Re: Please recommend pickups for my Flying V
I've got an Epi V too, and also play classic rock & blues. I put an A8 500T & Schaller Goden Age in mine. Gibson has been using the 500T/496R ceramic set for years in their V's, if you want that sound. Another good choice from the Gibson camp is a 498T/ 490R (with an A5 for better clarity).
From Duncan a high out equivalent would be the much loved C5/'59N pair, which is hard to beat in a Gibson design guitar. For the original 1958 Flying V sound, a pair of '59's is excellent.
Personally, I think the gold hardware looks really nice on V's. If you want to change that to something lower maintenance, you could replace the tuners, bridge, and toggle nut with chrome parts, but that'll cost some money. Plus there'd be another part to change: if you have a '58 V, you'll have the arrow piece that the strings feed thru; for a '67 V, you'd have a stop bar.