Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

Mike M.

New member
I've got a Gibson swamp ash LP that's a great player, but I still have'nt found a set of pickups that's really floored me. I've tried a few Gibson and DiMarzio combinations that have been good, but not quite there.

I've come to the conclusion that what this guitar needs is a set of pickups that has a bit more overall "presence" to them. Not more treble, but more presence. Which do you think would best serve me, the Pearly Gates or the Screamin' Demon? And while we're at it which neck pickup would be a good choice? Keep in mind that I did try the Jazz Neck and found the low end to be too boomey for my liking.

Thanks.
 
Re: Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

I think you might like the Screamin' Demon. Even though you would like more presence, the Pearly Gates is a little glassy sounding in the bridge, and a lot of people don't like the PG in the bridge. I've tried it before and it sounded horrible.

Since swamp ash has a warm, yet bright tone, the SD would be a good fit. A 59' in the neck would be nice if you don't like the Jazz.

I just put a SD in my Ibanez RG321 MH, and it just sings! It has really good harmonics, it's open and full sounding. I think the Demon would be your best choice.
 
Re: Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

The Pearly Gates neck model will cure the boom in the neck while giving more bite to the mids. As far as the bridge, I really dig the PGb in a mahogany/maple LP, but the Demon is a darker pickup than the PG.

BTW, what pickups do you currently have in the LP, and what don't you like about them?
 
Re: Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

The Pearly Gates neck model will cure the boom in the neck while giving more bite to the mids. As far as the bridge, I really dig the PGb in a mahogany/maple LP, but the Demon is a darker pickup than the PG.

BTW, what pickups do you currently have in the LP, and what don't you like about them?

Currentley, I have a set of Dimarzio's: an Air Classic in the bridge and the Virtual PAF neck model. They're very balanced in thier own right, but not quite right. With the Air Classic, I'd like for the bass to be a bit tighter and overall it could use more of that presence I was talking about. It barks alright but overall it seems a bit flat in this particular guitar.

The thing I really like about the V-PAF neck model is, out of all the neck model pickups I've tried this one has no boom or drone what so ever. It's pretty clear with good mids and decent highs but like the bridge pickup I'd like to hear a bit more of that presence that I mentioned.

I guess I'm basically looking for some pickups that are overall a bit more open sounding.
 
Re: Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

The jazz too boomey? And the cure should be a 59? Gulp!
There was a tread not long ago which looked for the clearest neck humbucker: a lot of guys there voted for the JazzN and the VVPAF. So....
My clearest neck pup is 7.0k Paf clone with an A5 called the "Beano" wound by David Barfuss.
Since i like it to death i tried to wind down a old an battered DiMarzio PAF. I worked out great and it settled at 6.9k. Clear, clear, clear even with the most Heavy Distortion.
 
Re: Pearly Gates/ Screamin' Demon Q's.

Dimarzio's Airbucker and Virtual Vintage technology add a lot of presence IMO.
 
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