What is the Pearly Gates like in the neck?

[fretburner]

How's it sound in the middle position?
To me, those two pickups together could be an unlooked for Grail set.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

I don't spend much time in the middle position but I remember it sounding close to a Les Paul also in the middle position.

What amazed me the most was that - in the Explorer - the PGn had become significantly warmer without losing its bite.

In my LP Studio, it sounded bright and kinda lost its "honk"... In another LP it sounded better, but...In the explorer, it sounded perfect.

Picky pickup... Like the Alt8.

Sent from my 2201116PG using Tapatalk

 

[Ascension]

The Pearly Gates would be very mismatched with the Custom 5 in terms of EQ. I've had that pairing and didn't enjoy how different the two were from each other. The Custom 8 as I have it now is a bit better, but the Custom Custom in my experience is the best match for the PGn.

Then again, some people like Telecasters with a neck humbucker and bridge single coil, so clearly some people like huge EQ mismatches between the neck and bridge pickups.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

Agree with you here as the A 2 mag in particular has a softer attack and a different feel that the A5 Custom 5 does. With a Custom 5 the Demon you already have deserves at least a chance. Korina can have a wide range in weight and tone. Some is on the bright side and I find the Pearly Gates to be fantastic in a very warm guitar but really harsh and shrill in one on the bright side. The neck pickup no one here has mentioned yet is the Sentient. I REALLY like the Sentient paired with a Custom 5 myself. Very clear and articulate with gain brighter and not as boomy than say a 59 but still warm and sweet clean. Splits very very well and is a very underrated pickup.
This is a Sentient neck split with a 59 Custom Hybrid in my Solid Koa Carvin DC 127. The Split tone with a Custom 5 bridge should be almost identical.

 

[Ascension]

I don't spend much time in the middle position but I remember it sounding close to a Les Paul also in the middle position.

What amazed me the most was that - in the Explorer - the PGn had become significantly warmer without losing its bite.

In my LP Studio, it sounded bright and kinda lost its "honk"... In another LP it sounded better, but...In the explorer, it sounded perfect.

Picky pickup... Like the Alt8.

Sent from my 2201116PG using Tapatalk

Agree here 100%!

 

[Aceman]

The Pearly Gates would be very mismatched with the Custom 5 in terms of EQ. I've had that pairing and didn't enjoy how different the two were from each other.

(Mis)Matched = I seek a neck pickup, that is basically the tonal equivalent, especially output EQ-wise similar to my bridge pickup.

Complimentary = Tonally I seek things that are 'missing' in the other pickup.

There are times and places for each, and various players prefer various things.

Examples:

Dimarzio Super Distortion and Super 2; Matched set. Very close tones neck and bridge.

A2P neck and 59 bridge; Complimentary set. 59 highs are sharp, A2P's are fat. In both on you get a unique tone that is different than either alone. A2P bass is softer, 59 is tighter, in-between you get something else.

Players do a horrible job referring to which they really want.