Epiphone Les Paul ProBuckers vs Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates

[@rodwoodruff5493]

Interesting, I was thinking of replacing the PB”s in my Epi with Pearlies, but it doesn’t seem that there’s enough difference to spend the money.

[@bbsoni4814]

i was thinking the same thing

[@Ufozoo1]

Me too ,, but not enough difference. More less bragging rights, I guess

[@markntexas8265]

Same 4

[@garlandlabat4922]

Side by side comparison is great. I could perceive a "very" slight difference, but I couldn't began to decide if one sounded better than the other. Both sounded great!

[@tad5920]

Great video! Even through headphones they both really did sound very similar. I wouldn't change out Probuckers for the Pearly Gates - they are just too similar (at least to my 65 year old ears). Thanks!

[@mikewithers299]

Yup! Same here. My Pro's will stay in. Being just 5 years younger than you my taste have changed a little and my hearing has too. Lol

[@cironicholas526]

I really appreciate how you went through all the trouble to demo the Pups in the same guitar. Looks like you got your PGs from that PRS S2 on the wall. The lazy thing to do would be to demo the PGs in that PRS and the PBs in the Epi, but then you would have people like me complaining in the comments "it's not a true comparison because both guitars are different scale lengths!" Great demo, I think I'll be keeping my ProBuckers!

[@budgetguitarist]

Glad you liked it! I actually expected to dislike the ProBuckers, but I was wrong - they are great.

[@markzuelch7452]

I know what you mean about the Probuckers...really great sound and they're very responsive to pedals too. Years ago I had a left-handed (I'm right-handed) Hamer Flying V and it had 2 of the sweetest, boldest, most responsive humbuckers I've ever had (and good luck trying to find any), and they were Rick Derringer Stealth pickups. Like you I'll be keeping the Probuckers; hard to believe my Epiphone Les Paul Classic in Honey Burst would be better than it already is!

[@mothygryphon9111]

I went down the rabbit hole of pickup switching between pro buckers, burst buckers, whisker buckers, and pearly gates. I know that on meters none of them look different enough in frequency response to justify the cost of switching. But tbh, i already knew that. It wasnt frequency response that i was after but how they deliver their frequency responses. In the end, i opted to stick with the burst bucker in the bridge and pearly gates in the neck on my standard 50's. The overall greatness of the burst bucker compliments that toothy edginess of the pearly gates. To me, i get the broadest representation of that LP and can make it wail and cry on blues, peel the paint off the walls with rock and hard rock, and get on top of the band with soaring solos. Just awesome. Love it.

[@dowaliby1]

Nice comparison video. I have the ProBuckers in my Epihone Les Paul Custom Pro, and they sound great (both clean and overdriven). I was also surprised when I heard the PBs side-by- side with the Pearly Gates. I was expecting the Pearly Gates to sound significantly better, but they didn't. The Pearly Gates may have a slight edge in articulation and string separation, and sounded a bit more focused than the PBs, but not much. Thanks!.

[@holmesauce]

I've liked the last couple of vids. I've got an Epiphone Custom Pro I recently picky up with Probuckers so I'm exactly your audience that it's a common budget guitar many of us use. You're helping me avoiding doing many guitar mods because you do them let us know, both are great

[@budgetguitarist]

Happy to help! I like high end gear as much as the next guy, but you have to pay double or triple to get small improvements that most people don't notice. :)

[@angusorvid8840]

The reason I replaced the pickups in almost every Gibson I've owned is because of how wildly inconsistent they were. The best sounding Gibson I ever owned was an explorer. But the problem with that was the pickups were not potted and it squealed, so I replaced the set with a Duncan Custom/'59 set and it was golden. But I don't like having to replace pickups if I don't have to. Regarding Gibson style aka setneck mahogany axes, they work best with medium to vintage pups. I'll make an exception for a Duncan Custom, which I'd call high-medium output, or an occasional JB. Otherwise, the Pearly Gates or Saturday Night Special or Whole Lotta Humbucker set are perfect. The point of a guitar like this is to emphasize the natural characteristics of the wood, not to cover them up with screaming high output pickups like a Duncan Invader or DiMarzio X2N or EMG 81. That just doesn't work for me. I grew up on classic rock tones like Schenker in UFO, Page, Clapton in Cream when he played the SG or LP, Paul Kosoff of Free, Frank Marino, Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, AC/DC, ZZ Top, etc. That's what it's all about to me. Taking that sweet tone and cranking the amp to 11. For this purpose, it's hard to beat the Pearly Gates. Rock on.

