Pickups for a Flying V?

[ThreeChordWonder]

DIY kit build. $180 for the body and neck from eBay, so I'm expecting quite a lot of work. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised, however.

It's an all mahogany body and neck, which I intend to finish in clear polyurethane. If I can figure it out, it's going to feature:

• String through body with a chrome V-piece, if not a Gibson style (probably Gotoh though) string through stopbar;
• Gotoh copy tune-o-matic style bridge;
• Three pots (vol/vol/tone) and a Switchcraft 3-way arranged with the knobs in a triangle and the selector switch out of the way;
• Output jack in the tip of the bottom V-piece, '58 style - I have to figure out how to drill the hole for the wires though, and any tips will be greatly appreciated;
• Minimalist pickguard to expose as much wood as possible.

Anyway...

Suggestions for pickups?

Something other than my go-to 59/Custom Hybrid and Jazz pairing?

Would it be sacrilege to put in my set of Gibson 57 Classics pulled from my SG?

Tone-wise think Schenker, Graham Oliver (Saxon), KK Downing, etc. classic/vintage metal.

 

[Cynical]

For classic metal, I'd go DiMarzio. SuperD in the bridge, 36th anniversary PAF in the neck.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

^ I generally use SDs, but thanks :beerchug:

 

[chadd]

I'd throw the 57s in and see how they work in the guitar. At that point, you'll at least have a great starting point for finding the ideal pickups for that guitar. Screamin Demon is rarely mentioned but works well for that kind of stuff.

 

[beaubrummels]

Duncan Distortion set

 

[jeremy]

I'd throw the 57s in and see how they work in the guitar. At that point, you'll at least have a great starting point for finding the ideal pickups for that guitar

makes sense to me. you already have em and have an idea what they sound like so start there

 

[Mincer]

I'd throw a set of Black Winters in there. The V deserves them.

 

[Aceman]

Well, a lot of early Schenker was T-Tops. So maybe a Jazz set?

Or these days he is using the Dean Lights Out set...which are available new production.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

What about a JB in the bridge and something else in the neck? Suggestions for the something else?

 

[zionstrat]

Me thinks the Distortion might be in a very interesting combination with the JB bridge for what you're trying to do.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Other ideas: Saturday Night Specials, Slash Set, Pearly Gates?

Looking for moderate bass, good (not scooped) middle and more (not excessive) highs.

All mahogany Flying V knockoff, remember.

 

[beaubrummels]

JB in Mahogany isn't that great. Slash set would work for the latter description: moderate bass, good/not-scooped mids, not excessive highs. I kind of second Mincer's Winter suggestion though. Black Winters would be a more versatile and solid near neighbor to a Distortion set.

 

[Masta' C]

I'll just put this here

https://shop.deanguitars.com/collections/dmt-lights-out

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

^ Saw those, might just take a punt.

 

[St_Genesius]

I *like* the Classic 57s, and my V has BB 1&2s, which aren't *that* different, so I think that'd be a fine choice, especially since you've already got them.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

I'll just put this here

https://shop.deanguitars.com/collections/dmt-lights-out

I took a punt on a pair of those last night. Thks:beerchug:

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Lookee what just arrived

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Wiring them up with two independent volumes (500k pots) and a single tone (500k / 0.022 uF). The tone is a push-pull that will split both coils at the same time. Wiring colors are the same as SD's, which is nice.

I don't think the two humbuckers are RWRP to each other, and to be honest I don't care if they're not. The pickups will be hum canceling anyway except in P2 with the coil splits active.

Oh. 10.5k and 16k. These things are going to be l-o-u-d LOUD.

 

[Vastard]

Would Black Winters be suitable for classic old school heavy metal?

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Don't see why not.