What Pickups for a Flying V

[ChurchHill]

Getting a Flying V that comes stock with 498T/490R pickups. I have that set in another guitar. So, I'm thinking about something else for this one.

I'll mostly play 80s rock/metal on this one. So, something a little over the top without going too far.

The guitar is all mahogany with an ebony fingerboard.

One caveat, the guitar currently has covered pickups, I like that look, and I want to keep it. So, whatever I choose will have covers.

I've never had a problem balancing pickups with different output (I only listed resistance in K below when known), either by raising/lowering or with 2 volumes.

 

[VonBonfire]

Leave it stock, those are great pickups.

 

[CoreyW]

Getting a Flying V that comes stock with 498T/490R pickups. I have that set in another guitar. So, I'm thinking about something else for this one.

I'll mostly play 80s rock/metal on this one. So, something a little over the top without going too far.

The guitar is all mahogany with an ebony fingerboard.

One caveat, the guitar currently has covered pickups, I like that look, and I want to keep it. So, whatever I choose will have covers.

I've never had a problem balancing pickups with different output (I only listed resistance in K below when known), either by raising/lowering or with 2 volumes.

Depending on what other guitar you have those pick ups in, there may be a pretty decent tonal difference with the V, mine is a bit more aggressive than other gibsons with the 490 and 498

 

[ChurchHill]

Leave it stock, those are great pickups.

I might, they are good pickups. I've got them currently in a Les Paul.

 

[JohnnyGtar]

DiMarzios! Bluesbucker in the neck, FRED or MoJoe in the bridge. Or if you want a hotter set, go with FRED in the neck and EVO2 in the bridge.
All these pickups are available with covers.

 

[nightlight]

I'd suggest Fishman Fluence's or an EMG 81/85 for an even more 80s metal tone.

 

[Beyond Black]

I’d suggest first getting the guitar and familiarizing yourself with it’s inherent tone before even considering what pickups to install.

 

[skoora]

I would be curious how the Duncan Distortion neck sounds in the bridge. My favorite ceramic pickup so far is an older (early 80’s I think) Super Distortion in my 2006 V, that reads high 12’s. Doesn’t have over the top push but more than my hot PaF style in my other V. Doesn’t have the mid quack that newer Super Distortions seem to have, which I don’t care for.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I had a gothic V that came with a 500T and that pickup sounded absolutely monstrous!

 

[GreenRust]

I'd go wolfetone marshallheads...a5...9k bridge, for a hotter paf vibe amd get my hot for teacher on...and M Schenker tones as well.

 

[harddriver]

If you want something more PAFish but with some grunt, The SD Whole Lotta Humbucker(rough cast A-5) is nice at 8.78K ohms, I really like mine. If you want some more grunt I hear the SD Saturday night( Alnico IV) special is more output at 9.75K ohms but still PAFish balance.

The SH-6N(rough cast ceramic) that you mentioned is that goldilox zone of high output at 13K ohms but has less emphasis on the mids when compared to the SH-5 Custom. Maybe a 59N or 59B for the neck ala Dime.

The older 80's Seymourizer II's might sound better than the newer SH-6N's but the wind should be the same. That pickup can do metal or classic hard rock as you stated you want.