FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

[Lorenzar]

Hi people !

I just bought a Flying V Pro 2016 Ebony (like this : http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Flying-V.aspx).

Very light guitar, loaded with Classic 57 in the neck and Burstbucker 3 in the bridge.

Nothing wrong with those A2 pickups, but I prefer to turn this axe into a higher output one.


I'm looking to play hard rock and metal with it. I do have plenty of gain on my amps (JVM, Victory V30, 6505 etc...).

My intuition is telling me SH5 as SH6 might have some added compression that I don't necessarely need.

I'd just like something tight, which makes this guitar not too thin, not too compressed but able to slam the front end of the preamp for some big palm muting chug-chug if needed !

 

[JCM]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

SH6 has more thump and is still plenty tight enough for metal.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

FWIW, I don't think the Distortion is overly compressed.

SH6 has more thump and is still plenty tight enough for metal.

I disagree. The SH6 has more mids, but the SH5 has more bass. Both are pretty tight, though.

 

[Mincer]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

If you don't want added compression, check out the 59/Custom Hybrid, and put a regular 59 in the neck.

 

[ErikH]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Of the two mentioned in the OP, my gut says SH5. It worked for Michael Schenker in the past.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

As someone that went directly from SH-6 to SH-5 in an LP, I recommend the SH-5. The SH-6 sounded great for rhythm but it was just too hot. I don’t mean too aggressive, I mean it was hot to the point where I was hearing sounds I didn’t like. I play on a kemper so ymmv but I was getting some overtones from it that annoyed me. The Custom is pretty spot-on for metal tones. The low strings are very tight and crunch well, though not quite as aggressivly as the sh-6. The higher strings on the Custom sound less shrieky and better to my ears for lead.

 

[Aceman]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Neither of those is a miss.

If you want more of a muted crunch, the Distortion is your choice. For more of a thump, the Custom is the answer.

Distortion = Mids/Highs
Custom = Bass/Highs

The highs are the same in both IMO. I think the Custom sounds more compressed than the Distortion, but as said - neither is overly compressed in my opinion for what they are. I have multiple guitars with both. I think the Custom is the more all around, while the Distortion is more metal than hard rock. I played all kinds of things on a Distortion for years though....

 

[dave74]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

distortion

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Thanks guys !
I think I'm feeling a bit more SH5 for this one !

Hybrid 59/Custom is great but I already have it on my SG.

By the way, I spoke to quickly when I said nothing wrong with Burstbucker 3 (which is currently at the bridge). Jesus, this pickup sounds so muffled through my rig and it's an open coil one. Reminded me when I dropped my Classic'57 for Slash set into my Les Paul, the sound opened so much ! I doubt highly it's because of the V, I'm pretty sure a change of pickup will open things up, like it did with the LP.

 

[RolanTHUNDER]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

From the 2 listed I'd say the Custom 5 as well although I like the Distortion too. I'd vouch for a Sentient/Pegasus combo too.

Are you sticking to SD only or will you consider DiMarzio as well? If so then your options will expand greatly and I'd recommend an X2N or D Activator X (if you want less highs with a more open sound (less compressed) but still powerful and punchy). For more highs than the X but less aggression than the X2N the regular D Activator works well. For the neck: if not the D Activators to complete those sets then mixing and matching with the Evolution, Illuminator or Liquifire would pair well with those bridge pickups and offer good versatility too.

 

[Archer250]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

My gut says SH-5, but then again I'm a Schenker fan, and that's what he used.

Hear it in action here

 

[Synapsys]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

I have a Distortion/Jazz in zebra not on a Flying V, but on a Dean Old Skull V.

Although they sound great, the Distortion may have just a little too much output for my current needs. Since V's usually are a tad middy, if I considered a swap would probably be for a Custom5.

Regarding compression, I own a Custom on a PRS SE Custom 24 30th Anniversary Flame Top, and I have to say that while I have both pickups on very different guitars, I find the Custom more compressed than the Distortion.

 

[RolanTHUNDER]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

I have a Distortion/Jazz in zebra not on a Flying V, but on a Dean Old Skull V.

Although they sound great, the Distortion may have just a little too much output for my current needs. Since V's usually are a tad middy, if I considered a swap would probably be for a Custom5.

Regarding compression, I own a Custom on a PRS SE Custom 24 30th Anniversary Flame Top, and I have to say that while I have both pickups on very different guitars, I find the Custom more compressed than the Distortion.

View attachment 92511

That's a cool Dean V. I had the silver Mustaine VMNT. Great V.

 

[Adieu]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Maybe a DMZ Super Distortion / PAF 36 set?

 

[Mincer]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Well, if you are ok with the compression/feel of higher output pickups like the Distortion or Custom, I vote Custom with a Jazz in the neck. It would be a heavy rock machine, but you'd be able to handle more kinds of rock.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

I actually have a MIJ Jackson I don't use anymore loaded with Jazz and Custom, so I was really thinking about swapping pickups with this axe.

Another option for the V since I have push/pull and don't have any P90 guitar, would be to put Prails in that thing !

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: FLYING V Bridge pickup : SH5 or SH6 ?

Like I said, since I have Jazz/Custom already into a guitar I don't use much, I'm leaning toward this.

But now I've seen the Distorsion set (SH6n with SH6b) is currently really cheap (110 euros for the set at Thomann for exemple).

Don't know about the Distorsion neck, but that way I could keep the Jazz/Custom combo into my guitar (and maybe save it for a Les Paul in the future...).

Still hesitating ! ahah!


(also what about Alternative 8 or JB in a V ?)