[@frankodel5318]

Thanks for posting this video. I have Probuckers in my Epiphone Les Paul Custom and I have been very pleased with them. I considered Pearly Gates because my guitar tech kept recommending them. Now I heard in this video that my Probuckers are slightly better.

[@timpayne8238]

Great video, I think I prefer the Probucker over the Pearly Gates. - It has abit more bite to it whereas the Pearly Gates has a slightly rounder tone.

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks! The ProBuckers do seem to have a little more bite.

[@bciecko1]

My guess, I'm at the 3:20 mark, is that the Pearly Gates have a slight mids boost, every so slight that's definitely more apparent in the crunch demo but overall sound very, very similar.

[@JackTheSkunk]

Not enough of a difference of justify the cost of the Pearly Gates. That being said it's hard to compare the pickups with all that overdrive.

[@budgetguitarist]

I know. I'm still learning as I go on this channel. I also think it'd be better to use one of my actual tube amps instead of an HX Stomp. At some point maybe I'll reshoot the video with more clean sounds.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

Similar to my Slash SD’s and my 490s. I adjust the pole pieces and they’re similar. I hear the difference when switching to the 59s which are Alnico V’s.

[@mikewithers299]

Just joined your channel Richard. I like the way you presented both and compared them unbiased. I own the Pro's and I will keep them in my Epi Plus Top Pro. I like the way they sound in each of the samples you gave 🎸

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you liked it. I try to keep an open mind. I really did expect the Pearly Gates to sound far better, but I was wrong. The ProBuckers are darn good.

[@mikewithers299]

@budgetguitaristcom I had headphones on and I couldn't tell the difference. I was thinking about the PG's myself but I'm happy I don't need to change them. Thank you for sharing

[@davidvicars6688]

I swapped out the probuckers from my les paul custom with pearly gates pickups, and there is a big difference in the tone, pinch harmonics are easier to get with the pearly gates for sure also. There is just something more organic happening with the pearly gates that the probuckers didn't have at least through my marshall plexi 50w. The probuckers didn't sound bad at all, but they didn't sound like the pearly gates to my ears, they sounded a little muddy/muffled compared to the pearlies.

[@budgetguitarist]

Interesting. I didn't hear the major differences, but I have a theory that the HX Stomp kinda levels the playing field more than a real tube amp. I think the differences are probably easier to hear on a real tube amp. Something to consider when I'm doing further comparison videos.

[@qua7771]

That's more like the difference I would expect to hear. Thanks for posting this.

[@jotwee63]

Probuckers from which year?

[@Cosmo__Kramer]

Probuckers are just ok..and easily upgraded with just about any Seymour duncan

[@CL_Audio_Tuning]

Shoot, ive been looking around for reviews on these and i hardly heard a difference if any sir. Thank you!

[@Ph00ey]

I don't own either one but I liked the Pro-Buckers! Now I'm leaning towards the Pro-Bucker to replace my stock pick-ups. Whadda price difference too!

[@voyager7]

I agree on the mid-range analysis, abstracted slightly vis a vis Probuckers vs Gibson Burstbuckers. I love the 2020/21 (now22!) Epi Probuckers and feel like the only difference there is a subtly lesser presence in mids. And that's not to say they are less or worse, only slightly different in that way.

[@Dave---M]

Hi Richard, another excellent vid, thanks. I own both and prefer neither. I gig and record with both (at least until 2 weeks ago here in Nova Scotia) and both sound great through tube amp and processor. Man! This channel should be way bigger,.

