half step down.
I heave a Pearly Gates Bridge and Neck in an American Special strat. It's a killer combination although I found that I liked the tone better in Eb than E standard as it was a bit bright with 500K pots. And I wouldn't suggest 250K pots for this set. When I got this guitar they had used 250K pots, it sounded great split but it was too dark for the humbuckers. 500K was a tad too bright but sounded fantastic tuned a half step down.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
Do they have any humbuckers (like full-sized humbuckers) with Alnico 2 magnets? The areas are noiseless singles. I was told they didn't but they certainly have released a set of pickups or two since I last read about this.
Again, I don't recall any Dimarzio humbuckers using the uneven coils the way the Pearly Gates does. I still think the best you can do is pick one of their PAF type pickups you like the sound of the most. Or just get the Pearly Gates.
Do they have any humbuckers (like full-sized humbuckers) with Alnico 2 magnets? The areas are noiseless singles. I was told they didn't but they certainly have released a set of pickups or two since I last read about this.
Again, I don't recall any Dimarzio humbuckers using the uneven coils the way the Pearly Gates does. I still think the best you can do is pick one of their PAF type pickups you like the sound of the most. Or just get the Pearly Gates.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
Hmm...Pearly Gates = mismatched coils?
Straight from Evan when he worked for SD...
Not saying it can't be true, but Evan has never been one to mislead.
Hmm...Pearly Gates = mismatched coils?
Straight from Evan when he worked for SD...
Not saying it can't be true, but Evan has never been one to mislead.
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Re: Pearly Gates equals?
I've heard that they're mismatched. Some people who measured them claimed that the mismatch is very slight. Interestingly enough, I've heard the same about burstbuckers that were measured (and they're advertised as having mismatched coils). Perhaps the confusion is from people thinking that they're heavily mismatched when it might just be a few hundred turns +- on each coil. Or perhaps I got caught up in internet BS? I wouldn't say that's impossible.
I've heard that they're mismatched. Some people who measured them claimed that the mismatch is very slight. Interestingly enough, I've heard the same about burstbuckers that were measured (and they're advertised as having mismatched coils). Perhaps the confusion is from people thinking that they're heavily mismatched when it might just be a few hundred turns +- on each coil. Or perhaps I got caught up in internet BS? I wouldn't say that's impossible.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
PGs don’t have intentionally mismatched coils.
DiMarzios don’t have A2s. Outside of their many ceramic powered pickups, it’s almost all A5, and one pickup A4, that I know of. They use A5 and manipulate the strength and/or the field shape using various tricks.
There isn’t a DiMarzio that sounds just like a PG. PGs are brighter than anything DiMarzio has in the PAF vein.
The first thing I’d try would be a PAF Master set. It’s a great combination of juiciness with clarity, which is the same way I’d describe a PG set. But the PG set has a bit hotter output and a bit more bite. Some pole piece adjustment on a PAF Master set, a few small amp tweaks, and you’re very close.
PGs don’t have intentionally mismatched coils.
DiMarzios don’t have A2s. Outside of their many ceramic powered pickups, it’s almost all A5, and one pickup A4, that I know of. They use A5 and manipulate the strength and/or the field shape using various tricks.
There isn’t a DiMarzio that sounds just like a PG. PGs are brighter than anything DiMarzio has in the PAF vein.
The first thing I’d try would be a PAF Master set. It’s a great combination of juiciness with clarity, which is the same way I’d describe a PG set. But the PG set has a bit hotter output and a bit more bite. Some pole piece adjustment on a PAF Master set, a few small amp tweaks, and you’re very close.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
Thanks, Itsabass- I think that's the most useful comment yet.
Thanks, Itsabass- I think that's the most useful comment yet.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
DMZ practically specializes in mismatched coils, unless we are using different definitions of "mismatched".
Tone Zone, Norton, FRED, 36th Ann., . . . all use mismatched coils.
I'm not sure what you mean by Dimarzio not using mismatched coils "the way" Pearly Gates does. I guess it's a technical thing I don't understand. (not being sarcastic).
DMZ practically specializes in mismatched coils, unless we are using different definitions of "mismatched".
Tone Zone, Norton, FRED, 36th Ann., . . . all use mismatched coils.
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
dimarzios mismatched coils are usually (the patent) two coils with different wire types but nominally the same number of turns. so a fred has 5500 turns of #42 on one coil and 5500 turns of #43 on another. i made up the numbers but its an example without knowing the actual turn counts. an old gibson paf might have mismatched coils but it was the turn count that was different, not the wire. so stud coil had 5300 turns and screw coils had 4900 but both were wound with #42 pe. back in the day at gibson it wasnt intentional, just a symptom of human interaction with the winding machine and wear.
as mentioned above, almost all duncan buckers are wound with nominally the same number of turns on both coils, including the pg.
dimarzios mismatched coils are usually (the patent) two coils with different wire types but nominally the same number of turns. so a fred has 5500 turns of #42 on one coil and 5500 turns of #43 on another. i made up the numbers but its an example without knowing the actual turn counts. an old gibson paf might have mismatched coils but it was the turn count that was different, not the wire. so stud coil had 5300 turns and screw coils had 4900 but both were wound with #42 pe. back in the day at gibson it wasnt intentional, just a symptom of human interaction with the winding machine and wear.
as mentioned above, almost all duncan buckers are wound with nominally the same number of turns on both coils, including the pg.
Francois
New member
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
Quite interesting !
Does the DMZ FRED sound great on a Strat ?
Quite interesting !
Does the DMZ FRED sound great on a Strat ?
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
I haver had this talk w/ Evan and Falbo maybe? Maybe asked MJ. Anyway - the point that keeps coming up is for you to notice anything it has to be considerably different.
I haver had this talk w/ Evan and Falbo maybe? Maybe asked MJ. Anyway - the point that keeps coming up is for you to notice anything it has to be considerably different.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Pearly Gates equals?
If they unwound the pickups completely and counted different numbers of wire turns on each bobbin, they’re mismatched. If they just measured the DCR and it came out different, but within 10% of each other, it’s not mismatched but just normal manufacturing tolerance.
My 36th neck doesn’t sound like any of my Pearly necks. The only pickups I can possibly compare to a Pearly are other Duncans, but none sound exactly alike, just similar in certain sonic areas, like “same top end but different bottom end”, or “like a Pearly with the tone rolled off to 8” kind of comparison.
If they unwound the pickups completely and counted different numbers of wire turns on each bobbin, they’re mismatched. If they just measured the DCR and it came out different, but within 10% of each other, it’s not mismatched but just normal manufacturing tolerance.
My 36th neck doesn’t sound like any of my Pearly necks. The only pickups I can possibly compare to a Pearly are other Duncans, but none sound exactly alike, just similar in certain sonic areas, like “same top end but different bottom end”, or “like a Pearly with the tone rolled off to 8” kind of comparison.