Trying to Like the PGn

[Stevo]

I thought I'd try the PGn in my Les Paul neck. I got a new zebra and and put my Seth Lover back in the bridge also.

The PGn has complex tone, it's warm, it's balanced and very smooth. It has a very nice midrange focus and the bottom doesn not fart out like some other neck pickups. When you solo on the middle strings around the 12th fret, the character tone just seems to jump out in a great way. It's thick for soloing, all around the neck.

It sounds more balanced in my Les Paul than my old PGn in my tele.

But I can't quite get in to it :dunno: It isn't very glassy - but it's got a great warmth to it.. maybe it's just too smooth for me. It definitely out-warms the Seth Lover in the brige. It isn't really louder, but the contrast in tone is pretty drastic. I am going to mess with it for a while before I take it out

I think the PGn would pair up a lot better with the CC. I will probably be putting a jazz in with the Seth Lover sometime soon.

Don't get me wrong. It's a very nice pickup if it matches up with your style.

 

[ashbass]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

Stevo,
I felt similarly about the PG set when I put them in my LP last weekend. The paul had its stock burstbuckers (1&2) in before that. Like you I just didn't feel it. It sounded good but was missing something that I couldn't define really. I packed them up and resold them the next day. Then I tried some 57 classics. Same problem but a different something was missing this time.

Oh well. Looks like the BBs are staying for a while :blackeye:

 

[MattPete]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

IMHO, the PGn is too smooth. It's weird saying that, considering how the harmonics jump out, but I think the problem is where the midrange is centered. The mids are just too warm.

To me, the PGn sounds like a SethN with more harmonics. That's not necessarilly a good thing, as I think the mids in the Seth are too low.

In contrast, the mids of the AP2n seem to be shifted higher. In turn, this means that the APS2 stands out more. My problem with the SethN and the PGn is that when I switch to the neck position, it often sounds muffled compared to the bridge pickup. I think the PGn would sound better if it had the mids of the APS2 while keeping the harmonics of the PGn.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

I think y'all are on crack.

J/K

The Pearly Gates is a pickup that's pretty much love it or hate it. One thing you might try Stevo is to stagger the screw polepieces; that is, have the screw poles match the stagger on a strat's neck pickup. I did this to my PGn and to my PCn and it did clear it up a bit and add some sparkle.

 

[edr56]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

i have mine with the pup set a little low with the poles raised above the flatwork and it sounds great in the neck of my sg

 

[gripweed]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

What about a magnet swap? An a3 or a4 might change the tone in exactly the way you want...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

I thought I'd try the PGn in my Les Paul neck. I got a new zebra and and put my Seth Lover back in the bridge also.

The PGn has complex tone, it's warm, it's balanced and very smooth. It has a very nice midrange focus and the bottom doesn not fart out like some other neck pickups. When you solo on the middle strings around the 12th fret, the character tone just seems to jump out in a great way. It's thick for soloing, all around the neck.

It sounds more balanced in my Les Paul than my old PGn in my tele.

But I can't quite get in to it :dunno: It isn't very glassy - but it's got a great warmth to it.. maybe it's just too smooth for me. It definitely out-warms the Seth Lover in the brige. It isn't really louder, but the contrast in tone is pretty drastic. I am going to mess with it for a while before I take it out

I think the PGn would pair up a lot better with the CC. I will probably be putting a jazz in with the Seth Lover sometime soon.

Don't get me wrong. It's a very nice pickup if it matches up with your style.

Steve.....I didn't care for the PGN at all and went right back to the 59N...The 59 is still a bit woofy in my guitar...I think the Jazz is going to be the fix or maybe the Seth neck?

 

[gripweed]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

Steve.....I didn't care for the PGN at all and went right back to the 59N...The 59 is still a bit woofy in my guitar...I think the Jazz is going to be the fix or maybe the Seth neck?

Which of your guitars is it going into, the SG or the LP? I have the Jazz in my LP and I really like it. The bass is nice, but its still a little too much for my taste. It's definitely better than the '59 IMHO. At this point in time the Fralin 7.5 is my favorite. It slightly edges out the Jazz.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

IMHO, the PGn is too smooth. It's weird saying that, considering how the harmonics jump out, but I think the problem is where the midrange is centered. The mids are just too warm.

To me, the PGn sounds like a SethN with more harmonics. That's not necessarilly a good thing, as I think the mids in the Seth are too low.