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks! At some point I should probably try to do some marketing/advertising for the channel. I definitely want to grow it. I sort of feel like I'm still learning how to do this stuff and seeing what works and what doesn't.

[@alexgibson8153]

I have a 97 Riviera, (Korean Peerless made) with the full size humbuckers. Not happy with the Mudbucker tone. I can get my hands on a new set of 4 wire Probuckers for half price. Would provide “single coil”, with install of the necessary push/pull pots. Or do I walk away from the Probuckers, and spend the extra money on a set of Gibson pups?

[@nebraskadean9656]

Like both. PG seemed to cut thru mix more in single note over metal. I have a new-in-plastic Epi Ceramic Plus, trying to learn, what to put it in, what it might go well with

[@Chrish_k]

Pealy's and PRO in Les Paul's. 57/62's, Texas Specials for strats

[@jeffmclowry]

I think they both sound great. I’m not hearing enough difference to pay the extra for the Pearlys.

[@activese]

Hi, thank you very much indeed for the simple straight forward comparison, great chops, I own an epi lp standard pro plus, and an old sg with original alnico "mubuckers" that I never liked and just replaced them with a Pearly gates set, it sounds so clean and articulate now, but yesterday playing through a tube amp with distortion in a ds1, preferred the sound of the lp with the probuckers, more rounded mellow notes but lower volume, (maybe change the pg height), love them both, but to me it was a surprise, specially because of the price difference in the pups, cheers

[@budgetguitarist]

Pickups are very subjective, but the Pearly Gates is a damn good pickup any way you slice it. :)

[@FrankJmClarke]

Great video! The ProBuckers are supposed to sound like BurstBuckers, but your Pearly Gates seem closer. Based on KZbin audio. I don't really have a preference, it is like the sound of 2 different guitar picks really. I just bought ProBuckers on EBay for my Epiphone Korina Flying V, to declare an interest. So the ProBuckers should be within 1958 Gibson randomness of an actual PAF, my Flying V should sound plausible. So thanks for the show and tell!

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks for watching! I was just looking an an Epi V the other day. Sweet guitar.

[@nicholasbstone]

I have a Spector Arc6 guitar (yes, they used to make guitars) and it's got a mahogany body, and I've tried to make it look/sound Gibson-esque with my hardware and electronic choices. Since I cannot afford to pay $300 for Gibson pickups, I went with the Epiphone probuckers. I changed out the Alnico 2 magnet in the neck position pickup with an Alnico 5 and left the bridge pickup alone. I did put a set of Duncan gold covers on them because the gold plating on the original covers kept rubbing off. Long story short they sound every bit as good as any of the Duncan's and Dimarzio's that I've used before and I couldn't imagine putting anything different in that guitar. Incidentally, I primarily use it for clean, jazzy tones.

[@roberte03915]

You're right, they are very similar...and why couldn't I have found this before I spent all that money! There are so many reviews on the retailer sites and forums from people who love the Pearly Gates, I got sucked in. Maybe they are great, but as noted, they're not much different than the Probuckers. Interestingly, I replaced the ones in an Epiphone Les Paul Modern with a set of Seth Lovers and those, to my ears, were distinctly different (and better).

[@jeremybanks9007]

So from now on ill tell people my pro bucker is nick named pearly gates

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Hey cool! Nice comparison. You sound sounds killer! What DAW are you using? Are mike'd up to that Fender you have back there? Sorry for the many quesitions.

[@budgetguitarist]

Glad you liked it! I'm using a Marshall-type amp in an HX Stomp, recording direct into Logic Pro.

[@astrogerard2022]

Thanks for the video. I would have liked to see a bit more hard core lead though. That's where the difference really tells with different pickups.

[@budgetguitarist]

I was trying not to embarrass myself! I'm not a great lead player, but I will keep it in mind for future videos.

[@cmkilcullen8176]

One or the other can be a little brighter depending on the degree of distortion. In most conditions, it sounded to be that the PG's are a bit more focused. But.... not sure if it is really worth the swap... I guess one may consider what amp your running the guitar though?

