Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates

Pickup features: Humbucker, Passive
Impedence or other specs: 8.22K Ohms

Model of guitar or bass: 98 Gibson Les Paul Studio
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: 490R
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Custom
Artists using this pickup: Who gives a rat's ass?
You musical style(s): 60s and 70s British Rock
Reason for pickup change: The 490R was mud with absolutely no dynamics or any attractive sounds whatsoever.

Perceived output level: This particular Pearly Gates is a bridge model. It is about the same output as the 490R. I wanted it there to balance with the bridge's Duncan Custom which is almost twice as powerful.
Tone: Wow, not only is it a fantastic balance across the tonal spectrum, but this puppy screams! The sustain is unbelievable!!
Sonic evaluation: My LP Studio has the dot rosewood board and also is apparently one of the last Studios which has the full size and thickness LP Standard type body. I plug it into a late 60s 50 watt Marshall with 8 10s. No boxes, pedals, gimmicks, etc.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: As stated above, I guess you could further categorize it as "Dinosaur Rock". I think this pickup is great for all styles of music except Heavy Metal and Goth type stuff. It has too much high end and not overwhelming bass. Besides, it is a medium output pickup.

Comments: If it were 'compromised', I'd get another one without hesitation. I've been playing 33 years. I own 2 other Gibsons: LP Classic and '61 SG Reissue. What I love about this pickup is the range of styles you can play with it and the sustain - Unbelievable! Even when you raise and lower the volume and tone controls, it remains full bodied and dynamic. Harmonics are outstanding too. What I hate about it is that it is quite pricey. I guess Billy Gibbons has to get his cut. After all, Seymour copied this pickup from Billy's Les Paul. I've compared this pickup to all the major "PAFesque" leading pickups out there. I honestly believe that this pickup wipes the floor with them. This is absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt, the ultimate neck pickup for me. As far as a bridge pickup, I tried it. It wasn't powerful or ballsy enough for me. It also was a tad too trebly. So, as far as the ultimate bridge pickup goes, I'm still experimenting.

Pickup features: Humbucker.Slug pole on the inner side and screw pole on the outer.This ones black with the Duncan name on the screw pole side.
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: PRS CE24
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Was already put on the guitar by the former owner when I bought it, but it replaced a PRS HFS
Other pickups on guitar: PRS Vintage Bass in the neck
Artists using this pickup: I know Kurt Cobains Fender Signature Jag Stang had one in the bridge but other than that I'm clueless
You musical style(s): I play almost everything
Reason for pickup change: Was already on guitar when purchased

Perceived output level: The output is high but not too high that it seers like a alarm clock that was fitted with an equilizer with all the treble up and bass down and was sold to you by a homeless man named Skip and payed him with a sorry ass Apple II computer. P.S. I wouldn't accept the cheeseburgers
Tone: The tone is nice and trebly just like a good bridge pickup should be.It can also get pretty middy-fied with the right adjustment to the EQ. It sounds great with the PRS 5 position Rotary switch. 4 different settings for it and it blasts out some of da sweet stuff
Sonic evaluation: I use a PRS CE24 through a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah, and very very rarely, a DOD rackmount EQ. Then it all goes into a 74 Fender Twin Reverb

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play lots of styles. And its agreed with almost any type of rock(Classic, Old Punk,Metal types,etc) but I'm not too sure about Blues Rock. I never did like using bridge pickups for any type of blues. The only bridge pickup that comes close to being good with blues,in my opinion,is a Strat single coil.

Comments: If it were stolen or damaged I would probably buy the origional PRS HFS pickup since I've never used one and if that wasn't better than the Gate then its into the guitar parts box with it and I'd run out to purchase the Gate. Oh yeah, I've been playing for 5 years. Yatah Yatah Yatah. Got a 69 Ampeg Dan Armstrong Lucite 6 string and a Fender TexMex Strat. Yatah Yatah Yatah. Don't wash in the space between pubic area and buttox. Blah Blah Blah. Pickup = good. Vertical Blinds = Bad. Crack = Fun. Yatah Yatah Yatah Blah Blah Blah. I'm outies.....PEACE

Pickup features: Humbucker/Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: ES-335
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 57 Classic
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: Ask Seymour
You musical style(s): Space Roots
Reason for pickup change: Original pickups were much too hot, and much too dark.

Perceived output level: Less output, but MUCH more treble
Tone: Balanced, but much brighter
Sonic evaluation: Played through Kendrick 2410 and Gusher. The 57 Classic's did not sound bad, but they sounded so dark and bassy in my particular guitar, I simply had to make a change. The Pearly Gates almost went to the opposite extreme. Quite bright and trebly, but not in a bad way. Before the change, the tone controls stayed all the way up. Now, I can use the tone knobs like the should be used. To put it simply, these may be the perfect pickups for a 335 style guitar.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I can play any style music with these pickups

Comments: I'm quite satisfied with these pickups. Tony Nobles tried to talk me out of installing them, but, after hearing them, I believe Tony changed his opinion. BTW, that is me talking, not Tony.

