pearly gates too bright?

T

tonybologna000

New member
Hey everybody, I need some help deciding.

I have a Gibson Smartwood guitar that currently has 490R and 498T pickups. I feel that the 490R is too muddy and the 498T is thin and bland sounding. I want a beefy sounding pickup with moderate output that isn't harsh. (I like alnico IIs). I've been told that pearly gates pickups may be what I'm looking for. My concern is that my Smartwood guitar is a bit thinner than a typical Les Paul and brighter - almost like an SG, but not quite as bright. My reading on the Pearly gates have led me to believe that they won't sound very thick (what I want) in my guitar.

The tone I'm looking for is something like Warren Haynes'. Any advice?

Thanks guys!
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

warren haynes used pearly gates neck and bridge for a long time. now that he has his on artist model LP he uses gibson burstbuckers i think a number 2 in the neck and number 3 in the bridge....either that or a 1 in the neck and a 2 in the bridge

as for it being too bright...i think you should be ok because the smartwood series is still made from a mahogany body if im not mistaken
 
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Re: pearly gates too bright?

tonybologna000 said:
Hey everybody, I need some help deciding.

I have a Gibson Smartwood guitar that currently has 490R and 498T pickups. I feel that the 490R is too muddy and the 498T is thin and bland sounding. I want a beefy sounding pickup with moderate output that isn't harsh. (I like alnico IIs). I've been told that pearly gates pickups may be what I'm looking for. My concern is that my Smartwood guitar is a bit thinner than a typical Les Paul and brighter - almost like an SG, but not quite as bright. My reading on the Pearly gates have led me to believe that they won't sound very thick (what I want) in my guitar.

The tone I'm looking for is something like Warren Haynes'. Any advice?

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...


Check These out! Listen to the sound clips, I think these are what you're looking for.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

Thanks for the welcome and the reply :) .

True, the Smartwood has a mahogany back and neck, but it is actually about 1/2-3/4 of an inch thinner. Lets say hypathetically you put some Pearly Gates in an SG, would the resulting sound be really bright? I would like to compensate for the thinness of my guitar as best I can. Can you think of any other pickups that might provide the warm, mildly rude sound I'm looking for, or do you still think the PG's are for me?

Thank you very much for your help.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

i think you should be ok with the pearly gates...the alnico II pros may be a touch warmer but it'll be harder to get that rudeness you want imo. Go down to your local guitar center or equivalent and pick up a set of pearly gates...install them...test em out...return em if you think they are too bright

every1 here can give you their opinion, and some very accurate well educated opinions they will be, but there is no substitute for hearing it and deciding yourself
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

I tried a set in a Studio Lite, which has a sharper, thinner tone than an average LP, and they came right back out. That aggressive midrange, which I like in another thicker-sounding LP of mine, was too much. I liked A2Pros better than the PG in that guitar, but ultimately ended up with 59s in it, which were perfect.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

I put a PG in my HSS strat and Im not taking it out. It sounds amazing, not thin or bright at all.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

tonybologna000 said:
Thanks for the welcome and the reply :) .

True, the Smartwood has a mahogany back and neck, but it is actually about 1/2-3/4 of an inch thinner. Lets say hypathetically you put some Pearly Gates in an SG, would the resulting sound be really bright? I would like to compensate for the thinness of my guitar as best I can. Can you think of any other pickups that might provide the warm, mildly rude sound I'm looking for, or do you still think the PG's are for me?

Thank you very much for your help.
Click to expand...

Did you click the link on my reply?
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

warren uses the bb1/2 in his newer guitars but he still has the older one with the pearly. i can always tell when he plays that guitar.

i love the pearlys in a sg or les paul
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

The Pearlys are alnico 2 humbuckers and generally, alnico 2 humbuckers will have smoother treble and more mids than alnico 5 humbuckers. I really don't hear the Pearly Gates as being to bright at all. I think it'd be hard to find a better a sounding pickup for a Les Paul. Billy Gibbons tone doesn't sound to bright...he uses them.
 
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Re: pearly gates too bright?

I read an article in guitar player magazine a few months ago about how he rotates between using the pearly gates set and a set of Gibson 57's in his main Les Paul. He said he uses one set until he wants a different feel then switches them out for the other.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

IMO, the PG bridge is too bright and trashy sounding. The PG neck is just right. This was my findings in 2 different Les pauls. I love the PGN but, I HATE the PG bridge.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

theodie said:
IMO, the PG bridge is too bright and trashy sounding. The PG neck is just right. This was my findings in 2 different Les pauls. I love the PGN but, I HATE the PG bridge.
Click to expand...

Great Scott! I can not believe that theodie and I finally agree on something, but I must agree with his description of the tone moanster. PG bridge is way too bright.
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

theodie said:
IMO, the PG bridge is too bright and trashy sounding. The PG neck is just right. This was my findings in 2 different Les pauls. I love the PGN but, I HATE the PG bridge.
Click to expand...

Oooooo....Warren H. and Billy G. are gonna kick your butt when they hear what you've been saying that about thier tone! :angryfire :poed: :chairshot
 
Re: pearly gates too bright?

theodie said:
IMO, the PG bridge is too bright and trashy sounding. The PG neck is just right. This was my findings in 2 different Les pauls. I love the PGN but, I HATE the PG bridge.
Click to expand...

IMO, Odie isn't to bright and is extremely trashy sounding.....:nana:

The PG is my favorite PAF stylepup period. The A2 adds a sweetness to the top that is silky smooth. The EQ punch is in an excellent upper mid frequency to add a nice cut. The mismagtched coils give a nice airy 3-d quality. It's got a nice touch of 'tude. Not to much - but enough to make the point. It responds nicely to volume and tone controls. And, while it is THE greatest LP neck pup period, no one should say it's too bright (see haynes/gibbons references above - ever feel they were too harsh?!?!?!?!)

And welcome!
 
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Re: pearly gates too bright?

Aceman said:
IMO, Odie isn't to bright and is extremely trashy sounding.....:nana:

The PG is my favorite PAF stylepup period. The A2 adds a sweetness to the top that is silky smooth. The EQ punch is in an excellent upper mid frequency to add a nice cut. The mismagtched coils give a nice airy 3-d quality. It's got a nice touch of 'tude. Not to much - but enough to make the point. It responds nicely to volume and tone controls. And, while it is THE greatest LP neck pup period, no one should say it's too bright (see haynes/gibbons references above - ever feel they were too harsh?!?!?!?!)

And welcome!
Click to expand...

i would put a Gibson T-top neck up against that PG neck anytime! Also, if youre concerned about the bridge, try a Screamin Deamon with phillsters?
 
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Re: pearly gates too bright?

_Guitarzan_ said:
Check These out! Listen to the sound clips, I think these are what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Maybe he doesnt want to pay $340 or whatever for a set of pups...compared with the quality you can get from a set of SDs i think thats a little much myself
 
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