[@budgetguitarist]

Yeah, I'd agree. They were actually a lot closer in tone that I thought. I'm not sure I could tell the difference blindfolded, depending on the amp or amp model used.

[@jerrymander1492]

Why not run them through a tube amp demo?

[@budgetguitarist]

I like the sound of my HX Stomp better than the sound of my tube amps. If I had a three thousand dollar tube amp, I probably would use that, though, I'll admit.

[@armandruckli7916]

Well, that's a difficult thing. I think the Epiphone Pickups are not bad at all. On the other hand i think the SD Pearly Gates are probably not the best replicas of the real Pearly Gates that exist on the market, but regardless, there is probably a lot of hype going around just to sell the expensive PAF replicas.

[@budgetguitarist]

Yep, I'd agree. A lot of "tone" is in our heads, but I do think that both of these pickups sound good.

[@markhallam7821]

I replaced my Pobuckers with a st if 36th anniversary Ibanez pickups but I wish I'd stuck with the Probuckers. They're fantastic and in no way inferior.

[@oldasrocks9121]

Gates are 7.3K ish at the neck 8.3K ish at the bridge. The Epi Alnico Classic Pro with swapped in A2 magnets come pretty close despite have equally wound coils. Mine are 7.7K neck 7.85K bridge (like Gibson 57's readings) Probucker 2&3 are the most common for sale, Ive been looking for a slightly lower output 1&2 set for ages, I would have to guess those get really close. Basically they are 7K 8K and 9K A cobbled set of ACPro alnico 2 neck and the Probucker 3 bridge might do it. A PB 1 and 3 with bona fide A2 magnets would be hella close.

[@gustavvader2207]

I hear no difference that matters. They sound great.

[@bobbyhansford4804]

What about one or the other being uncovered , can the metal cover even be taken off the Probucker pickups ?? Im a pearly gates fan also and was looking at putting a zebra or all black set in my new Epiphone 50's model .

[@budgetguitarist]

I've not taken the covers off a ProBucker, but I did take the cover off a Pearly Gates. There was wax everywhere and it took a while to clean it up. Cosmetically, they're obviously very different looks. Sonically, I think there's a small difference, but I'm not convinced most people could hear it in a live setting.

[@dionysusthemadgod]

Considering Pearly Gates pickups are more than twice as expensive for a set of two, I think I am impressed and completely satisfied with the ProBuckers.

[@budgetguitarist]

Can't blame you. I think they're pretty close. They both sound great. I'm totally cool with the ProBuckers.

[@djffe8597]

Just got some PBs for my squier toronado based on this. $150 cheaper and can return them! Stock PUs are good but a tad too glassy. we'll see how these stack up!

[@budgetguitarist]

Awesome - let me know how they do! I think they're great for the money.

[@djffe8597]

@@budgetguitarist Well some confusion has ensued, what I ordered were actually the 57 Alnico Classic Plus (Alnico V magnets) which are different, so I'm trying to cancel it to get the probucker 2/3 set

[@budgetguitarist]

@@djffe8597 I would definitely recommend the ProBuckers over the Alnico Classic Plus. Hopefully they don't give you a hard time and make you jump through hoops or anything.

[@timbuktu7753]

I dont own pg pups but i do own pb in my epi,but honestly i really could not hear much a difference between them in this side by side. Great video and would enjoy hearing more of your rush licks! 👍

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@Mmoran64]

I bought pearly gates to replace my probuckers in my epiphone les paul standard plus top pro but liked the sound of probuckers didn't see a need to swap them out so put them in my epi les paul special II and they sound great ( special II plays well) , Probuckers gives me great tones too. I can here the difference in my guitars pearly gates is a little sharper tones more bite and growl definitely better on harmonics. can get a better GNR sound with the probuckers but does fine with ZZ top sound and any classic rock sound. Probuckers sound good

[@RaisonBaby]

Amazing demo. Not showing off. Concise and super useful!! Have u tried the Alnico pro 2s? How to they compare to the pearly gates?

