Pearly Gates little more output.

S

SuhrPT100

New member
Hello,

I love Pearly Gates HBs on my strat, to me they're the perfect pickup but I'm looking to get a little more gain out of them. I know the simple answer is just keep playing them if they're perfect but I don't want to crank the amp's gain (PT100) to 8 or 9 all the time for leads. So is there a pickup that at least comes close to the PG with more gain? I was told no because if you wind it for more gain..you'd lose what makes the PG so great.

I've tried Suhr pickups and didn't like them at all. Haven't tried Dimarzio's Super Distortion but was told it's like the Duncan Distortion which I like as well. :headbang: custom or boutique pickups are too clean and clear for me and end up sounding fake to my ears. I like the dirt, filth and grit from Duncan and Dimarzio. I also love a vowel type of tone..not too much like the pickups Satriani uses but a little bit of that vowel type of sound.

So far my favorite pickups are in order:
1. Pearly Gates (if they had more gain i'd put them in all my guitars)
2. Duncan Distortion
3. Evolutions
4. Little 59s

Is there such a pickup as PG with more gain or at least one that comes close to it? Please let me know.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

get a pearly gates plus (overwound pearly gates w/A5) and swap in the A2 and BOOOm = overwound pearly just for you :headbang:
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Welcome SuhrPT!

I happen to have a slightly hotter PG (wound personally by me at the Duncan factory). Subsequently, it's not for sale not now or ever. However, you could call the custom shop and get them to wind you one.

A SuperDistortion is NOTHING like a Duncan Distortion. I personally have one of each in two different 70's LP's. Not at all the same. Distoriton - way brighter, way hotter. You would never mistake the sound or feel of either.

If you really love the pickup as-is except for the output, might I suggest a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster? One little stomp box of pure clear gain, preserving the pup's tone. Also available in an on-board version too.

You might consider a Screamin' Demon...not exactly Pearly Gates, but a sporty PAF style without being stupid hot.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Aceman said:
Welcome SuhrPT!

I happen to have a slightly hotter PG (wound personally by me at the Duncan factory). Subsequently, it's not for sale not now or ever. However, you could call the custom shop and get them to wind you one.

A SuperDistortion is NOTHING like a Duncan Distortion. I personally have one of each in two different 70's LP's. Not at all the same. Distoriton - way brighter, way hotter. You would never mistake the sound or feel of either.

If you really love the pickup as-is except for the output, might I suggest a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster? One little stomp box of pure clear gain, preserving the pup's tone. Also available in an on-board version too.

You might consider a Screamin' Demon...not exactly Pearly Gates, but a sporty PAF style without being stupid hot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies guys..I hated the Screamin' Demons and I'm trying to avoid using a pedal to boost since I can get what I want if I crank the Gain on the PT100. I use the boost/channel3 on the PT so I don't want to use a boost on top of that.

Mr. Morton...that was all chinese to me. ?? I'm a retard when it comes to all the tech talk about pickups. I did call SD in fact, it was the first thing I did, but that's what I was told..that I'd lose the bets part of the PG if I wound it hotter so now I'm really confused. Is the PG a hotter PAF? If so why did I hate the Suhr Aldrich and SSH+ they're both supposed to be hot PAFs. :banghead:

Thanks again guys..:headbang:
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Opinions will vary but here's mine- You like the PG but want a touch more for the strat, I get it. Duncan's pickup choices in the 9-12k range are few and far between.
Check out Dimarzio, the 36th could do it, the Paf Pro, Mo Joe will get you more oomph without going into a distortion pickup. All work well in strats and won't break the bank. The 78 model from Duncan would help but you are talking $160.....
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

I think mag swap might also do it. Un-oriented A5, a little tighter and little more output and push than the A2, similar mids, but still smooth in the treble and same dynamic feel or so I've been told.
 
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Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

I'd try a mag swap first...either an UOA5 or an A8. I suspect that the A8 will get you that extra oomph that you want without going overboard.

If neither of these mags works for you, then go with the PG+. It comes with an A5 mag, you may want to replace that with a UOA5 or even an A2 unless you like the bright and articulate sound of the A5.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

the Pearly Gates Plus was a special request from Fender. They asked SeymourDuncan for a Pearly Gates with a bit more output (3db more if I recall).

That might just fit the bill.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

lazyfinger said:
I think mag swap might also do it. Un-oriented A5, a little tighter and little more output and push than the A2, similar mids, but still smooth in the treble and same dynamic feel or so I've been told.
Click to expand...

+1. Try an UOA5 (to maintain the A2 dynamics and response) which adds some output and treble for bite, or an A8, which has a lot more output. Several dollars for a magnet and you're good to go.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Suhr SSV+ or if you want a bit sweeter, my fave the DSV+.

Your search has now ended, as has mine :headbang:
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

damn, I might need to try those...... If I ever get tired of my seth bridge.............not likely for at least a year
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

My question is whats wrong with cranking the gain on the amp? why do you have to get it from the pickup? if the amps knob goes that far why not use it?

While i respect all the mag swappers advice it still alters the tone of the pickup so you get a pearly gates.. but different. If thats not what your after why not just crank the knob?
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Edgecrusher said:
While i respect all the mag swappers advice it still alters the tone of the pickup so you get a pearly gates.. but different. If thats not what your after why not just crank the knob?
Click to expand...

Valid point, but think about this: While the PGN gets all kind of love and respect here, the PGB does not get quite as much praise. Popular, yes, worshipped like a PGN, no. And the popularity the PGB does have, is clearly related to it being paired with a very popular neck PU. When you look for used PU's, there's always far more PGB's being sold than PGN's. If a PGB's tone is changed a little by a magnet, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

To Edgecrushers point: Cuz it sounds wannabe.

One some heavyduty head&stacks, you can crank and kick it.

But i spent HOURS trying to dial a sound that would convince my girlfriend that a JB (DD w/A5) could do thrash on my rig. No Dice, she said all the magic & excitementit had with
the ceramic was gone. And she's right: sometimes, the pickup has to have the proper tailoring right outa the gate.
 
Re: Pearly Gates little more output.

Edgecrusher said:
My question is whats wrong with cranking the gain on the amp? why do you have to get it from the pickup? if the amps knob goes that far why not use it?

While i respect all the mag swappers advice it still alters the tone of the pickup so you get a pearly gates.. but different. If thats not what your after why not just crank the knob?
Click to expand...

I definitely know where you are coming from and understand that the controls alone should get there. But for me there is something about a mag swap that adjusting the amps controls cannot do I like the way a mag swap changes the dynamic of the pup. It makes the existing pup morph into what you want most of the time
 
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