Pickups for a V

MattPete

MattPete

New member
This is my new baby, a Gibson Flying V98, which merges 1958 styling with a 1967 body. The previous owner had replaced the 500t bridge pickup with a Seth Lover. After I got home, I changed to a heavier gauge of strings and took out the pickups to see what was really in there. Sure enough, it's a Seth Lover in the bridge (but the neck model) and the stock 496r in the neck.



In all actuality, I was planning on buying a V and replacing the pickups with PAF-style pickups, so the Seth potentially gave me a head-start. I found I could get all sorts of useful tones by playing with the height of the Seth in the bridge. In a lower position, it was very clear and even. When raised up, it had a mid push that reminded me of Billy Gibbons. In it's current form, it does a great job of "Just got paid" -- it has a strong mid push with some hair on top, similar to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmQlOmxICrk

BUT, that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something that sounds more like Schenker. Although I dig the A2 sound in the bridge of this guitar, it's really not what I'm after (and the 496r sucks in the neck). A2s tend to have a mid-push and often have some gritty hair on top, and I'm looking for a clear, yet rounder tone (something closer to "Mother Mary (Live)" or "Lights Out (Live)" [right speaker] on iTunes rather than "Just got paid"). So what do I do? I've thought of a couple of different options:

(1) Put Seth (neck) in neck, replace magnet with A5 (this sounds great in my SG). At the same time, put 496r in bridge and replace the ceramic magnet with an A5.

(2) Put the Seth in the neck with an A5, but put a 78 in the bridge with an A5.

(3) A5 78 in the bridge with a Jazz bridge in the neck.

Any thoughts?
 
Re: Pickups for a V

Whatever you do if you decide on getting rid of the 496R I'll take it for the right price.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

To achive a T-Top sound i would take the Seth with an A5 in the neck (i have one in one of my LPs) and would buy an 59 neck (or 59B if you want more beef in the bridge).
I have a T-Top / early 60ies Paf clone (the Beano Set of David Barfuss http://www.barfuss-pickups.de/page4.php) in another LP (7.0 k A5 in the neck and 7.7k A5 in the Bridge). The neck is clear as hell and i can throw all gain (and i have a lot) on it without getting muddy. I love soloing with the neck now!!
But the bridge T-Top clone is a little thin, so i prefer the 59B.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

I have a Gibson Faded Flying V and I spoke to Tim at Bareknuckle Pickups about pickups for it and I cited Randy Rhoads/Michael Schenker as ballpark tones I was after and he recommended me a set of Riff Raffs, so I went with a Riff Raff bridge and a Mississippi Queen (humbucker sized P90) in the neck.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

This gonna sound crazy, but hit the bay and get some T-Tops.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

I think pretty much anything with an A5 will get you there because of the sharper pick attack the A5 has compared to an A2. I never thought Schenker had a very iconic tone, just a regular rock tone to my ears, so I think an A5 mag swap would do nice.

Idk whether or not you "have" the '78 right now or not but if you do maybe try it with the A2 first if you haven't and then swap to an A5 later. If you don't have it then I would get a 59B. The '78 isn't cheap and the '59 would prolly give you what you need.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

I never even considered the 500t, as I didn't want a hot ceramic. It doesn't matter anyway, as the last owner sold the 500t after he swapped it for a Seth. I think I'll try an A5 Seth in the neck. For the bridge, I'll probably try an A5 78, just because I have one laying around and it should be hotter than a Seth or a 59. If that doesn't work out, maybe I'll try to grab a T-top on Ebay.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

'Work with what you have.' First step: put an A5 or A2 in the 496R and you have a PAF. Your first move shound not be buying a new PU, inspite of any advice to the contrary. A new PU should come after you've adjusted PU & pole piece height, a mag swap or two, and maybe a change in pot value. Work your way up logically.
 
Re: Pickups for a V

The 496r reads on the hot side -- about 8.5k. Does anyone know if this is the same wind as another Gibson humbucker, except for the magnet?
 
Re: Pickups for a V

MattPete said:
The 496r reads on the hot side -- about 8.5k. Does anyone know if this is the same wind as another Gibson humbucker, except for the magnet?
Click to expand...

Readings vary with the temp. It's still in the range whee it will work in the neck slot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top