[@GrohnertGuitar]

I have 2 epiphone mik les paul customs. One with probuckers, gold covers. And one with a pearly gates uncovered neck pickup, super distortion bridge. Similar hardware and setup, same string gauge and brand. I found the probuckers are a little more muddy/muffled, but with more treble. The pearly gates neck pickup was more open, being uncovered and all. Less treble than the probucker. More presence. I prefer the probuckers for a dirty, small amount of breakup - blues sound. Pearly gates more for rock, blues rock, hard rock etc. Though i've only played with the pg for a few hours. So i would take the LP with probuckers to a blues jam, open mic jam. And the pearly gates, super distortion LP to a rock or metal jam, maybe i can get more blues out of it in the meantime, but i already thought the probuckers do that better.

[@leemoreno7435]

Crazy...I was going to put Pearly Gates in my new Epi Les Paul Black Back but honestly, after this video I will not. I have the Pearly Gates PU right here but it's funny because I was just telling my buddy how good they sound. Maybe because we think Epiphone and the "cheap" stigma, that these Epiphone ProBuckers would be less but no....not this time. I've bought two Epiphones in the last six months and my 61 Les Paul SG has Burst Buckets in it and they both sound equally great. Good video and good job Epiphone. I feel they are getting closer to Gibson every year.

[@guitarminds6020]

I love your videos I think your one of the best guitar KZbinrs

[@budgetguitarist]

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate that!

[@tobywestfall2970]

I've been playing guitar for 50years 30 years professionally and I can't tell any difference between the two

[@budgetguitarist]

They are pretty similar.

[@windsurfmaui8239]

They sounded identical to me. But they both sounded a little bit brighter than I expected. I just bought some probucker copies on eBay which I'm going to load into a pickguard today. So I hope they're not that bright. I'm in the process of converting all of my Strats into humbucker Strats so if anybody has any Epiphone humbuckers they don't want rather than throw them into a draw gathering dust please send them to me I'll give them a nice home.

[@budgetguitarist]

I'd love to hear how the eBay ProBuckers work out. I'm convinced some of those are fakes and some are real, but I'm not sure how one would tell them apart.

[@CyberRabid.]

Probuckers are my new favorite pups.

[@therollband1290]

Probuckers have uneven bobbin winds like Burstbuckers. PG are even/balanced wind. Unbalanced humbucker‘s have a little bit more of the characteristics of a single coil

[@Celticsaint777]

Great demo.

[@coreydyok2337]

Yup compared on a tube amp the Pearly Gates sounds sweeter

[@robertyoung7027]

Sound so similar.. are you playing theough a modeling amp or software?

[@budgetguitarist]

HX Stomp - I think it was a "Marshall" amp with modeled V30 speakers.

[@danielcarter3928]

have you ever measured the resistance for your Probuckers 2&3? i’m very curious what they read. it’s hard to find any info!

[@budgetguitarist]

I never have, but it sounds like something I should do. I just need to find my meter.

[@deathsee]

Thanks, wish you did a Pro Bucker verses a 57

[@budgetguitarist]

I don't think I have an Epi 57 pickup. If I have one, I'll definitely make the video. I also want to get a BurstBucker, which the ProBucker is based on, to compare that.

[@tyronebiggums2350]

PB aren't great and they are not bad either I switch em out everytime...sometimes I leave the neck pup in tho

[@stricknine8623]

The average person WANTS or EXPECTS a Gibson pickup or a Duncan pickup to be "better" than anything associated with Epiphone. There is most definitely a placebo effect. Obviously the difference here is subtle at best. And therefore "better" is the epitome of subjective.

[@danielcarter3928]

are these the Probucker 2 and 3 or the Probucker 1 and 2 set?

[@budgetguitarist]

It's the 2 and the 3.

