Pearly Gates--The Signature Sound
Billy Gibbons '59 Les Paul "Pearly Gates"
The.Gibson Les Paul that completes BG's signature sound is called the Pearly
Gates. Seymour Duncan (mfgs of guitar pickups) duplicated the pickups from
Pearly after analyzing the originals. They are marketed by Seymour Duncan
as Pearly Gates Pickups. You can buy one for about $90 discounted. When BG
started using the
Fender Esquires,
aka Bones, he once again went to Seymour Duncan to duplicate the sound. They
came up with a Billy Gibbons stacked bridge humbucker which you can purchase
direct from the custom shop of Seymour Duncan for $150. Add an Expandora
fuzzbox (or six) through tube amps (Marshalls or Fenders, take your pick)
and you can more or less
duplicate
the sound. Or play it clean and duplicate the opening licks on Fool for
your Stockings or I Thank You.
BG has never abandoned his signature sound.
He has done a great deal to preserve it. Even though the equipment
has changed. It would be too much to ask of one quitar like the 59
Les Paul to make the scene every night of the year. When needing the
Pearly Gates at concerts he plays a close copy. When it is time to
record...break out Pearly.
