SD Pearly Gates vs. SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates

[Derek Duncan]

As far as the Pearly Gates from the Custom Shop goes, Billy has wanted a slightly hotter version the past few years(yes he still calls MJ and gets them regularly, along with the BG1400 tele pickup from the custom shop). We don't want to change the specs of the production PG, since those have been a favorite of many throughout the years, so we decided to make his custom. They are a little hotter than normal, and have a specific dc range. They use a rough cast alnico 2, that is calibrated to a specific gauss. We normally make them with no logo, long legs, 1c, and with slightly aged covers, but that can all change since these are made per order and what the customer is looking for. As far as these sounding "better" than production is preference. These suit the guitars and style for Billy, and I'm sure will for many other players. Hope that clears it up a bit.

 

[rp1138]

Cool, thanks for the info. I can't wait to hear these things.

 

[tonaholic]

As far as the Pearly Gates from the Custom Shop goes, Billy has wanted a slightly hotter version the past few years(yes he still calls MJ and gets them regularly, along with the BG1400 tele pickup from the custom shop). We don't want to change the specs of the production PG, since those have been a favorite of many throughout the years, so we decided to make his custom. They are a little hotter than normal, and have a specific dc range. They use a rough cast alnico 2, that is calibrated to a specific gauss. We normally make them with no logo, long legs, 1c, and with slightly aged covers, but that can all change since these are made per order and what the customer is looking for. As far as these sounding "better" than production is preference. These suit the guitars and style for Billy, and I'm sure will for many other players. Hope that clears it up a bit.

Any chance you guys will respond to market demand for sandcast/roughcast magnets in your PAF offerings?

 

[darthphineas]

When I used to buy pickups from a "big name" company, the custom shop manager told me that all she uses in the custom shop are roughcast. It got to where I wouldn't even waste my time on the production models any more, where it was worth it to get the custom shop manager to wind custom shop versions of production models.

Honestly, I think you can work with a boutique shop to find a good version of just about any of the "big name" production models. You'd also be putting money toward a small business that appreciates customer loyalty far more. Some shops don't even charge that much more than a "big name" production model.

 

[LtKojak]

If I may, the Roughcast vs. Polished tone debate has no basis.

The audible differences come from magnets of same grade coming from different foundries, being made with slightly different recipes, alloy mix and annealing processes.

Magnets coming from the same source, made with the same alloy mix in the same batch, with the same annealing process, being roughcast or polished, no audible differences in tone are present.

The magnetic field produced is generated at the lattice level of the molecular structure, so the surface finish doesn't have any practical influence on the outcome.

The greatest effect on the magnetic field shape and projection are produced by the following variables:

* actual mechanical coupling magnet/keeper bar, magnet/slug

* alloy composition and physical shape of the carriers, which in a humbucking p'up are the keeper bar, the slugs and polepiece screws.

HTH,

 

[tonaholic]

If I may, the Roughcast vs. Polished tone debate has no basis.

The audible differences come from magnets of same grade coming from different foundries, being made with slightly different recipes, alloy mix and annealing processes.

Magnets coming from the same source, made with the same alloy mix in the same batch, with the same annealing process, being roughcast or polished, no audible differences in tone are present.

The magnetic field produced is generated at the lattice level of the molecular structure, so the surface finish doesn't have any practical influence on the outcome.

The greatest effect on the magnetic field shape and projection are produced by the following variables:

* actual mechanical coupling magnet/keeper bar, magnet/slug

* alloy composition and physical shape of the carriers, which in a humbucking p'up are the keeper bar, the slugs and polepiece screws.

HTH,

Hats off to you sir. As always, you come across as one of the most knowledgable posters on the internet. Thanks for clearing up a common misunderstanding regarding magnets and how they affect tone.