[@axelmorisson]

It is true differences are subtle. Most are lost in translation over high power PA systems and noisy venues... but in the studio one might hear a slight difference. Now I think about tone caps... what a little bit of variation could do if we were to ..switch them a little bit. Not talking about esoteric facts here, just well known facts: some older caps are a tad leaky, others not so much, others not at all.. variations of +20 to -30% are not unheard of in guitar tone caps...If someone changes both pickups and tone-caps, the result is a crap shoot- you don't really know what you gonna get- until you do it and hear it...

[@stevesheroan4131]

I know I’m commenting on an older video, but wanted to say great job! Given this small sample size I’m not surprised that many folks find these pickups to sound very similar, because they have very similar characteristics overall. That being said, when you look at the RTA graph you can see some of the biggest differences are around 1kHz and 2.3kHz, which are frequencies that make a LOT of difference in the feel of a guitar tone IME. 2.3kHz is in fact just about the exact frequency I boost for tones that I feel are getting lost in the mix. I suspect that in a vacuum I’d probably prefer the PG but in practice I’d be happier with the PB.

[@budgetguitarist]

Wow - you definitely know your stuff! It's also true that you can hear more of a difference in the room, AND that really great tube amps will show off differences between pickups more than either a modeler or a lower end tube amp. At the end of the day, I think they're both good.

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

I have both and I prefer the pro buckers

[@michaelhotz7118]

I have two Les Pauls, one has Pearly Gates the other has antiquities. I prefer the antiquities but only my humble opinion and preference.

[@budgetguitarist]

I've never played them before, but they do have a great rep.

[@danielcarter3928]

interesting! they sound VERY similar to my ears!

[@McSlobo]

I am under the impression PGs are designed to have a bit more emphasized mids (or attenuated highs and lows), so your test probably confirms this.

[@StephenFinkNRP]

Thanks. You just saved me 200 bucks. :)

[@budgetguitarist]

Happy to help!

[@jeffmckinnon5842]

There wasn't a lick of a difference between the two. It goes to show that these Epiphone's come with real BB's and not some generic pickup with a burst bucker cover on it. I imagine this video is going to save a lot of people money. Pickups really are the cats ass part of any guitar. The wood just adds a little color and sustain. Thank you for posting such an informative video. Keep up the good work,

[@chriswebb383]

In real life there's actually a pretty big difference.

[@chriswebb383]

Therea no such think as BB covers .. alao they aren't BB they are epiphone probuckers .. totally different.

[@stricknine8623]

Btw, great video and subscribing.

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. :).

[@MrArjen1960]

I wanted to buy pearly gates for mij Harley Benton guitar, but decided to go for the Pro-buckers instead, they are sold on eBay and I go for some zebra's just for the look of it. The difference in my ears were to small to justify the price tack for the Pearly gates, thanks for the video !

[@duesenberger]

How did the upgrade of Your Harley Benton (which modell?) with ProBuckers work out? I am asking because I will upgrade my SC-500 BK with ProBuckers, too. Is the installation possible without soldering?

[@MrArjen1960]

@@duesenberger Hey I have a Dullahan headless with roasted maple neck. The upgrade was ok used the pickup rings to better adjust the hight of the pubs, but the neck pickup does not have room for it, so I had to adjust it a little, it looks fine now with the zebra pickups, the Rosswel lacked a little karakter imo. The color codes from the rosswel pubs were different so I decided to use the switch pots and the 5 position switch to swich between the two pubs. First there were some problems with the switch pots, bad soldering was the problem, after re-solder the points on the back of the switch they both worked again. Now its all fine, I am glad I did not buy more expensive pickups, the sound is nice and bright and I got a killer sound mixing in both pickups with the neck pickup in single coil. The instrument is more versatile like this and was always very stable an light, so very good for live work and everyday playing ! I kept the old Rosswel's in case I want to switch back, but I think that will not happen :)

[@duesenberger]

@@MrArjen1960 Sounds interesting. Here is my prepared SC-550: photos.app.goo.gl/f6WqejQwMYi1N47h9 - Could You send me some pics of Yours (adrian142 at gmail dot com). Would be awesome.

[@MrArjen1960]

@@duesenberger Nice Project ! I send you a pic of my guitar !