Pickup features: Humbucker\passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 83 Gibson Explorer
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: seymour duncan dist.(SH-6)
Artists using this pickup: Billy Gibbons off ZZ Top and ME.
You musical style(s): Shred,thrash,60's rock n' roll,blues,and Pink Floyd
Reason for pickup change: pickups came with guitar

Perceived output level: its hotter than your normal humbucker but real sweat. It sustains like crazy.What I like about it is that I can shred on it or have a real sweat clean tone. I play a Gibson explorer with the pearly gate in the neck and a duncan dist. in the bridge, and a preamp boost on the neck volume switch. My setup--explorer--dod wahwah pedal--big muff--zoom 505 only for the crunchy dist-- Marshall JCM 900 50watts-- and in the effects loop-- rockman graphic 12 band eq-- boss ps-3 for wicked sounds
Tone: good thump to it which I like,not too trebly nice mids but not too much mids nice scoop to it .
Sonic evaluation: look up

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: if you play blues,SRV style or any ZZ topp, you can't not have one. My dad feel in love with it the first time he herd it. I like stuff like Pantera,Skinlab,Deftones,Slayer and the old stuff and I like it just as much. matched up with the sh-6 is perfect. To make breif..... it kicks ass!

Comments: I also own a custom fender strat with a duncan custom humbucker in the bridge and compared to the pearly gate its not nor worse.the custom has a little more clarity to it but the gats are so sweat.Seymour duncan products in my opinion are the best on the market today.They cover all areas of music, most. if I were rich I,d buy all seymours pickups.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: custom- made semi-hollowbody (almost a replica of the Hamer 25th Anniversary guitar)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: Pearly Gates in both positions (neck and bridge)
Artists using this pickup: Billy Gibbons
You musical style(s): Mainly Jazz, but also play Pop, Top 40, R&B for a living
Reason for pickup change: These came stock on the guitar

Perceived output level: Pretty Hot, I think
Tone: A bit trebly (easily countered by lowering the pickups)
Sonic evaluation: I use my fantastic custom semi-hollow (it's a one-off, a one of a kind!)through a SansAmp Tri-O.D. and a Boss chorus pedal. As for amps, I play through whatever amp the club provides. As I play around four to six nights a week in a different venue each night, I get to play thorugh everything from Fender Twin Reissues to Marshall half-stacks to Mesa Boogie combos to crappy old Peaveys (I do like their chorus amps, though). My guitar sounds killer through just about anything.
I was at first quite taken aback by the treble response of these pick-ups. Then I became downright dismayed. Being a jazzbo at heart, lots of treble ain't exactly my cup of tea. Then I tried lowering the pick-ups --- my neck pick-up is flush with the mounting ring and my bridge pick-up is just slightly higher, just enough to balance the neck pick-up's output --- and now I LOVE !!!! the sound I've been getting. BTW, I also set my amp's treble and presence control way down, so that might also have quite a bit to do with my tone. I crank the midrange knob. Doing so gives me all the high end I need. (Most guitar amplifiers have their midrange calibrated around the 1-2K area anyway) That's a little trick I copped off of a Jerry Donahue interview I read a couple of months ago. Lower the treble, crank the midrange. It gives you a full, present, fat sound that really cuts through without being shrill or overbearing. My amp setting usually goes something like this (varies depending on the amp): Treble -- 2-4; Mid -- 6-8; Bass -- 4-5.
With these settings and my pickup adjustment, I get great tone from both the full humbucker and coil-tapped modes. Neck pick-up humbucker sounds great for jazz and old-style blues --- full, fat, lots of harmonic detail. Great blossom of notes. Neck pick-up coil-tapped is great for full-sounding rhythm parts with lots of skanking and Mayfield-Hendrix-isms. Both pick-ups coil-tapped is also great for rhythm playing --- I use it to cop Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince and Kool and The Gang rhythm parts. Bridge humbucker is great for high-gain soloing --- fat, full and enough high-end punch to scream and cut through. One major advantage to the inherently bright nature of these pick-ups is the great detail they give to the notes I play. I sometimes play at speeds of up to 16th notes at 220 beats per minute, and these pick-ups play back each and every note without mushing out. They-re also great for legato playing, again coz they reproduce so much of what comes out of your fingers.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I'm pretty happy with these pick-ups and I play just about every style imaginable except really hardcore thrash.

