Replacing my 500t with a Pearley Gates, what can I expect?

[poweredbysoul]

Just ordered one as I'm looking for a change. 500t is a screamer but I'm looking for a more toneful pickup. I've read they sound great in a Les Paul and are versatile. I have a sh-5 in my custom which I really like to, so thought I'd get rid of one of the ceramic bridges for an Alnico.
Whats the word on these?

[lemonman]

It will be much brighter, looser and more complex by a ton. It'll be quite a jump from the 500T, but the PG series are great pups in the right wood. Be prepared to do some tweaking with heights & polepieces, they respond a lot to adjustment.

[theodie]

It will be much brighter, looser and more complex by a ton. It'll be quite a jump from the 500T, but the PG series are great pups in the right wood. Be prepared to do some tweaking with heights & polepieces, they respond a lot to adjustment.

I cant say it much better.

[DrNewcenstein]

Billy Gibbons. That's the word.

Seriously, first thing to expect is less output. The 500T is the hottest pickup Gibson makes, aside from the original Dirty Fingers (15K on mine, I think the 500T I had read about 13-14K).

Once you decrease the resistance, you affect the tone.

You may also find you need to reset your amp EQ for the PG, as it's currently tailored for the 500T.

[poweredbysoul]

Interesting, the SH-5 went in my dark sounding Les Paul Custom which made a big difference but could still be a little brighter, I'm running that one with a 500k volume pot. I'm wondering if the Pearley might serve better in the darker guitar and move the sh-5 in place of the 500t in my standard.

[lousy_player]

I'm intrigued by what you find out. A 500T is a beast of a pickup..

[super rad stuff]

^that actually sounds like a great idea. the PGb is a bright little sucker, with lots of grit to it. the output drop from the 500t to it would also be pretty big. lemonman and DrNewcenstien pretty much covered all you need to know though.

[The Usual]

PG will have a smaller more focused sound. And grittier, as everyone has said.

[Aceman]

That's a pretty extreme change. A 500t is pretty similar to a Duncan Distortion, and a PG is a flavor of 59.

But...

Top - slightly sweeter on the PG
Highs - less overall from the PG, but still bright from the upper mid spike
Mids - Less from the PG, but more interesting? complex?
Bass - looser on the PG, but not flabby by any means

Cleans - there will always be a little 'hair' underlying the PG tone. However, they will be far more organic and less sterile than the 500. And of course, it will clean up much much better!!!!

I think the PG is the PAF sound we really mean when we talk about an awesome sounding real 50's PAF. (That or a Seth)

[blueman335]

I think the PG is the PAF sound we really mean when we talk about an awesome sounding real 50's PAF. (That or a Seth)

Yes, A PG has more complex tones than a 500T, which is from the alnico factor, plus the charm of an A2. What I like about a 500T is it's grainy sound, that gives it more character than the average ceramic. He's certainly going from one end of the spectrum to the other.

I'm thinking you no doubt meant to say the '59 is the "real" PAF sound!

[poweredbysoul]

Out of the Pearly gates and the sh-5, which one is brighter. More suited for a darker les paul?

[Christopher Caruana]

Out of the Pearly gates and the sh-5, which one is brighter. More suited for a darker les paul?

i would say the PG