[@MrArjen1960]

@@duesenberger Hey if the holes the wires of the pickups go through are big enough to get the connectors through ,you should not have to solder, but I am almost sure they are not, so you might have to widen them up or remove the connector and solder the wires to the switch/pots with is a little hard to do.

[@dionysusthemadgod]

Is it weird that I actually prefer the Chinese-made ProBuckers more than the USA SD Pearly Gates?

[@budgetguitarist]

No, it's not weird at all! The PBs sound great.

[@Sebastian_Aravena]

Dat Fender shirt...

[@AugustLeeFrisk]

Gates sounded warmer to me.

[@theaudioguy2923]

Its too close to call, both sound quality and both sound well rounded and full considering the probuckers are included with the guitar its a no brainer. but taking that" included "out of the picture and put the pearls against a regular set of genaric humbuckers then the Pearls would be the choice.

[@Beachbumartist]

Pearly Gates I think were little better as in little richer and more full.

[@richardcamp2905]

They were close enough to make it not worth changing.

[@budgetguitarist]

They are pretty close. They're similarly designed pickups.

[@tobywestfall2970]

I will take the cheeper one

[@marvelharris9540]

The Pearlys did not sound the same when compared to my stock burstbuckers in my 59 reissue, clarity was better with the pearly, sting separation was better, and the clarity on the lower notes was much better with no mud. this is all stuff you cant tell from a youtube video of someone strumming some chords through a digital modeler

[@budgetguitarist]

Yeah, I would agree with that. I do think that digital modeling doesn't show quite as much difference between pickups. But digital modeling is what I'm primarily using these days because the convenience and sound variety are really hard to beat. I can hear differences in the room and I probably do still prefer the PG pickups. But the ProBuckers are definitely good.

[@thomasgiglia6260]

We hear with our eyes instead of our ears.

[@mackdcaprio2365]

Not worth to invest in PG since the difference isnt really noticeable

[@stratolestele7611]

I think the moral of the story is - save your money on pickup upgrades on inexpensive import guitars. They just don't respond the same way. It's why a nice USA Les Paul simply sounds much better. From where do I draw my conclusions? Playing for over 40 years, bought 5 new Epiphones from 9/21 to 1/22 and currently own 4 Gibsons (sold 2 additional ones I had). The most expensive Epis ones are the Bonomassa Lazarus and a Les Paul Custom. The Lazarus, as many know, has USA Gibson Burstbuckers and top-shelf electronics. It also has a one-piece, long-tenon neck. It SHOULD smoke the LP Custom, but it doesn't. On paper, it SHOULD sound at least as good as any of my Les Pauls - like my Standard for example. It's got Burstbuckers ), but the two aren't remotely close. Yes Gibsons are expensive, but they are also much finer feeling, playing and sounding than their lower-priced line of Epiphones, and as I remind people, Gibson intends this to be the case. My Epi guitars are fun. In fact, my '22 Korina V is the best of all of mine, and it's among the lower priced ones. Next, I would choose my '21 SG 61 RI. My theory is simply that they're simpler guitars in construction. The Flying V desperately needs a new bridge, but the construction is stellar. It's easily my best Epi.

[@etherealessence]

I can hear a bit of a difference. But do a blind test and I couldn't tell you which one was which.

[@budgetguitarist]

Yeah, I feel the same way. I love the PG, but I'm learning it's not as "special" as I thought it was - there are a lot of very good pickups out there, including the ProBuckers.

[@noworries12]

the probuckers are a little weak in the mids,but have a clearer topend and the PG is more balanced and mature...so I pick the PG

[@charlygoehring6155]

I REALLY enjoyed this demo. Not just another loud noisy demo. And I'm gonna put Pearly Gates in my Dot Studio.

[@budgetguitarist]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Can't go wrong with the ProBuckers or the Pearly Gates.

[@brendanflaherty6696]

Is it a copout for me to say that, while the Pearly Gates is objectively a higher-quality tone, that I prefer the ProBucker? Full disclosure: my favorite pickup is the P-100, which nearly everyone despises. So, given my poor taste, you probably shouldn’t take my opinion too seriously.

