Flying V classic/70ies Rock

freeed

New member
Hi guys,

to have some solid rocking rhythm guitar on my recordings I am planning to acquire a Gibson Flying V to accompany my Strat-Lead-Tones (my strats are American Standards and sport American standard single coil pickups as well as Seymour Duncan SSL-1 Sets and sometimes SSL-5 in the bridge position).
For the Flying V I am looking for some vintage tones for classic rock and kinda 70ies rock/hard rock. What Seymour Duncan pickups do you recommend to put in the Flying V?

Peace & thanks in advance
Freddy
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

The Gibson Flying V is for balls-out rocking!!! There's something about the tone and feel of a Flying V that appeals to me more than any other guitar. My cousin loves to remind me... "You sound great on other guitars, but your best playing was always on your Flying V."
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

Saturday Night Specials might be a good deal for you. Alnico 4 magnets combined with their special wind make these pickups rawk. They were built around 70s arena rawk.
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

I was also thinking of saturday night specials. Has anyone some experience with them?
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

I have a friend with Saturday Night Specials in an SG and he loves them. They were my first thought when the OP said "'70s".

Second choice would be the '59/Custom Hybrid with a '59 Neck. That's what I'm putting in my Schecter PT as soon as the USPS delivers the Hybrid. However, I should mention that I'm going with the Hybrid mostly because I rely heavily on the split single-coil sound. If you just want a '70s rock humbucker, Saturday Night Specials.
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

If you choose to go with the 59/C for the bridge, I'd recommend a Sentient for the neck. There is a chance you could find the '59n a bit boomy in a Gibson scale with Mahogany, especially if you are used to a Strat neck tone.
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

Funny, no one has mentioned the Mayhem set.

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Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

The 59'/Custom Hybrid would work well for what you want, but I think the Saturday Night Specials or the WLH set will give you better 70's rock tones honestly. This weekend I put my SNS bridge into my USA Dean Hardtail and I really, really like it. It has a unique tone that really fits everything from REO Speedwagon, Journey, early Def Leppard, 38 Special, GFR, BOC, Kansas and so on. Your amp will dictate how heavy it can sound. It doesn't have that ceramic magnet bite like you hear from the Scorpions for instance, but it will do a very reasonable impersonation. To really nail that tone you need the Duncan Custom, which Shenker used. But for the majority of 70's bands and tones, the SNS is great.

I really had fun running through some of my favorite riffs and tunes. I did not have the neck pickup to try out, but I have no doubt it is great. If you wanted a different flavor in the neck, an APH or a Pearly Gates would be a great match, depending on what flavor you like there. I have never cared for the 59' in the neck, but that's just my personal taste. I prefer A2 neck pickups.

The WLH set will be more like a 59',set with a little more of everything the 59' does well. It's one of the most popular newer offerings from Seymour Duncan and will nail the Zep thing, but will do many other things as well. I haven't played them personally like the SNS, but I've listened to a lot of clips and think I have a pretty good handle on it.

I think the more balanced tonal spectrum of the SNS and the A4 magnets lends itself very well to the rock sounds of the 70's.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

Hi All!

Thank you for all your answers! To me the ‘59 + JB - combo sounds classic, but to me the Saturday Night Specials appeal the most, since they are different to the other offerings of Seymour Duncan and dedicated 70s of course [emoji2]

Big THX!

☮️freeed
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

Just buy the DiMarzios

Seymour Duncans are an 80s thing, not 70s

Brand name is not synonymous with decade. SD has some pickups that are spot on for even 50's tones. SD and DMZ are the giants they are for many reasons, one of them being a diverse range of products.
 
Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

Brand name is not synonymous with decade. SD has some pickups that are spot on for even 50's tones. SD and DMZ are the giants they are for many reasons, one of them being a diverse range of products.

70s hard rock played Super Distortions

80s hair played JBs and Hotrails

80s metal played Duncan Distortions or EMG 81s and occasionaly Invaders

...that's what actually got played.

As to ADVERTISING:

90s and '00s shredders trying to pay mortgages on lingering 80s fame got DiMarzio endorsements and Ibanez signatures

2010's surviving grandpa metalheads got EMG endrosements and ESP signatures

2010's surviving grandpa rockers (and a bunch of dead people's estates) got FMIC signatures


...it's really all quite simple
 
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Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

70s hard rock played Super Distortions

80s hair played JBs and Hotrails

80s metal played Duncan Distortions or EMG 81s and occasionaly Invaders

90s and '00s shredders trying to pay mortgages on lingering 80s fame got DiMarzio endorsements


...it's really all quite simple

If you buy your products just by the fancy advertising materiel written on the box, then I guess you are right. Shame on me for suggesting a pickup based on how it sounds.

I build my guitars around tone, not historical accuracy.
 
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Re: Flying V classic/70ies Rock

If you buy your products just by the fancy advertising materiel written on the box, then I guess you are right. Shame on me for suggesting a pickup based on how it sounds.

I build my guitars around tone, not historical accuracy.

Haha... Great reply!
 
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