Comments: If these pick-ups died on me, I'd probably get a Duncan 59 for the neck and a Custom Custom or a JB for the bridge --- but only coz I've heard so much about them and a lot of my favorite artists use them.
But right now, I'm pretty staisfied with these pick-ups

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Godin
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: Godin Tetrads
Artists using this pickup: Uh......?!?!?!?!?
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: came stock

Perceived output level: Very low. It stinks. About 1/4 of a Duncan JB, which is medium output.
Tone: Very Trebly! There is a trebly sizzle all the time and it sounds really bad. No bass, no mids, no power.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Laney guitar amp (half-stack). Straight into the amp. No effects.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's only good for old country guys playing a cheapo Les Paul.

Comments: I ripped it off as soon as I got the guitar.
I replaced it with a Duncan Custom, it's a much better pickup! More bass and mids, clear treble!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Dont Know

Model of guitar or bass: Vester Stage Series
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Single Coil Stock Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Pickups
Artists using this pickup: I wouldn't buy anything just because someone famous uses it
You musical style(s): New Wave Punk
Reason for pickup change: The Pearly gates was reduced from NZ$199 to $133
Good sound

Perceived output level: Vintage sonding
Tone: Very clear,Treb and bass not to high, strong mids
Sonic evaluation: Im using a small Fender Frontman amp, a Boss DS1 distortion and a vester guitar. Hopefully I will be getting a Roland Blues Cube amp or a Laney Valve amp. My amp doesn't sound full enough. But the pickup made a huge difference.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play punk, this pickup would be good for anything.

Comments: I would buy it again if it were stolen or broken
Ive been playing for about 4 years. I own a Ibanez bass and a laney bass amp, heaps of peadels my guitar and amp.
I love this pickup, i tried out a Squier super Sonic and loved the sound. I didnt have enough money so the guy told me about this pickup.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: See catalog

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Big Apple Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Came stock on the guitar
Other pickups on guitar: SD '59
Artists using this pickup: ????
You musical style(s): Rock, blues, jazz, country
Reason for pickup change: N/A

Perceived output level: Medium output
Tone: Lows and highs are about even, with a boost on the upper mid-range frequencies
Sonic evaluation: I use a Fender amp for clean, and a Marshall for distortion. It's very difficult to milk a decent sounding clean tone out of this pickup, so I use it primarily for distortion.For a smooth, fluid sounding distortion, I use only a moderate amount of gain and just crank the volume. But this pickup makes it sound too "buzzy" and it sounds very one-dimensional.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This would be a good bridge pickup for a PAF level out neck pickup

Comments: With all the positive comments I've heard about Seymour Duncan pickups, I've yet to find one that really delivers the goods,as far as a peasing sounding pickup that's suitable for both clean and distortion with a smooth, fluid sound. Still searching.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Alnico Pro
Artists using this pickup: Warren Hanes, Billy Gibbons
You musical style(s): Hard Rock, Metal, Jazz, Fusion
Reason for pickup change: The stock Pickup died after 25 years

Perceived output level: about the same as a regular PAF
Tone: nice bottom end, slightly irritating high end
Sonic evaluation: I have played it through several amps. My main setup is a Mesa/ Boogie Studio Pre through a 60w poweramp strait to a 4x12. This pickup is great if you want to play nothing but blues rock. It does ok on some jazz. However, it really doesn't have the nessary "umph" to play the harder styles. But then it was designed with Billy Gibbon, from ZZ Top...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, classic rock, some jazz

Comments: If it were destroyed, I'd be pissed (I paid roughly a 100 bucks for it!) However, I would not buy another one. For the music I play it just isn't the right pickup. I have found that the Dimarzio Steve's Special is an excellent bridge pick up, and it is not in all of my guitars. It has beautiful string definition- wich is very important to me. I like to hear each note in a chord, even at high gain settings. If you like to play classic rock or blues, then this is your pickup.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Paevey Vandenberg
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Rock & Blues
Reason for pickup change: Needed a good lead tone in the bridge poistion. Something better than the stock pickup.

Perceived output level: About as loud and hot as the original pickup on guitar, but definitely more smoother.
Tone: Good balanced tone. Very smooth, a la ZZ Top.
Sonic evaluation: This is in the bridge of a Peavey Vandenburg w/ a SD Hot Rails in the neck (see my previous posting on the hot rails). This pickup is great for solos. Really loud but smooth, so it cuts through nicely. I had a coil tap installed in this too for the added versatility and it sounds good, especially clean.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly rock and blues. This is good for both.

Comments: Again, the mix of the SD Peraly Gates in the bridge and SD Hot Rails in the neck, give this guitar a fatter, beefier tone that it didn't have with the stock pickups. Their ouputs seem the same to me, so I can get good rythm and lead sounds at the flick of a switch. I don't know how this combination would work on other guitars, but for this one it sounds great. Originally, when I bought my strat, this guitar started gathering dust. But since I replaced the pickups, I use it just as much now. I'm still searching for the ultimate sound, but that's like searching for the holy grail. Right now I'm totally satisfied with the pickup. When my tastes in tone changes, then I'm sure I'll eventually replace it.