[@budgetguitarist]

I don't think it's a copout, especially when discussing electric guitar tone. It's not like we're comparing Steinway Grand Pianos! We like what we like. I feel the same way about the Texas Special pickups - a lotta people hate them, but I love them.

[@jlepre752]

pearly gates sounded clearer using drive

[@laikainspace1]

Only a player with a discerning ear could tell the difference. A venue full of people four beers in ain't gonna know.

[@budgetguitarist]

Agreed. I think if the player "thinks" it matters, it might matter a little bit in terms of how they play. But the audience won't care that there's a 4% difference in sound.

[@bciecko1]

I've had both. I don't prefer one over the other. During a pickup search for my Chameleon Les Paul a few years back I came across the ProBucker. I went on a deep dive. There is zero difference from a Probucker to a Gibson Burstbucker. Same magnets, not same type, I mean the exact same magnets, same metal ratios and alloys, same screws, same wire, same baseplates etc... They are wound the same way. The only difference is one is made in USA and one is made overseas. If you take a competent winder and give them the same exact components, there will be zero difference in any pickup. None. The probuckers are so good because they are good pickups. Not for the money, just because they are good pickups and that's really all there is. If they sound good, that's subjective, as with all pickups. Are they quality and equal to their respective Gibson contemporary, absolutely. Now they do need to be compare to the exact model of Gibson Pickup that is their equal, that they are made to be a copy of. These aren't the Classic 57's, or the 490r's and it's for example. They are modelled to be a very specific Gibson equivalent and need to be compared to that alone--to be fair--in that realm. The P-90 pro also was a direct copy of Gi sons famed P -90. From what I hear and read though, the Epiphone P-90 Pro surpasses the Gibson version in many ways and so many prefer it to the Gibson version. Who woulda thought!

[@duck_5150]

I actually just swapped my probuckers for pearly gates..couldn't be happier

[@duck_5150]

@Nicholas Short the probuckers had no life; even after adjusting height.

[@duck_5150]

@Curt Adkins probuckers suck...the tone i get with with the PG is a TON better than the PB.

[@duck_5150]

@Curt Adkins you must not have a very good ear,its cool though.

[@stevebell204]

Oripure alnico 2 pickups are even better than the epiphone. Poor man's pearly gates.

[@budgetguitarist]

Sounds like something I need to check out!

[@MR-um9ck]

Difference when I removed Probuckers and replaced with Pearly Gates was like night and day, the Probuckers were like toys compared to the awesome PGs. The video’s audio quality must be reducing the difference here somehow. I’d never keep Probuckers in any guitar.

[@roeleikelboom9924]

Great, playing an Epiphone with a Fender shirt on🤣. Pearly Gates wins by a noselength...

[@ianmacdougall8812]

The pearly gates had more character, the pro bucket had more of a plastic tone. However the probucker was tighter and cleaner and still very usable in a mix.

[@budgetguitarist]

Interesting. I'm pretty sure I want to agree, but I feel like I do have a bias towards the PG. I've been using them for so long.

[@TimUckun]

The probuckers sound a bit more bright and thin. I prefer the pearly gates, they sound a bit fuller.

[@budgetguitarist]

They're definitely brighter. The midrange is a bit different between the two pickups, for sure.

[@JohnZornAscended]

Seymour Duncan makes mid.

[@jameselliano1203]

What a load of BS. If you can't tell the diff between a cermanic magnet and an Alnico Magent then you have to spend some time with both. Before long you will also likely throw the Epiphone into the trash too! BS waste of time.

[@budgetguitarist]

Both of these pickups use Alnico II magnets.

[@Maverikk68]

I swapped my Probuckers out for a set of Pearly Gates in my Epiphone Les Paul Classic. While the stock pickups sound great, the upgrade is noticeable, and now sounds better than my Gibson Les Paul Studio.

[@chriswebb383]

Those were alnico classic pros in your classic. Standards come with probuckers classics and studios come with alnico classic pros.