SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
You know, I think this is the only Custom Shop set/pickup I've never tried. I'd be happy to hear about them too.
You know, I think this is the only Custom Shop set/pickup I've never tried. I'd be happy to hear about them too.
Big Mike Blues
New member
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
What's the diff vs original PGs?
What's the diff vs original PGs?
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
These use rough cast A2 magnets. Wound slightly hotter. Not potted. With this much midrange, I'll assume these use an asymmetrical wind? I'm going to have to get use to the character of these pickups. I'm use to standard PAFs, which these are not.
They sound amazing here...
https://www.guitarinteractivemagazi...5/reviews/seymour-duncan-pearly-gates-pickups
These use rough cast A2 magnets. Wound slightly hotter. Not potted. With this much midrange, I'll assume these use an asymmetrical wind? I'm going to have to get use to the character of these pickups. I'm use to standard PAFs, which these are not.
They sound amazing here...
https://www.guitarinteractivemagazi...5/reviews/seymour-duncan-pearly-gates-pickups
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Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
The typical PAF clones with assymetric wind tends to open up the midrange and unclutter it, not add more. It also (when done right) gives you the extended top end without harshness.
More mids comes from more turns, but also from fully symmetric winding more often than not.
The typical PAF clones with assymetric wind tends to open up the midrange and unclutter it, not add more. It also (when done right) gives you the extended top end without harshness.
More mids comes from more turns, but also from fully symmetric winding more often than not.
metlking
Well-known member
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
I have a set in an R7 Les Paul. My favorite pickups ever! I would have many more sets if I could afford them. I bought mine used and reasonably priced. I think mine are "lightly potted". They sound fantastic, like the Pearly Gates, but a little "more" of everything that's good.
I have a set in an R7 Les Paul. My favorite pickups ever! I would have many more sets if I could afford them. I bought mine used and reasonably priced. I think mine are "lightly potted". They sound fantastic, like the Pearly Gates, but a little "more" of everything that's good.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
I have a PG wound to 9k, regular style. I play 80's arena rock and it sounds fantastic.
Honestly, I say get a regular set and try the roughcast A2's.
***Full disclosure - never played/heard CS PG's. Love the regular ones enough not to care....
I have a PG wound to 9k, regular style. I play 80's arena rock and it sounds fantastic.
Honestly, I say get a regular set and try the roughcast A2's.
***Full disclosure - never played/heard CS PG's. Love the regular ones enough not to care....
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
I've heard the CS PGs sound very different from the production model. Different enough to market a whole nother pickup, close enough to keep the same name.
I've heard the CS PGs sound very different from the production model. Different enough to market a whole nother pickup, close enough to keep the same name.
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
I don't even know where to begin? I've gone through BK Mule, Wolfetone Marshallhead, Wolfetone Marshallhead MKII, Alnico IV modified 498T, and 57 Classic's, in this particular guitar. These may be the best sounding HB pickups I've ever played. Their character is very P90-like, but with a kick to the lows and midrange. Their scalable characteristics (via the volume/tone) are unmatched by any HB I've ever played. I'm using 50's wiring btw. I can't compare them to production Pearly Gate's, but from the clips I've heard, the production PG's sound great as well. It seems I once played a guitar that was loaded with a set of production PG's, and that they were very bright. Maybe it was different set, I'm not sure? I mainly purchased the custom shop PG's, because I wanted rough cast A2 magnets. I'm going to do as Aceman suggests, and procure a production set for experimentation with alternate magnets. I'd like to hear a set with A4 magnets.
Bridge and neck pickup pairing is absolute perfection! As with running the bridge in solo mode, actuating the volume and tone pots results in a myriad of tones. Pick attack makes a huge difference as well. Hitting them hard increases grit, softening your attack mellows them. All great pickups react the similarly, but the PG's voicing seems to increase sensitivity. Even when running higher gain settings, they clean-up beautifully. I may change the neck cap to .015 to invoke a bit more top-end. Not that it needs it... I'm just curious. I'm also going to try inverting the neck pickup, ala Gary Moore. I'm currently using CTS 500K pots w/Russian PIO .022 capacitors.
I paid $330.00 USD. Best money I've ever spent of a set of pickups - period!
