Favorite Flying V pickups

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fearhk213

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Inspired by the current Flying V thread, I thought I'd post a thread to see what pickups you all like in your V's. I find they're sometimes a little more particular about pickups than your typical super strat or single cut. Here are some I've tried over the years that I thought were good:

MCP Black Iron
Wagner Icebucker
MCP T-Wreck
EMG 81
 
The Suhr Aldrich Bridge/Neck set. Put those in my Gibson Flying V and it kept its brightness but its a much beefier sounding guitar now.
 
running dimarzio super distortion and X2N in the bridge of my V's
 
SD JB or Distortion in the bridge, Alnico Pro II in the neck.
 
Wolfetone Marshallheads in my 80’s V (not sure if it matters but they have Alder bodies) and an old Dimarzio SD in my 2k’s V bridge. Little hotter but doesn’t seem to have the ”peaky” midrange of post 80’s SD’s. Not into any super hot metal pickups.
 
If you like the EMG 81/85 set, Fishman Fluence Moderns are worth a try.
 
fearhk213 said:
Inspired by the current Flying V thread, I thought I'd post a thread to see what pickups you all like in your V's. I find they're sometimes a little more particular about pickups than your typical super strat or single cut. Here are some I've tried over the years that I thought were good:

MCP Black Iron
Wagner Icebucker
MCP T-Wreck
EMG 81
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I had an '05 Gibson, (classic white, and ebony fretboard), for about 7 years, and I put Duncan Distortions in it. It was a match made in heaven. Absolutely screamed, and quite frankly one of the best sounding guitars I ever owned. It was tonal perfection.
 
blacknoizemachine said:
Alnico Pro II in the neck.
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I found that one way too mellow. It's warm, sure, but too smooth for my taste. Maybe it works in a very bright Flying V.

My favourite neck pickup in a Flying V -and one that didn't work so well in a Charvel So-Cal- is the DiMarzio Breed Neck.
Beefy and wide sounding like a Les Paul, but with enough clarity and bell-like tone. Split-tone is also beautiful.
This is in a '67 RI Gibson V, mahogany body and neck with ebony FB.
There's a Super D in the bridge, but I'm still not 100% sold on that. I want something with a bit more beefiness, that also doesn't sound too ceramic or dark when played clean.
 
Suhr Aldrich set. They just cut through in a live setting...
 
headlessdeadguy said:
I had an Edwards V with those in it. Hated them.
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I agree. Don’t like Suhr pickups in general to be honest.

i had a Gibson Antique Natural that sounded like ass no matter what pups I tried. I ran 11 pickups through the bridge before I gave up and sold the guitar.

I have one of the new 70’s Vees that is advertised as having A5 Burstbuckers. I had full intention of yanking them immediately. However, the are hot and perfect sounding. Both the bridge and neck are in 15-16k range. I contacted Gibson to find out what these actually are. They are a new wind and the neck actually meters hotter (16.2k) than the bridge. But they are balanced due to different winding gauges. I freaking love these things.
 
headlessdeadguy said:
I had an Edwards V with those in it. Hated them.
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I would agree. Playing them through a V or one of my Les Paul’s in a room with no live band they sound like ass. But... Live with band they cut through the mix. I always fall back to a JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck...
 
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