Pearly Gates Opinions...

[sdrizis89]

Hey guys, im new to this forum and have a question about the SD Pearly Gates Set. Hopefully you guys can help me out. Thanks in advance.

I just put a deposit on a beautiful Jackson Custom Shop Flat Top Kelly that i will be bringing home in a couple of weeks. It comes with the SD pearly gates set. I play all types of metal but mostly stuff like Metallica, Megadeth, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, and so on. While i play through an Engl Savage 120, will these pups be able to handle that type of high gain tone or will it not work as well as i'd like it to. (i'd like it to work well as im a tone freak.) I have a dimarzio CL/LF set in a mahogany Jackson Soloist and love that combo with my rig and preferable tone if that helps at all.

some specs:
Mahogany neck-thru
24 jumbo frets
24.75" scale
ebony fretboard
Pearly Gates Set

Anyone have any opinions/advice on this set for metal?
I've heard the neck pup is amazing but im worried about the bridge pup handling high gain tones. I like a full tight low end, smooth mids, and smooth highs (not harsh). Thanks!

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

The PGs might be a lil bit to loose or muddy with high gain for the bands you mention. You wont get super tight low end but the highs will be smooth and round. You might want to try a Distortion Mayhem set or a Custom.

 

[dano8180]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

I know that I read that Tony Rumbola from Godsmack used the bridge model back in the day. He thought it was funny that they were playing heavier type of music and playing a "vintage" voiced pickup.

 

[sdrizis89]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

im worried about the looseness and it being muddy. Im sure the neck pup will be great for cleans/leads. maybe ill just swap the bridge eventually for something with a more modern voice. Maybe a custom/JB/something BKP.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

If you just want to use the PGn for leads and cleans its a good choice but for high gain riffing yea you want something tighter like you mentioned. You could try a Distortion, Custom, Invader. The JB has a reputation of not working well in Mahogany

 

[sdrizis89]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

If you just want to use the PGn for leads and cleans its a good choice but for high gain riffing yea you want something tighter like you mentioned. You could try a Distortion, Custom, Invader. The JB has a reputation of not working well in Mahogany

Thanks for the input. Def interested in trying the custom out. I've heard clips and liked what i have heard. Can't wait to bring this guitar home already and figure out exactly what i want to throw in the bridge now that i know the pearly gates is not going to do me justice. Thanks for the help.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

keep the neck pickup and get a custom or custom 5 for the bridge

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Custom and Pearly Gates Neck is a fantastic combo for heavy stuff.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

The PGs might be a lil bit to loose or muddy with high gain for the bands you mention. You wont get super tight low end but the highs will be smooth and round. You might want to try a Distortion Mayhem set or a Custom.

+1. PGN's are pretty warm with a rounded high end, and a loose low end. I wouldn't use one for the kind of music you're playing. A '59 would be much tighter and better with high gain. There's a lot of 'vintage voiced' HB's, and I think those with A2 magnets aren't good choices for you.

BTW, welcome aboard!

 

[sdrizis89]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Looks like a custom or custom 5 will be installed shortly after bringing it home. Hopefully I like it! How do those two compare to each other?

Also what if I swapped the magnet on the bridge pup to an A5?

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Looks like a custom or custom 5 will be installed shortly after bringing it home. Hopefully I like it! How do those two compare to each other?

Also what if I swapped the magnet on the bridge pup to an A5?

i have an alnico 5 pearly gates plus, and it can do metal if need be. not woofy or wooly sounding.

 

[loversmoon]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

If you just want to use the PGn for leads and cleans its a good choice but for high gain riffing yea you want something tighter like you mentioned. You could try a Distortion, Custom, Invader. The JB has a reputation of not working well in Mahogany

I think it depends upon the thickness of the guitar. I have a JB in a Ec1000 and it does really well in that guitar. whereas in a thicker LP it prolly doesnt do as well. I also just picked up a custom tb 5 to drop into my alder strat. If you get your guitar and the custom loaded into before I do keep us posted on how it sounds. CLips would be good :cool2:

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

i have an alnico 5 pearly gates plus, and it can do metal if need be. not woofy or wooly sounding.

Heard that. I have an alnico 5 pearly gates + in one of my Strats, and it does old-school metal all day and all night. Maybe not the super-tight, super dry stuff, but it's a meaty pickup.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

just needs a little more gain thrown at it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

I have never found the Pearly Gates to be loose or muddy.

NEVER! :lmao:

Gotta wonder if those comments are coming from someone who's repeating internet BULL JIVE rather than having owned them and used them.

However, for the OP's style I think the PGn and Custom set might be more appropriate. I love that combo for heavier stuff.

I don't play with mondo distortion on a regular basis but I haven't forgotten how to do it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

I have never found the Pearly Gates to be loose or muddy. NEVER!

Gotta wonder if those comments are coming from someone who's repeating internet BULL JIVE rather than having owned them and used them.

No need to get yourself worked up. I've got a PG set and am not impressed, sorry. All entilited to our own opinions, even when they're different than yours. In brighter woods I think the PGN would be better, but this guy's got mahogany and playing metal. I don't see PG's as anywhere near the top of the list of PU's for that situation. That's not where A2's shine. There's better neck PU's for him. PGN's in a Strat in lower gain music would be a whole different ballgame.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

I have never found the Pearly Gates to be loose or muddy.

NEVER! :lmao:

Gotta wonder if those comments are coming from someone who's repeating internet BULL JIVE rather than having owned them and used them.

However, for the OP's style I think the PGn and Custom set might be more appropriate. I love that combo for heavier stuff.

I don't play with mondo distortion on a regular basis but I haven't forgotten how to do it.

For me thats why I swapped out the A2 to A3 to tighten up the bass just a lil and add some clarity. With the A2 I couldn't riff the way I wanted to in the neck. If I was just playing more clean to hard rock yea I would keep the A2 in it. I like the tone of the A2 but it didn't work for what I needed. Honestly I want to try a liqifire in the neck but think it might be to dark to do cleans well.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

All I said was that I've never ever heard PG's sound loose and muddy. And I never have.

And if I really had my tit in a wringer over it I never would have put three smilies in one post.

What I did say is that a pickup like the Duncan Custom might be more appropriate than the PG for the metal stuff the OP is into.

Metal not being my style, there's probably others that might be even better.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

It's firmly in the PAF, turn-up-and-wail school of tone.

Metal was invented with these kinds of pickups.

The Pearly Gates+ is fine ... unless you're in Slipknot, I guess.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

It's firmly in the PAF, turn-up-and-wail school of tone.

Metal was invented with these kinds of pickups.

The Pearly Gates+ is fine ... unless you're in Slipknot, I guess.

I agree. But the kids seem to like something with more output. I don't really play the music they're into so I have a hard time recommending pickups to sound like Mega-Corpse or Mondo-Death...or whatever those bands names are. :lmao: