PG vs. CC

[Butch Snyder]

I currently have a Custom Custom in the bridge position of my PRS Swamp Ash Special SE. I have a PG in the neck and an APS-1 in the middle. I was thinking of going more vintage in the bridge and replacing the CC with a PG. What kind of tonal differences can I expect? The CC is very mid-heavy. Not a bad thing, but I'm thinking of calming down the lower mids and going for more of a PAF tone, but with some extra girth.

 

[beaubrummels]

IME PG is comparatively more even. It has some tighter thump in the bass and is brighter on the top end.

 

[Mincer]

Yes, the PG will get you what you want. If you liked the CC but wanted a more vintage response, I'd suggest the APH-1.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Yes, the PG will get you what you want. If you liked the CC but wanted a more vintage response, I'd suggest the APH-1.

I have a PG in the neck. I wanted more of a match for the bridge; especially if the PG bridge will give me more of what the Duncan site says. The Alnico 2 Pro models can be a little too "polite" for my taste.

 

[Chistopher]

Aw man, I thought this was gonna be a Paul George vs Caitlin Clark pickup game :28:

 

[jeremy]

im surprised you havent tried a pgb before over the years. i love it, its got a narrow upper mid peak that helps it poke through a mix but the a2 magnet keeps it from being too sharp on the top

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Puuurrrlllly gaaaaates..... Mmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[ErikH]

With a PGn I would be inclined to go PGb myself if I wanted a PAF in the bridge, and I LOVE the CC. Now, if you had a APH1n in there, then I would say go with the APH1b.

 

[BeKindRewind]

With a PGn I would be inclined to go PGb myself if I wanted a PAF in the bridge, and I LOVE the CC. Now, if you had a APH1n in there, then I would say go with the APH1b.

Same and it's true. Seymour really knows how to make a matched set, I'll say that.

I like all 3 options to be honest. I've done the CC\A2P, A2P\A2P, and PG\PG. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I think I like the PG bridge better than the A2P bridge.

Butch, even though I *love* the CC as a bridge pickup, I say go for it. The complete Pearly Gates set is one of the best I've heard and it served me well when I was playing in a cover band - they're rich but very flexible - the split middle tone sounds very strat-like too.

 

[Aceman]

im surprised you havent tried a pgb before over the years. i love it, its got a narrow upper mid peak that helps it poke through a mix but the a2 magnet keeps it from being too sharp on the top

I refer to it as the Sweet Icing on top of the cake.

 

[Aceman]

Same and it's true. Seymour really knows how to make a matched set, I'll say that.

I like all 3 options to be honest. I've done the CC\A2P, A2P\A2P, and PG\PG. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I think I like the PG bridge better than the A2P bridge.

Butch, even though I *love* the CC as a bridge pickup, I say go for it. The complete Pearly Gates set is one of the best I've heard and it served me well when I was playing in a cover band - they're rich but very flexible - the split middle tone sounds very strat-like too.

There are more cool options than that...

Neck/Bridge

A2P/CC = Fat city
A2P/A2P = Classic smooth blues/rock set, or GnR set, depending on your attitude, but at a PF level of output.
A2P/PG = Maximum fat to bright, bridge to neck. Middle position is a nice balanced overall sound.
PG/CC = Bright neck with mid punch to balance the CC bridge. Highly awesome clean shadings available with volume knobs.
PG/A2P = Balanced set with minimal difference between neck and bridge (Fat pup in the bright spot, bright pup in the fat spot)
PG/PG = Have mercy!!!! As the Rev Billy G himself intended it to be on earth, as it is in heaven!!!!

 

[Mincer]

There are more cool options than that...

Neck/Bridge

A2P/CC = Fat city
A2P/A2P = Classic smooth blues/rock set, or GnR set, depending on your attitude, but at a PF level of output.
A2P/PG = Maximum fat to bright, bridge to neck. Middle position is a nice balanced overall sound.
PG/CC = Bright neck with mid punch to balance the CC bridge. Highly awesome clean shadings available with volume knobs.
PG/A2P = Balanced set with minimal difference between neck and bridge (Fat pup in the bright spot, bright pup in the fat spot)
PG/PG = Have mercy!!!! As the Rev Billy G himself intended it to be on earth, as it is in heaven!!!!

Funny thing is that Billy G doesn't never really struck me as a typical PG sound. I've heard people with the PG set give a guitar a much better sound than the last few ZZ albums.

 

[Aceman]

Funny thing is that Billy G doesn't never really struck me as a typical PG sound. I've heard people with the PG set give a guitar a much better sound than the last few ZZ albums.

Yeah - but the first few...the Rv is definitely a bit avant-garde explorateur in recent times...

 

[gimmieinfo]

The thing i'm finding with the PG's is that they have a much more lively in your face intense tone that you don't hear in other HBs. BUT, if you don't want that you can adjust the amp and pretty much tame it to sound like other more common sounding A2 HBs. You can't really do the opposite tho. If ya have the more common variety A2 PAF you can't tweak the amp and make it sound similar to the PG's. I don't know that i can ever go back to other PAFs, at least not other A2s.

 

[ErikH]

That's called the Texas Sizzle.

 

[Chistopher]

Man I love me some CC.

 

[Chistopher]

But I like the EVH Wolfgang (CC clone) better, but the added cost of the Wolfgang isn't worth the benefit.

 

[uOpt]

As you experienced, the CC doesn't have much in the way of treble. The PG does.

 

[Mincer]

Man I love me some CC.

Me as well. My favorite bridge pickup.

 

[Chistopher]

As you experienced, the CC doesn't have much in the way of treble. The PG does.

Nonsense, any pickup can have treble or not, depending on where you pick.