Pearly Gates or 59s or Antiquites

Fratis21

New member
I have in my possession three sets of pick ups. pearly gates, 59s and Antiquities. I like keeping a spare but I don't need three. I'm thinking of giving away one set to my pal. I know I'm keeping the PGs in my Les Paul. which other one should I keep. I try not to get opinions on these things because you'll get lots of them and you know what they say about opinions. I'm leaning more towards the 59s because they have A5 mags. And the Ants and PG both have A2 magnets. So I figured why have two of the same components. Dump the Ants keep the 59s. Both of them sound great. Everyone has different ear of what they hear out of these things. So I'm just throwing it out there for an interesting conversation. I am leaning more towards keeping the 59s though.
 
Keep the '59's.

The '59 set has the EQ preference i like. More low end for better root6 power chords (bridge) and more horse power. The antiquities were too mellow from my experience--not that the '59b is "hot" to begin with
 
if it was me, id keep the antiquitys and the pgs. the 59s are great as well though
 
I could see going in either direction between the two. Tough call. Though I just put a set of '59s in my Goldtop Les Paul, and I love the PGs too, I'd probably keep the Ants. I've not tried them but have a feeling I would really like them.
 
Update.................well the big winners are the Antiquitys.......The Pearly Gates are gone....not to say there was anything I disliked about them. But there's something about the Antiquitys .So the 59s and Ants remain. as a matter of fact....The ants are in the Les Paul. The 59's are staples
 
I like the '59 Bridge/Pearly Neck, personally.

So I'd say keep the '59's and Pearlies. Both are great.

Never tried the Antiquities. Not sure I'd dig them, personally. "Not that the '59B is hot to begin with" are my thoughts exactly.
 
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Update.................well the big winners are the Antiquitys.......The Pearly Gates are gone....not to say there was anything I disliked about them. But there's something about the Antiquitys .So the 59s and Ants remain. as a matter of fact....The ants are in the Les Paul. The 59's are staples
Good decision. If there comes a time you like more beef out of the Ant bridge, try a Unoriented A5 mag or a full charged A2 in it. Ants are easy to swap mags, because they are not potted. I have 2 sets of Ants, but only one neck still carries the original dunaged mag.
 
Update.................well the big winners are the Antiquitys.......The Pearly Gates are gone....not to say there was anything I disliked about them. But there's something about the Antiquitys .So the 59s and Ants remain. as a matter of fact....The ants are in the Les Paul. The 59's are staples

Glad you like them. I could never get them right in my Les Paul. I have a Brobucker in there now. Its OK in that guitar but its not likely to be staying there. I think a 59 or maybe a C5 would be better. Something with less midrange.
 
the brobucker is a pretty ballsy pup but im a big fan. lots more meat than a typical paf
 
Update....of update..... as if it really matters. Everyone here has been great on this matter. I gave the Ants a good couple weeks and thought they were great. But I settled on the 59s. They have just a little more umph because of the Alnico 5s as opposed to the Al 2s. The Ants were wonderful which is why I'm keeping them in a box for later if I decide swap out the 59s. I think both set hit the mark. And they are so different from each other What I did when I first got the ants was have my guitar shop swap out the aged covers for shinny ones. I'm not into the aged thing. And they wound up potting them. I really didn't know the difference between potting and non potting. And they sounded great.. Because of there A2s I had to push the amp a little more. Which again wasn't a big deal. But for giggle I swapped them for the 59s and like them better. So I have my 59s back in and the potted unaged looking Antiquities on my shelf. I don't miss the Pearly Gates. The whole pick up swapping between 3 sets got to be a bit of a pain...But I did become good a soldering.

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The Ants aren't potted because the original pickups they were modeled after weren't potted. They are slightly microphonic, which is fantastic if your style depends on touch-sensitivity. It is a disaster if you rely on tons of gain and loud volume.
 
The Ants aren't potted because the original pickups they were modeled after weren't potted. They are slightly microphonic, which is fantastic if your style depends on touch-sensitivity. It is a disaster if you rely on tons of gain and loud volume.

Yeah I found that out after I had the guys switch the covers. They told me they potted them before they put on the new ones. Not a big deal at the time. And moot now that I swapped them out for the 59s. Maybe later I'll swap them with the 59s if I feel bored.
 
Antiquities if you are a vintage tone fan.

59's if you want an all around set for anything in any guitar.
 
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