Pearly Gates Opinions...

Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Lewguitar said:
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:
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Thats just how it goes lol im sure the Yard birds at one time were considered high gain compared to what came before them lol But I love the PGn I think its the pup that should be in all LPs as standard.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

I bought a PG set for my neck thru strat and while it was good, it wasn't perfect. I swapped the bridge magnet to an A5 and holy sheet what a difference. Great for metal. I use that axe exclusively in C# standard now for really really heavy stuff.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Lewguitar said:
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:
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If you find yourself having a hard time recommending pickups for a style of music you're not familiar with, I would take that as a sign that you should probably not participate in the thread.

An uninformed opinion is about as useful as a glass hammer.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Anyway ... I love the PG, and it's probably my favourite low output humbucker, however there are plenty of pickups I would say are a far better choice for what the OP wants. The other posters have covered it pretty well.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

ratherdashing said:
If you find yourself having a hard time recommending pickups for a style of music you're not familiar with, I would take that as a sign that you should probably not participate in the thread.

An uninformed opinion is about as useful as a glass hammer.
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sdrizis89 said:
Thanks for the input. Def interested in trying the custom out. I've heard clips and liked what i have heard. Thanks for the help.
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Looks like the OP found our opinions useful after all.

Glad to help!
 
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Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

The Pearly Gates can do heavy, but to me, doesn't get that "metal edge". Give it a chance first & then see. I'd recommend the custom over the C5. I have both, & I think the custom does metal better. I'd also look into the Distortion.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

sdrizis89 said:
I like a full tight low end, smooth mids, and smooth highs (not harsh). Thanks!
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PGs might work if you don't tune too low, I'd try it stock first. If it doesn't work a Tubescreamer or Boss SD-1 used as a booster between the guitar and the amp will tighten the lows, smooth the highs out a bit and give you all the gain you might lack by plugging straight in. If that doesn't work either stick a Distortion in the bridge. In my opinion basically no production pickup (including EMG 81s) can handle lower than C tunings and remain tight enough for metal without some sort of bass cut before hitting the amp anyway, and the Tubescreamer and clones are the fastest way to get there.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

PG is awesome for sludgy stuff tuned low, but if you're going for a more "traditional" metal sound you might not like it. With an A5 you'll gain highs and lows and it will feel tighter, but you'll lose some midrange, which is already lower in PAF types vs metal pickups. Could work, might not. I prefer pickups that push a lot more midrange for my crazy ****.

That said, the PG made my M-350 (mahogany/maple neck thru/floyd) growl in a very LP-like way, perfectly suitable for a lot of styles just short of aggressive metal, so if that sounds awesome to you, try it.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

To the OP:
Jackson in their in their wisdom decided to put PG's stock in the custom shop kelly you ordered. Nice axe, nice pickups. See how the thing sounds for a few weeks before you go looking to change the pickups. They might be perfect for you. If not, come back in a few weeks and tell us what you'd like to change about your sound - or let us know what you like about it. Can they handle high gain? yes. Are they the right pickups for your sound? Let is know in a few weeks. Its your axe and your tone.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

blueman335 said:
As a LP fan, I can't go along with that. Now if you would have said Seths...
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I honestly want to try a pair of Seths i've never owned a set but would love to try em. I can only imagine how good they sound clean or with just a lil dirt.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

sdrizis89 said:
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?
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I would give the neck PG some time before messin with it.

the Custom 5... I would go with the regular Custom ceramic mag SH-5.
Custom 5 I found had a 90s Rock power chord sound but everything else out of it was flat and uninspired lacking harmonic spark. The regular Custom is a no brainer for rock and metal; it’s tight, it screams, it has a usable full tone spectrum.

I luv the JB it’s hit or miss in mahogany – I dig it in two of my mahogany guitars, it sounded like it was stuck in a drain pipe in a third guitar.

The Invader I had some experience with a long time ago… I remember it killed for everything Hi-Gain METAL but was kind of dark and sometimes clunky for anything else.
Haven’t tried the Duncan Distortion.

59bridge is awesome for Rock, blues, everything? First instinct is there are better pups for modern metal. I mostly do artsy-gothy-darkalternative-atmospherepop stuff (used to do more Industrial metal like ministry, kmfdm, r zombie) and I often find myself wanting more oomphf :firedevil from the 59bridge but it does give you more complexity and more the sound of the wood in the guitar.
 
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Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Rockstar216 said:
I honestly want to try a pair of Seths i've never owned a set but would love to try em. I can only imagine how good they sound clean or with just a lil dirt.
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Then you really need to get a set. I think they're the flagship of the Duncan PAF line.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

blueman335 said:
Then you really need to get a set. I think they're the flagship of the Duncan PAF line.
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THIS.

i put some seths in a chambered LP studio, and it was the best sounding guitar i've ever played, to this day.

i would never use them for metal though.
 
Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

The PGs are one of my favorite humbuckers sets ever made. They manage to be warm and "chewy," but without sacrificing a cutting high end. They have a lot of personality and are good dynamically in response to your picking/plucking. They are extremely versatile, but without sounding bland/generic. IMHO, if you can't get a good tone from them, you just need to try harder. They can do almost anything with the right setup of your amp and/or pedals.

That said, you may find them a bit overbearing on the low end under very high gain, unless you can dial out enough of the low end using your amp's e.q. controls and/or an accessory e.q. device of some sort...which should not be a problem with most amps. Just turn down the bass and lower mids, really far if necessary.

If you are used to pumping a hotter signal into your amp by way of high-output pickups, you will find yourself having to adjust to the PGs' relatively low output by using different amp settings and changing your right hand attack to be more dynamic. They have tone for days, but they don't necessarily slam the front end of your amp the way that high-output pickups do. However, in the end you will actually find yourself getting a clearer and more versatile sound than with high output pickups. Whether or not you want that is up to you.
 
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Re: Pearly Gates Opinions...

Folks,

Yes, I realize that I'm jumping topics a bit and forgive me. If you want me to repost as a seperate thread, I will.

This topic brought up a question as I have never used a PG but have shad some unpleasant experiences with a 57.
How does the PG neck pickup compare with a Gibson 57 neck pickup?
Am interested in the response of the bass and treble strings.

Is the bass tigher or spongier than a 57?
Is the high end sharper or brighter than a 57?
Which pickup is the better choice to be used clean and under OD/distortion to give a smooth and/or singing voice.

Thanks.
 
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