Help! What pickups should I get?!!

[jamesperkin]

I've just bought a new Gibson Flying V (just because it looks cool and was very cheap) but I find the choice of tones in it fairly uninspiring and want to invest in some good SDs.

I tend to play classic rock (a lot of 80s rock and Queen) but also play some bluesy stuff as well as harder rock. However I have a fantastic telecaster for my blues and a really nice Ibanez for the harsher rock, so I'm looking to get a more classic sound from my new guitar.

Basically I'm new to pickup buying and I'm ashamed to say in the 12 years I've been playing I've never bothered to consider too much the pickups in my guitars.

So I really could do with some help as to a pair of pups that gives me a good variety of tones without duplicating what I've already got. I'm not sure if it's possible but I'd love a pickup that could give a big sustain, but I guess that's down to the guitar as much as the pup?

I've heard for the neck that the 59 is a good start or the Jazz (SH-2), though I'm worried the Jazz would be too like my tele. In the bridge I've been considering a JB (though I see they're not too popluar on here!), a custom five (SH-14) or maybe the Duncan Custom.

Any advice would be fantastic.
Cheers fellas.

 

[Travis]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

I've got a Custom/59 pair in my homemade korina V. That set is very nice for the music styles you've described and is very versatile as well. It can go from hard to soft and back. You could also look into a pair of 59's, very hard to beat for classic rock. But, with the right amp, the 59's can do pretty much anything.

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

Thanks Travis that's really useful. I was worried the 59s would be a bit plain - I could do with something that really cuts through when I want it to but to be able to sit back when needed. By the sound of it that combo would do the trick.

 

[Travis]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

If you want something that really cuts through, you might look into a Pearly Gates pair as well. They're a PAF type pickup like the 59 but with a little extra top end sizzle that really helps them come through the mix in a live situation.

 

[metal]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

get a pair of 59's!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

I'm gonna suggest my fave combo of a PG neck, and CC bridge. I like that 59/custom suggestion also. I just think the PG/CC would be even "more."

And Metal, where can I get a pair of those in your avatar? I don't need'em for my guitar, but think they would sound good anyway!

 

[metal]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

I'm gonna suggest my fave combo of a PG neck, and CC bridge. I like that 59/custom suggestion also. I just think the PG/CC would be even "more."

And Metal, where can I get a pair of those in your avatar? I don't need'em for my guitar, but think they would sound good anyway!

i know right? a pair of those should make nice sounds!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

A2Pro set
A2pro/CC set

or consider the VPAF/VHOT PAF if you go dimarzio

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

Cheers everyone. I considered (last year for my Ibanez) some PGs and got talked out of them by someone who said they'd used them and been unable to control the sound that came from their guitar afterwards (I think too high output?) Having said that I haven't found too many others who have the same complaint so maybe that was just him.

I'm guessing that CCs are custom customs - what's the difference between them and customs?

Also (I've started another thread for this but might as well mention it here), on the site it says that some of the pups can be wired so they're in series/parrallel or you can use them a separate singles as well as humbuckers. Does anyone know whether it's possible on a flying v and if so how? Sorry, I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to doing anything other than hitting the strings with a pick.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Help! What pickups should I get?!!

JB even if everyone on here does not like it is a good pup. Does 80's metal perfectly (since they used it) and has good harmonic sustain