https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:20:36 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-385116 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:52:04 +0000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ino1NGrKE7E&feature=youtu.be

Couldn't be bothered about the playing in this video though, so just some noodling.]]> Opinions and Polls Niklas https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-385116 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-385060 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:00:51 +0000
So two weekends ago I just browsed the local sell/buy music gear page and saw a 20 year old Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates bridge pickup for sale. It had a sticker on the back that said PGB-"J". After some google detective work it turns out it is the custom hand-wound version of the Pearly Gates. I got it for the price of what non-custom pickups cost second-hand so it was a good deal.

Popped it in last weekend and when I got home today I had the chance to turn the volume up for the first time... IT IS MARVELOUS! This guitar was designed for PAF:s, it's so obvious. Away with the JB and all the 80's tones and in with the Pearly Gates and the glorious 70's rock god tones.

I measured the resistance to 8,64 kohm, so it's slightly hotter than today's PG pickups which are 8,35 kohm. Actually it's closer to the output of a whole lotta humbucker but with an Alnico II.

Now the middle position also sounds a lot better. I'm not saying the JB is a bad pickup and I understand why people like it, but it was just wrong with this guitar. A '59 reissue should of course have PAF:s in it. I have another guitar for the hotter stuff.]]> Opinions and Polls Niklas https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-385060 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379243 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 23:34:50 +0000 I'm assuming the Vt15 is based more on the AC15 vox with top boost just from looking at the specs and style of it (and the name) that would certainly explain why your getting a thin sound. The vox is a very jangly amp that breaks up a little later than other brit amps. The 10" jensen is also a more "vintage" sounding speaker usually associated with clean fender tones than crunch. All things considered I am more apt to think the Alnico II's are what you are looking for being smoother yet having early break up, even something with Alnico III's maybe. I tend to think an overwound alnico 5 in the bridge though a vox is going to result in harsh highs in whatever combination you choose - I couldn't know for sure but my experience would say weaker magnet, cooler winding in the bridge would give you a better traditional sound. Remember, Page was playing a tele bridge through a champ - weaker mag, cooler winding - similar amp and speaker.]]> Opinions and Polls EzraplaysEzra https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379243 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379240 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 21:00:15 +0000 Opinions and Polls TRGuitar https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379240 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379198 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:47:14 +0000
I think I still want something hotter than the Alnico II pro, on SD:s site they recommend it with a higher output pickup to get alternative tones from bridge and neck pickup. So I still want the option to get higher output tones, however, Slash seem to manage fine with it...

Reading everything about different magnets and string pull affecting sustain just makes the decision harder. And of course there are other pickup manufacturers out there, but already having the '59 in the neck it feels like a SD is a better fit.

Using the tone wizard on their site their only recommendations are the JB or the Custom 5. I'm quite surprised the Pearly Gates are recommended with maple and ebony fingerboards. Doesn't the guitar Pearly gates have a rosewood fingerboard? I think I'm going to search some youtube-clips...]]> Opinions and Polls Niklas https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/paged/2/#post-379198 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379193 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:35:38 +0000
I think the JB will sound better with alder than mahogany for my tastes. I haven't played the pearly gates in a long long time but if billy like it, it must be good. Have you thought about the Alnico II? (whatever the hell they're calling it - The antiquity II if someone beats it up for you - the slash signature if you feel like paying even more) The II's are smooth and chewy (?) more like what a vintage PAF tone should be to my ears.
What are you playing through BTW? That is probably more of a reasonable question. The SD forum I'm sure would inundate you with more suggestions than you'd ever wish to hear - just tell them you want something that sounds as good as a 70's dimarzio PAF distortion - That'll get their attention!]]> Opinions and Polls EzraplaysEzra https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379193 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379190 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:13:14 +0000 http://pickroar.com/504/edwards-e-lp-98lts-review/

I thought the part about the long neck tenon was very interesting as an example. I just found this because I was searching for a better bridge humbucker for this particular guitar. I don't seem to be the only one that swaps this one out in this guitar. Almost every forum thread I've found about these there are people are writing about switching the bridge pickup.

The thing is, even if I change the volume pot to 250 kohm, it will only reduce the treble and not increase the bass anything. I actually think it would work in my Schecter, so I'll keep it for that if I ever change from active pickups in that one.

The Seymour Duncan soundclips are quite helpful, because I noticed the sound was very similar in my guitar to the recording the have. I want something with a fuller sound, the JB is a bit thin and harsh-sounding in this guitar. In what kind of guitar(s) are you using the JB, Ezra?

I'm deciding between the Pearly Gates, or more likely, the Custom 5.]]> Opinions and Polls Niklas https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379190 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379104 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:43:04 +0000 Opinions and Polls EzraplaysEzra https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379104 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379103 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:27:46 +0000 Opinions and Polls EzraplaysEzra https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379103 https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379088 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:38:13 +0000
The owner before me was one of the salesmen in the guitarshop and he had owned for two years. He only sold it to afford a vintage Telecaster and didn't use Humbucker guitars any more. He had owned two Gibson Les Paul before the Edwards but much preferred the Edwards. I really like the neck on this guitar. It's just the right thickness. But the best part is the weight of it. It's below 4 kg! It's not a carved out body like in the new standards, but a lighter mahogany.

I don't care much for the sound of the new Gibson Standard Les Paul, a bit too modern to me, and the Traditional is just too heavy to be able to play a full gig with. So this is like the best of two worlds. It really has that vintage tone and I love it!

I must say you're a great source for information, Ezra!

EDIT: Just realized out how you found out the year from the serial number, it's in the serial number, 07... :oops: It was a bit too obvious...]]> Opinions and Polls Niklas https://guitarnoise.forum/opinions-and-polls/bought-a-59-jimmy-page-les-paul/#post-379088