Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

[Rex_Rocker]

So I finally settled on a '59 trembucker for my Ibanez RGA121 which is now on its way, and I want a neck pickup to go with it.

I don't like the '59N. I find it too boomy. I don't like the Jazz. I find it too scoopy. I like the Phat Cat in my PRS SE, but I like its clean tone more than its gainy tone, and I want this guitar to be more of a guitar for leads.

I want something for the neck position that's not overly bassy or scooped. I want something with a good mid presence and that is bright but not overly attacky/scratchy. I figured maybe I'd like the Pearly Gates because it is often described as bright and has Alnico 2 which has less bass and is less scooped, right?

What do you think? Do you think it would match the '59 well?

What other suggestions do you guys have? I'd like to avoid magnet swapping, TBH. Since I'm starting from scratch, I'd like to find a neck pickup that I like in its stock form.

Thanks!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

I haven't used the combo in a super strat, but I did have that combo in a Les Paul and it worked very well. Could have/should have been the stock pickup set for Les Pauls. The Pearly is pretty even and has some chime in the neck. The 59B is a great all around rock pickup. They mix well in the middle.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

The Pearly Gates is spot on for what you want;

- Not too boomy? Less bass than a 59 and a little looser. CHECK
- Not too scooped? Little more mids than a 59, and a nice upper mid spike and presence to cut. CHECK
- Not too screechy/scratchy? The A2 adds a sweet smooth top to the highs that is most pleasing. CHECK


I'd say it's perfect for what you want. Pairs great with a 59, that has both a tighter bass and sharper highs in the bridge. Will balance no problem output-wise. Together they give a cool balance that neither has on it's own. Great for neck Leads!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

A4 59n.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

So I finally settled on a '59 trembucker for my Ibanez RGA121 which is now on its way, and I want a neck pickup to go with it.

I don't like the '59N. I find it too boomy. I don't like the Jazz. I find it too scoopy. I like the Phat Cat in my PRS SE, but I like its clean tone more than its gainy tone, and I want this guitar to be more of a guitar for leads.

I want something for the neck position that's not overly bassy or scooped. I want something with a good mid presence and that is bright but not overly attacky/scratchy. I figured maybe I'd like the Pearly Gates because it is often described as bright and has Alnico 2 which has less bass and is less scooped, right?

What do you think? Do you think it would match the '59 well?

What other suggestions do you guys have? I'd like to avoid magnet swapping, TBH. Since I'm starting from scratch, I'd like to find a neck pickup that I like in its stock form.

Thanks!

If your don't like "scoopy' p'ups, then you won't like the '59b...

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Excellent, thanks for the replies, dudes!

If your don't like "scoopy' p'ups, then you won't like the '59b...

I don't like scoopy pups in the neck position. I already have a '59B in a PRS SE and love it.

A4 59n.

I've considered an A4 Jazz... but if I'm going to buy new, I'd rather just order a pickup I like without having to mod.

Which also makes me wonder about the Saturday Night Special neck... hmmm...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

So I finally settled on a '59 trembucker for my Ibanez RGA121 which is now on its way, and I want a neck pickup to go with it.

I don't like the '59N. I find it too boomy. I don't like the Jazz. I find it too scoopy. I like the Phat Cat in my PRS SE, but I like its clean tone more than its gainy tone, and I want this guitar to be more of a guitar for leads.

I want something for the neck position that's not overly bassy or scooped. I want something with a good mid presence and that is bright but not overly attacky/scratchy. I figured maybe I'd like the Pearly Gates because it is often described as bright and has Alnico 2 which has less bass and is less scooped, right?

What do you think? Do you think it would match the '59 well?

What other suggestions do you guys have? I'd like to avoid magnet swapping, TBH. Since I'm starting from scratch, I'd like to find a neck pickup that I like in its stock form.

Thanks!

I love the 59N and do not find it boomy at all. To me it sounds like I want a neck humbucker to sound, which means like Larry Carlton or Wes Montgomery or Mike Bloomfield or Robben Ford or BB King.

BUT, I also love the PGN and I do find that alnico 2 neck pickups like the PGN, Seth N and APH-1N and APH-2N have less bass and that the bass they do produce is more manageable - especially if you're one of those guys who finds alnico 5 neck humbuckers like the 59N to have more bass than you want.

So get a PGN. IMO, there's not a better neck humbucker than the PGN...just different.

BTW, I always swap out the polished A5 magnet in my 59's for Roughcast A5. Softens the highs and lows and seems to thicken the mids and add "texture" or complexity.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Excellent, thanks for the replies, dudes!


I don't like scoopy pups in the neck position. I already have a '59B in a PRS SE and love it.


I've considered an A4 Jazz... but if I'm going to buy new, I'd rather just order a pickup I like without having to mod.

Which also makes me wonder about the Saturday Night Special neck... hmmm...

Forgot about this SNS. Maybe that would be a good choice.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Forgot about this SNS. Maybe that would be a good choice.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

Seems like an interesting pup, huh? I wonder if its not too fat from the overwinding, though.

I love the 59N and do not find it boomy at all. To me it sounds like I want a neck humbucker to sound, which means like Larry Carlton or Wes Montgomery or Mike Bloomfield or Robben Ford or BB King.

BUT, I also love the PGN and I do find that alnico 2 neck pickups like the PGN, Seth N and APH-1N and APH-2N have less bass and that the bass they do produce is more manageable - especially if you're one of those guys who finds alnico 5 neck humbuckers like the 59N to have more bass than you want.

So get a PGN. IMO, there's not a better neck humbucker than the PGN...just different.

BTW, I always swap out the polished A5 magnet in my 59's for Roughcast A5. Softens the highs and lows and seems to thicken the mids and add "texture" or complexity.

Thank for the insight. Reason why I think I'd like an Alnico 2 neck pickup is because I love how controlled the bass is on my Phat Cat. Totally different pickups, I know, but I'm hoping the bass has a similar character in the Pearly Gates.

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

I've got the Saturday Night Special set in my Les Paul Traditional, and the neck pickup is outstanding!! (The bridge is as well) Having had a pearly gates set in the same guitar I can say the SNS neck has firmer bass, and more treble than the Pearly. Don't get me wrong I love the Pearly set as well but the Saturday night neck has more clarity, while still having a good midrange. It's got a smoother attack than a Jazz as well. I haven't tried either in a 25.5 scale guitar, but I would think the results would transfer in the same way.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

^Would you say the SNS neck is fatter than it is bright?

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Seth Lover neck would be a good match for the 59B too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Another option is the Alnico II Pro. It isn't scooped, and doesn't have a very heavy high end. There are nice mids there, too. Should blend well with your bridge pickup, and get you some nice, diverse sounds.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Thanks for the suggestions!

So how do the Seth neck and the Alnico II Pro compare to the Pearly Gates neck?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Both have a little less high end. The Seth's mids are a little more um, 'complex'..I don't know how to put it. All of them are more or less PAF-based, so they get slight EQ adjustments, but it isn't crazy drastic. Also, remember that the Seth isn't potted.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Pearly Gates neck to go with a '59B?

Screamin' Demon in the neck position.

Little more upper mids
less boomy lows, yet still tight