In contrast, the mids of the AP2n seem to be shifted higher. In turn, this means that the APS2 stands out more. My problem with the SethN and the PGn is that when I switch to the neck position, it often sounds muffled compared to the bridge pickup. I think the PGn would sound better if it had the mids of the APS2 while keeping the harmonics of the PGn.

I know you know but still: Why don't you try an a3 in your PGn. You might like it very much. All my PGn's and 59n's have a3 magnets.

B

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

Which of your guitars is it going into, the SG or the LP? I have the Jazz in my LP and I really like it. The bass is nice, but its still a little too much for my taste. It's definitely better than the '59 IMHO. At this point in time the Fralin 7.5 is my favorite. It slightly edges out the Jazz.

My SG has a 59N in there and it's perfect....The Jazz would go in my Tokai Love Rock because the 59N is too bassy in that guitar...

 

[Stevo]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

...I think the Jazz is going to be the fix or maybe the Seth neck?

The Seth Lover neck is not a whole lot different than the PG. I am going to try the jazz again. I just ordered a new one today. Last time I had a jazz, it was in my tele and my amp setup was different.

Among many neck pickups that I've had in and out, including custom shop pickups, the overwound jazz was pretty cool. It had more life than a regular jazz, but no woofy bottom end. I will probably have MJ make me one if the regular jazz does not work out.

As some of you know, I have done more pickup swapping than most :laugh2:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

Steve...if you decide for sure you do not like it...hit me up I am thinking about getting another full set of PG's...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

The Seth Lover neck is not a whole lot different than the PG. I am going to try the jazz again. I just ordered a new one today. Last time I had a jazz, it was in my tele and my amp setup was different.

Among many neck pickups that I've had in and out, including custom shop pickups, the overwound jazz was pretty cool. It had more life than a regular jazz, but no woofy bottom end. I will probably have MJ make me one if the regular jazz does not work out.

As some of you know, I have done more pickup swapping than most :laugh2:

Nope.....None of us knew this Steve! :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :beerchug:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

I'm not a fan of PG's. The neck is OK, but the bridge.....I couldn't pull it out fast enough. I really like the Seth bridge, and I'm starting to think that the only neck pickups I really like are 59's, Seth, and Jazz. I've kinda sunk into the pickups I have, so I've stopped swapping them. C-5/59, Seth/APII, Seth set, 59 set, and for single coils, only vintage 6.3 A5's with slightly hotter bridges. I'm starting to think that everything else hits right or left of center.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

What about a magnet swap? An a3 or a4 might change the tone in exactly the way you want...

A4 was harsh and nasty, whereas the A3 had little effect.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

I'm not a fan of PG's. The neck is OK, but the bridge.....I couldn't pull it out fast enough. I really like the Seth bridge, and I'm starting to think that the only neck pickups I really like are 59's, Seth, and Jazz. I've kinda sunk into the pickups I have, so I've stopped swapping them. C-5/59, Seth/APII, Seth set, 59 set, and for single coils, only vintage 6.3 A5's with slightly hotter bridges. I'm starting to think that everything else hits right or left of center.

I hated the PGN,but I don't remember anything about the standard PGB when I used it? I ended up selling it and that's not a good sign...LOL....

Is it something with the mids that you dislike about the PGB? Could you compare that to the Seth and A5 59B pickup for me before I stick an A2 PG+ into my Love Rock....Thanks buddy....I probably should swap the 59B pickup over to A2 first and see if it's close to a Seth? :wink: :wave:

 

[MattPete]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

I know you know but still: Why don't you try an a3 in your PGn. You might like it very much. All my PGn's and 59n's have a3 magnets.

B

Tried it, and it didn't have much of an effect. For whatever reason, the A3 swap in the neck (I've done it with a PgN and an APH2) is much more subtle than swapping an A2 to an A3 in the bridge position.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

A4 was harsh and nasty, whereas the A3 had little effect.

Neck or bridge position are you talking?

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

Tried it, and it didn't have much of an effect. For whatever reason, the A3 swap in the neck (I've done it with a PgN and an APH2) is much more subtle than swapping an A2 to an A3 in the bridge position.

Cool. I agree, a3/a2 differences are more noticable in the bridge. It has some effect in the neck but I guess wasn't enough for you.

Best,

B

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Trying to Like the PGn

FOR ULTIMATE TONE:
Just make a Jazz or APII/59 Hybrid Neck pickup and fine tune with A2 or A5...