Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Put an alnico Pro II in my PRS. It sounds kinda' flat. I've got a 59 and a Pearly Gates. I don't want to do this three times. Heck, once was too much, I'm not looking forward to a second pass. Word is the PG is too bright, others say the 59 is a tad limp as well. Others descibe it as clanky. These are all for the bridge position by the way. Thanks a million chaps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members doppelbanger Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 i have a big apple strat with a 59 neck and pearly gates plus in the bridge. the pg is bright but has a nice bite to it. the 59 sounds good but can be muddy with distortion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 You talking for the neck or the bridge? Could be either with the p'ups you're listing. If you're talking about the bridge, I'd try the '59 first. The PG is quite edgie sounding and works better with more overdrive. (like Billy Gibbons/ZZ Top) The '59 in the bridge will be a bit better for cleans and classic rock. I put a PG bridge in a Yamaha SBG700S but had to have it pulled because even though that guitar is a thick slab of mahogany, it just didn't have a deep mellow enough tone to make the PG work for it. I actually ended up going Gibson 496/500 with that guitar and that is working well. I also had a '59 in the neck and that was too muddy and had to be pulled. Someone here had suggested I just swap them around, and that might have worked, but of course, there's '59s wound for the neck and '59s wound for the bridge and I didn't (like you) want to have one more failed install. But I did think at that time that I might have been quite happy with a '59 bridge in that guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Cool, thanks guys. Your replies, just two in number said more than pages of reviews I found here for both models of pickups. Yeah, it's the bridge by the way GAS Man. I'm-a gonna' try the 59. Thanks mucho! ON EDIT: I really wanted to like the Alnico Pro II. You read those descriptions and think to yourself "This is IT. This is the ONE." But based on those descriptions, you'd buy almost every model these people make. Damn them for being so good at marketing. F*ckers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twotimingpete Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 59 is always a safe bet. I had that in my epi LP. was very happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 i have a big apple strat with a 59 neck and pearly gates plus in the bridge. the pg is bright but has a nice bite to it. the 59 sounds good but can be muddy with distortion.The Plus is a different pickup though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Easily the Pearly for the bridge. Not a big fan of the 59. The PG is one of my absolute favorite bridge pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Of course, it depends on what type of tones you're trying to cop and what you're playing through. Not to state the obvious, but I will anyway. The AlNiCo II is one of my favorite neck pickups. Never had one in the bridge but might have played one here or there. I'd say if you want more bite, I'd go for the Pearly Gates, if you want more warmth, go for the 59. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vexed73 Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 I think the pearly gate is the best. It isnt too brite very balanced in my book but the 59 in the bridge is too brittle and bright for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Of course, it depends on what type of tones you're trying to cop and what you're playing through. Not to state the obvious, but I will anyway. The AlNiCo II is one of my favorite neck pickups. Never had one in the bridge but might have played one here or there. I'd say if you want more bite, I'd go for the Pearly Gates, if you want more warmth, go for the 59. AP2 in the neck and PG in the bridge is nearly the perfect combo in a LP type of guitar, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 I'm hoping for warm and full sounding. I don't mind the pickup having bite as long as it isn't harsh I hate harsh, thin sounding bridge pickups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 The PG is one of my absolute favorite bridge pickups. I forgot to ask - Why is it one of your favorites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 AP2 in the neck and PG in the bridge is nearly the perfect combo in a LP type of guitar, IMO. It's probably the combo I'd go with for my personal LP if I went with SDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 I forgot to ask - Why is it one of your favorites?Its bright, open, and airy w/o being thin or brittle. Nice bottom and body to the tone, and it rolls back great w/o getting muddy at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 I hate harsh, thin sounding bridge pickups Add muddy to that description and you've summed up the '59 in the bridge position quite nicely. I had a pair in a Heritage Les Paul, and they were really not great. Try the PG if you must use Duncan PUs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Wellc ool. Thanks to everyone, especially TLB and AM. TLB, your description is quite helpful. I'll try the PG first. If it sounds good, then it'll stay. Worst case scenario, I'll have installed three pickups. Hey, Ancient Mariner, are you still telling that rime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Add muddy to that description and you've summed up the '59 in the bridge position quite nicely. I had a pair in a Heritage Les Paul, and they were really not great. Try the PG if you must use Duncan PUs. So... you'd describe the 59 as 'thin' AND 'muddy'? I honestly don't think I've ever encountered a pickup I'd call 'thin' and 'muddy'. And I've had the SD 59 in two different guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 8, 2009 Members Share Posted March 8, 2009 Hey, Ancient Mariner, are you still telling that rime? I don't know, but I hear he's great at mesmerizing wedding guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cavpilot Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 AP2 in the neck and PG in the bridge is nearly the perfect combo in a LP type of guitar, IMO. I've got a set ready to go into a Epi Dot Studio. Looking forward to seeing how it's going to sound! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretmonster Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 So... you'd describe the 59 as 'thin' AND 'muddy'? I honestly don't think I've ever encountered a pickup I'd call 'thin' and 'muddy'. And I've had the SD 59 in two different guitars. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. From my particular experience, the 59 is warm and articulate in the neck and almost Gretsch like in the bridge. Definitely my favorite neck pu. I think it sometimes gets a bad rap because it is not as scooped in the mids as a true PAF type. Of course guitar type and pickup height all come into play as far as individual assessments are concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members doppelbanger Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 The Plus is a different pickup though. yeah i haven't heard the actual pg but i hear its great. i really like the pg+ for articulate notes. i have a les paul vintage mahogany and while it does have a great thick lead tone i prefer the pg+ for the songs where you want to hear each note clearly. great for zztop covers as well. of course it doesnt sound just like billy but close enough that no one would complain. i hear that the 59 sings in a lp but im not really in love with it in my strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twotimingpete Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 if you look at SD's tone chart, the specs on PG and 59 are extremely similar... like, extremely. I don't know if specs are everything but I'd say either are fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chqtarzan Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 How's PG in a alder body maple neck guitar?Mine sounds thin though balanced and have bite in it, but kicked in distortion, it sounds a little thin and not tight to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted March 9, 2009 Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 Wellc ool. Thanks to everyone, especially TLB and AM. TLB, your description is quite helpful. I'll try the PG first. If it sounds good, then it'll stay. Worst case scenario, I'll have installed three pickups.Hey, Ancient Mariner, are you still telling that rime? I would if the albatross didn't get in the way. FWIW I replaced the SDs first with GFS '59s, which were much better balanced and clearer, though a little characterless, then with a Gibson patent number in the bridge and a T top in the neck. I could hear where the duncans were coming from with those PUs, but they managed to be bright without being shrill, smooth and warm without muddiness. TBH those duncan '59s were some of the worst pickups I've heard anywhere, apart from really cheap stuff. Obviously some love them and they might suit certain guitars better, but they don't work for me. I did try one in a V and again, it was plain nasty. But I sold them on and had no complaints. I do like Dimarzios, but guess I'm not a Duncan fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend Cheese Posted March 9, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 9, 2009 if you look at SD's tone chart, the specs on PG and 59 are extremely similar... like, extremely. I don't know if specs are everything but I'd say either are fine. I noticed that as well. I was once told that the resonant peak has a greater effect on tone than any other aspect of the pickup itself. I don't know how true that is though. I would if the albatross didn't get in the way. I'm convinced that in time the original author of that will be forgotten, and Iron Maiden will be believed to be the actual writers of that piece. They did a better job in many ways... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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