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Post subject: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 9:17 am
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I'm building a Parts Caster. I play classic rock / blues rock / blues so I'm looking for a versatile guitar. The plan right now is to make it an HSS. i have an ash Deluxe body. I'm considering two options right now.

1. Custom 920D loaded pickguard with a Pearly Gates Humbucker and a STK-S4M & STK-S7. $320
2. Take off Pickguard from Stratosphere: American Texas Specials with Atomic Humber. $170

Are the Duncans worth it?


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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:44 pm
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Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
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Location: SoCal, US
If I'm not running stock pickups, I'm running Duncans.

My personal favorite combinations:
Sheraton-II = '59 Bridge, ANP-II Neck
Les Paul/SG = JB Bridge, '59 Neck
Kramer Focus 4000 = Invader for both (Ya, haven't had it out of the case since 1995, but I'm not holding back)
G&L Climax = Stock bridge (comparable to Duncan Distortion), Hot Rails middle and neck
My Partscaster will be Hot Rails bridge, Cool Rails middle, and Vintage Rails neck
My '17 American Special is going to remain stock with the Texas Specials.

The PG is a great sounding pickup. There's no particular reason I don't have one other than the JB/59 choices were from recommendations and I'm happy with them. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with Duncan pickups and they absolutely are worth the money.

If you opt for the 2nd option, keep in mind that the Texas Specials are F*A*T. They are probably one of the most midrange-strong pickups I've owned, and they do have a very intense bite with a solid clean tone that is right on the edge of breaking up nicely. I'm not sure that they would be a good match for a 'bucker unless you use pedals to tweak the EQ a bit.
OTOH, given your musical preference, the combination DOES allow for good versatility with a solid "Texas Quack" in the forward slot position, and back to a classic 'bucker on the neck. I'm not so sure that I'd ever run the neck/middle with that combination.

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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:24 am
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Location: Cambridge UK
For bridge position, in a word (and in my opinion), YES!

I only have one at the moment, in the bridge of an HH Strat, but it has been in another Strat before that, so it's not a coincidence. I've had many Strat bridge humbuckers in my time and prefer SD over any others. Their JB is also nice for gained sounds; not so good clean. But the PG can do anything and, being a bit lower output, still sounds fairly Stratty. For the same reason, it'll better match single coils volume-wise as well.

Can't help much with your SC's as I've not had an HSS Strat that I recall, but I'm sure Texas Specials would hold their own volume-wise (with a PG). Tone-wise, as CB91710 says, I'm not so sure - perhaps if you wound them down a bit (away from the strings) that might help.

I also agree with him that SD is a great make and - even over here in GB - relatively good value for the fantastic quality you get. Even though I'm unfamiliar with the Duncan SC's you mention, faced with your choice of two options, I'd definitely go for (1) - and I'm a Texas Special fan!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:32 am
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Now I found a "New Fender Lone Star Loaded Strat Pickguard HSS Pearly Gates All Black USA Made" on ebay. $260. I think that's the one!


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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:09 am
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This one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fender-Lon ... SwhWFaTzJc
That's got the Pearly Gates Plus, which is even hotter than the regular PG. Alnico5's and a bit more wire...
The design idea was that when you click the switch to the bridge position, the guitar really fires up.

On the volume balance between pickups, playing with pup height helps some, but (most) humbuckers just tend to be more powerful than (most) single coils. IMHO, of course.


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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:49 am
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Yup, that's the one


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Post subject: Re: Pearly Gates worth it?
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 7:38 pm
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There ya go!
Best of both worlds.. the PG bridge and TS single coils.
I would be much more comfortable matching the TS with the PG than I would the Atomic. The PG is a strong midrange pickup... not a monster, but basically flat response bass to mid rather than dipping the mids.

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