I don't even know where to begin? I've gone through BK Mule, Wolfetone Marshallhead, Wolfetone Marshallhead MKII, Alnico IV modified 498T, and 57 Classic's, in this particular guitar. These may be the best sounding HB pickups I've ever played. Their character is very P90-like, but with a kick to the lows and midrange. Their scalable characteristics (via the volume/tone) are unmatched by any HB I've ever played. I'm using 50's wiring btw. I can't compare them to production Pearly Gate's, but from the clips I've heard, the production PG's sound great as well. It seems I once played a guitar that was loaded with a set of production PG's, and that they were very bright. Maybe it was different set, I'm not sure? I mainly purchased the custom shop PG's, because I wanted rough cast A2 magnets. I'm going to do as Aceman suggests, and procure a production set for experimentation with alternate magnets. I'd like to hear a set with A4 magnets.
Bridge and neck pickup pairing is absolute perfection! As with running the bridge in solo mode, actuating the volume and tone pots results in a myriad of tones. Pick attack makes a huge difference as well. Hitting them hard increases grit, softening your attack mellows them. All great pickups react the similarly, but the PG's voicing seems to increase sensitivity. Even when running higher gain settings, they clean-up beautifully. I may change the neck cap to .015 to invoke a bit more top-end. Not that it needs it... I'm just curious. I'm also going to try inverting the neck pickup, ala Gary Moore. I'm currently using CTS 500K pots w/Russian PIO .022 capacitors.
I paid $330.00 USD. Best money I've ever spent of a set of pickups - period!
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
If they are THAT different, why even call them PG's????
If they are THAT different, why even call them PG's????
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
For reference... I'm using a VOX AC15 Heritage w/UK Alnico Blue, Ampeg GVT15 w/Guytron Bigtone 55, and a Marshall SJ 2550 w/UK G12T-75's. Pedals are TS808, Ceriatone Centura, Crowther double Hot Cake, and a Zendrive 2. I haven't bothered trying the PG's with the TS808, but they work perfectly with the others... the Hot Cake and Zendrive 2 especially.
For reference... I'm using a VOX AC15 Heritage w/UK Alnico Blue, Ampeg GVT15 w/Guytron Bigtone 55, and a Marshall SJ 2550 w/UK G12T-75's. Pedals are TS808, Ceriatone Centura, Crowther double Hot Cake, and a Zendrive 2. I haven't bothered trying the PG's with the TS808, but they work perfectly with the others... the Hot Cake and Zendrive 2 especially.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
Wait a minute... the CS is back to selling double cream bobbins?
Wait a minute... the CS is back to selling double cream bobbins?
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Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
Pickup-to-string distance makes a HUGE difference with these pickups. The slightest change up or down is audible. Adjusting the pickup away from the strings results in greater note separation, increased clarity, and less bottom-end. Yeah... all pickups are like that, but these to a higher degree. To my ears anyway. I've got the bridge pickup about 3/8" from the strings. I'm certain that I'll need to make some find adjustments to the pole-pieces as I go... Great pickups!
Pickup-to-string distance makes a HUGE difference with these pickups. The slightest change up or down is audible. Adjusting the pickup away from the strings results in greater note separation, increased clarity, and less bottom-end. Yeah... all pickups are like that, but these to a higher degree. To my ears anyway. I've got the bridge pickup about 3/8" from the strings. I'm certain that I'll need to make some find adjustments to the pole-pieces as I go... Great pickups!
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
What I'm referring to is squeal, not harmonic feedback. It's generally caused by oscillation via loose pole-pieces, cover voids, loose bobbin, etc.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates... Opinions?
Seymour wouldn't seem to be a fan of unbalanced coils in the Duncan line, so I'd be surprised if CS PG's had them. The only Duncans I know of with unmatched coils are the '59/Custom which was developed by a forum member, and the Brobucker which was spec'd by members to have unbalanced coils. Not aware of Duncan creating any on their own initiative with unmatched coils, and they've had plenty of opportunities.
Like AlexR said, unbalanced coils reduce mids and add high end (basically the opposite of the 'humbucker effect'), so if CS PG's have a lot of mids, that would tend to confirm that they have matched coils like almost every other Duncan HB.
Seymour wouldn't seem to be a fan of unbalanced coils in the Duncan line, so I'd be surprised if CS PG's had them. The only Duncans I know of with unmatched coils are the '59/Custom which was developed by a forum member, and the Brobucker which was spec'd by members to have unbalanced coils. Not aware of Duncan creating any on their own initiative with unmatched coils, and they've had plenty of opportunities.
Like AlexR said, unbalanced coils reduce mids and add high end (basically the opposite of the 'humbucker effect'), so if CS PG's have a lot of mids, that would tend to confirm that they have matched coils like almost every other Duncan HB.
