What Pickups for a Flying V

[harddriver]

Got to spend a good amount of time with it yesterday. I'll post more in the NGD thread.

For now, I'm gonna keep the 498/490 in it. They're good pickups and I'm still getting accustomed to what it sounds like. If it's in need of something that the stock pups aren't giving me, I haven't found it yet.

If I do change them out, I might try the Throbak DT-102, simply because I have them already, so it's a no cost option. My concern is that they're too close to the Burstbuckers I have in my natural V and I really want this one to have its own voice. Then again, maybe they'd be different enough. Easy enough to put them in and find out, though.

If I do buy something new for it, I think there are several really good options mentioned here. Suhr Aldrich is one I've wanted to try and just never have. Trying an SD Distortion neck in the bridge, similar to an old Seymourizer II, seems to have piqued my curiosity as it's in the 12-14k range of many of my favorites. The SD RTM is, well... I just like that sound.

But, I think I'm going to leave it alone for awhile and just see what it tells me it needs. I'll post more about how sounds and plays in the other thread.

Thanks, everyone, for all the good opinions and info!!

Sound like the stock pickups are good!

I know some of those pickups we mentioned you would have to install a cover in it but the SH-6N (SEYII) you can get with covers on them already. Chubtone has these in stock but I do like the old vintage ones myself but I have played some newer 90's and 2000's SH-6N for project guitars and they were fine. Opps I saw your covers need to be gold.............disregard the nickel...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134707969416

 

[JiMB]

Yeah, the 70s Tribute pups look interesting on paper, but what you said about the highs is usually what I end up thinking, too, with few exceptions. Either undefined or harsh for both. For example, there is exactly one set of Burstbuckers that I like. The rest I can't stand. The Custombuckers are much better, I think, but I like them even more after swapping the magnets for A4 or A2.

That R8 is stunning, love the double creams! What color is that? Whatever it is, it's stunning!

Yeah, the highs from Burstbuckers are harsh to me. The 70’s Tribute Pickups were undefined.
I bought that R8 used at Norman’s Rare Guitars. I call it lemon burst or just amber. It was made in 2002.

 

[ChurchHill]

Sound like the stock pickups are good!

I know some of those pickups we mentioned you would have to install a cover in it but the SH-6N (SEYII) you can get with covers on them already. Chubtone has these in stock but I do like the old vintage ones myself but I have played some newer 90's and 2000's SH-6N for project guitars and they were fine. Opps I saw your covers need to be gold.............disregard the nickel...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134707969416

Yeah, installing covers is something I've done many times. It's not hard, just gotta clamp them on tight, put some wax on the top to stop microphonics, get a good solder connection, and should be good. The trick is finding covers that will match the pole spacing, but even that's not too bad. A Gibson neck cover is the same size as a normal SD, for instance, and SD offers most of their stock with covers and I'd bet their custom shop would set me up.

 

[ChurchHill]

Yeah, the highs from Burstbuckers are harsh to me. The 70’s Tribute Pickups were undefined.
I bought that R8 used at Norman’s Rare Guitars. I call it lemon burst or just amber. It was made in 2002.

The first Historic R8 I played, I'll never get the sound of that guitar out of my head. Just an incredible guitar that I didn't have the money for back then. Anyway, yours is really nice. I'm sure it plays as well as it looks.