if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there?

[blakejcan]

I'm still slowly restoring this old beat-up 1981 flying V. I have it routed for 3 pickups and a vibrola.

When I finally get it up and running I'm going to drop a Saturday Night Special set in there and just the 2 pickups to start in the standard neck & bridge.

The plan is to go back in later and drop in a middle pickup. Yes, I know it gets in the way of playing and nobody likes it and whatever. I just think it will be a fun variant and look good.

My first thought is a dirty fingers. I've been wanting to play with one, it's a similar 70's-ish vibe and I'd likely lower it way down in the middle position so having something hot might balance it out. I dunno. Open to thoughts! Please help!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

A humbucker sized P90 will likely work out better for you in the middle position.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

Three P-90's and a Tele switch.

People don't like the middle pickup on 3-pickup Gibsons because there is no provision for playing the pickup alone. If they could get it by itself, people would love it.

 

[JohnnyBsurfin]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

Three P-90's and a Tele switch.

People don't like the middle pickup on 3-pickup Gibsons because there is no provision for playing the pickup alone. If they could get it by itself, people would love it.

I don't care for three pickups because the middle one gets in the way when picking. Even in my strat I have the middle one set low.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

Glad to hear you are back on it, Blake - I was about to check up on you for a progress report. I do like the sound of the Saturday Night Specials, and if it was mine... I'd put a mini-humbucker in there, or a stacked humbucker. Keep us updated!!!!!

 

[Aceman]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

You CAN put anything you want in there. But what do you want to do with this guitar? Ultra flexible axe, Metal god, Blues Deluxe? There are many things you could do.

I'll assume that you want a DF in the bridge and would move a Sat Night then?

I'm still slowly restoring this old beat-up 1981 flying V. I have it routed for 3 pickups and a vibrola.

- This defines the guitar to me more than anything. I would not rock/metal on that! Can it be returned to Stop/TOM or a Floyd/Khaler?

Yes, I know it gets in the way of playing and nobody likes it and whatever. I just think it will be a fun variant and look good.

- Well, I have two 3 pup guitars at the moment and I DON'T know that. Guess I didn't read that thread or get the memo.

My first thought is a dirty fingers. I've been wanting to play with one, it's a similar 70's-ish vibe and I'd likely lower it way down in the middle position so having something hot might balance it out. I dunno. Open to thoughts! Please help!

- My first thought is that is a HORRIBLE idea unless you are gonna lower it enough to impact magnetic fields in China.

A few thoughts:

Classic - 59/59/Custom-59

Blues - 3 Phat Cats

Metal - PG/Distortion neck/Custom

Balls to the wall - 3 Super Distortions

Uber Flex - 59/Phat Cat/JB

 

[blakejcan]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

You CAN put anything you want in there. But what do you want to do with this guitar? Ultra flexible axe, Metal god, Blues Deluxe? There are many things you could do.

I'll assume that you want a DF in the bridge and would move a Sat Night then?



- This defines the guitar to me more than anything. I would not rock/metal on that! Can it be returned to Stop/TOM or a Floyd/Khaler?


- Well, I have two 3 pup guitars at the moment and I DON'T know that. Guess I didn't read that thread or get the memo.


- My first thought is that is a HORRIBLE idea unless you are gonna lower it enough to impact magnetic fields in China.

A few thoughts:

Classic - 59/59/Custom-59

Blues - 3 Phat Cats

Metal - PG/Distortion neck/Custom

Balls to the wall - 3 Super Distortions

Uber Flex - 59/Phat Cat/JB

No smokebomb option?

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

Three P-90's and a Tele switch.

People don't like the middle pickup on 3-pickup Gibsons because there is no provision for playing the pickup alone. If they could get it by itself, people would love it.

What about 3 volumes, and a master tone? (using a standard 3 way toggle, and not a actual 3 p/u toggle)

Now, of course this idea most likely wont work with a flying v, due to only having 2 vol and a master tone, but a push pull switch could be an option, for switching "rhythm" (or lead, whichever) pickup options btw neck/ mid, or bridge/mid...

 

[EDX]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

if it was me i would put a dimebucker on bridge, pearly gates bridge on middle and pearly gates neck on neck, you know metal as heck on bridge and rock to blues on the other 2 positions all with a nice touch of texas spice

 

[Bo-Hawk]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

How about a Duncan Custom/Screamin Demon/59n or WLHn

 

[Francois]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

I think that for your 3 pickups Flying V, the neck & bridge Saturday Night Special is a good idea. So the question is for the middle pickup.

Some kind of P-90-ish pickup would be nice I suppose. And the output of the SNS would match the P90 (or P-Rail or Phatcat)

I've not try the Saturday Night Special yet but I will soon buy one (bridge) to match a A5 P90 (neck) on my SG (a P-Rail actually).
I liked the SNS demos and concept.

 

[Mincer]

Re: if you were building a 3 pickup flying V......what pickups would you put in there

I'd go for a P-Rail/Triple Shot combo, and have a switch to select that pickup alone. Something that, no matter what pickup is on when you switch it, it selects the middle pickup. You can get lots of great tomes that way, I am sure.