What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

[Gibson 1964]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

How could you ask if they were any good right after I said they sound like ****? My brain is full of ****.

lol j/k, dude.

The Alumitones I tried, based purely on looks, were disappointing in the fact that they sounded like a cross between a hifi mic and hifi singles. That was awesome for clean but that's not what I was going for. They also had an odd tendency to max out on gain, and by that, I mean I'd go from clean to a little dirt to a little more...and after that point, I could crank the gain with no real noticeable difference. Strangest thing I've ever seen related to guitar.

I hear the Deathbuckers are better-more middy and voiced like humbuckers-and the Drop N Gain seem to get pretty good reviews.

I have to bring up the Detonator...cheap, quality, and big, big bass and mids. For the neck, I'd go with something ceramic like a Gibson 496R or maybe even the Duncan Distortion neck...or whatever the import version of that is.

The deathbucker is a big improvement for gain, Though there is a bit of that "gain ceiling" if you know what I mean. (I really think alumitones have some very cool and interesting cleans in a hollowbody especially) And the Drop n Gain is actually quite excellent.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

maybe a try a nazgul or a pegasus, i have the pegasus, its definitely hotter than an alnico pro 2, but not as hot as the nazgul or the distortion or black winter tho

Hi everyone! Yes! I know it has been a few years since the last post here.
I settled for the Slash Alnico II Pro set for a while. Definitely sounds good, but I believe it's better suited to maple/mahogany guitars like the LP. Alnico II Pro gets a little muddy on the bass.
I like them but would prefer more output, and clarity. I consider the JB/STK-S7/STK-S6 on my Squier Strat and the SH-5/59nJ set on my DBZ as winning combinations.
I have no desire to ''repeat'' a formula (pickups) on any of my guitar, but will definitely appreciate something more on par with the combinations posted above.

What do you guys recommend? Please let me know!

 

[Demanic]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Well, if you are into magnet swapping, changing them to A5's will essentially turn them from A2P's to Jazz.

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[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Well, if you are into magnet swapping, changing them to A5's will essentially turn them from A2P's to Jazz.

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Hi Demanic! Magnet swapping definitely ain't a bad idea. Just would prefer to keep them stock. They're really good for pop/ classic rock music, it's just that I think that this V could benefit from something else. It had a EMG 81/85 when I purchased it. Never used it active since the inside electronics were severely damaged (except the EMG's = I SOLD THEM). My tech suggested going passive due to the V having the pickguard, not going thru the battery change hassle... Since I won a Slash Alnico II Pro set, my tech suggested installing them instead of purchasing pickups for it. It did a magnificent job and they sound well, just would like to save them for another guitar in the future and mod the V to suit more my actual style. I have played EMG's 81/85's, the SH-5, the JB, Dimarzio Super Distortion as bridge pickups. They all sounded amazing on the ovedriven/distortion department. Really like a neck pickup that can keep up with power, play good cleans, and have enough output to keep up. The Pearly Gates neck pickup vas very nice on my DBZ Bolero FM, but it was lacking on the bass department. Just giving a few tips so I can be guided on the right direction.

 

[Demanic]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Well, my next suggestion would be the Duncan Mayhem set. About as far opposite of the Slash set that I can think of. Since you already have a JB and a Custom in your other guitars. They'll really make the V a monster. Or if you want something a bit more tame, 59's would still sound good.

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[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Well, my next suggestion would be the Duncan Mayhem set. About as far opposite of the Slash set that I can think of. Since you already have a JB and a Custom in your other guitars. They'll really make the V a monster. Or if you want something a bit more tame, 59's would still sound good.

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That has been one that has been on my mind for the last few weeks. My guitar tech disliked it, but I still haven't played/heard it in person. I'm thinking a little bit about the set. I know the bridge will be fine. What about the neck? It used to be the SH-7 Seymourizer bridge pickup. Will it have cleans or will it be full-on distortion? I have experience with the EMG81 (ceramic) in the neck position of a mahogany Fernandes guitar. Really don't know what to expect.
Will the Distortion set be safe or should I try something like: SH-6 on Bridge + Sentient on the Neck?

 

[Demanic]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

The neck pickup is a good match for the bridge. It's not going to give you cleans like a lower wind neck pickup. I would say that it's thick without being muddy, the double thick ceramic still has plenty of top end.

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[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

The neck pickup is a good match for the bridge. It's not going to give you cleans like a lower wind neck pickup. I would say that it's thick without being muddy, the double thick ceramic still has plenty of top end.

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Missed out an opportunity to get a SH-6 set at a great price
Maybe I'm ''scared'' of the change and final results. While my tech says I kind of have a preference for high output pickups, I still couldn't pull the trigger. I'm still researching...

If I keep the Slash Alnico II Pro set on my guitar, which could be the best way to take up to high gain. Yes! I know they're very low output. While I don't plan to sell them, I really would like a highway to the high gain realm with my Blackstar HT-40 and other amps.

My favorite bridge pickups are the SH-5 on a Maple/Mahogany Body & Neck Guitar and a JB on a Alder Body & Rosewood Fingerboard Maple neck. Maybe that could work like a guy.
I pair the SH-5 with a 59n'J, and the JB with a STK-S6 on the neck and a STKS-7 on the middle position.
Would not like to repeat any bridge or neck pickup combination*

I have also been thinking of jumping into Dimarzio for the Super Distortion bridge. Still don't know what to pick for neck...
Would love to stay on the Seymour Duncan realm, but I'm still not convinced by modern offerings, would not like actives either...
Hope you all can help.

PS. If the SH-6 is really it, please say so. That way I know it's the right way to go.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Hi everyone!
My guitar tech is offering me a Pegasus (Trembucker) for the bridge position.
He talks about moving the Slash bridge to the neck position and installing the Pegasus trembucker on the bridge.
He also suggested finding a Sentient for the famous Pegasus/Sentient set.

What do you all think about the idea?
GO or no go?

 

[Demanic]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

I don't think that it would be a bad thing. Of course, you won't know until you try it out.

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[Gtrjunior]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Hi everyone!
My guitar tech is offering me a Pegasus (Trembucker) for the bridge position.
He talks about moving the Slash bridge to the neck position and installing the Pegasus trembucker on the bridge.
He also suggested finding a Sentient for the famous Pegasus/Sentient set.

What do you all think about the idea?
GO or no go?

I have that set in my 7 string....solid "meh"

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

I don't think that it would be a bad thing. Of course, you won't know until you try it out.

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Thought the exact same thing. Played a guitar with the Pegasus on (from a customer). Seemed like ''dark'' version of the Custom. Big, Fat, Strong; but at the same it wasn't something I really ''wanted'' or needed. Again! That was somebody's else guitar, not mine.

I have that set in my 7 string....solid "meh"

Yeah! It didn't surprise much when I played. As I wrote above, it wasn't my guitar.
There are much things that can be done with a Flying V. I believe I'm kind of an Alnico V guy. I guitars with JB's, STK-S7, STK-S6, 59' neck, the 498T...
I also liked ceramic pickups like the SH-5 and the Dimarzio Super Distortion

 

[Mincer]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

The Pegasus or something from the Custom Family would be my choice. A Jazz or 59 for the neck. The EQ qould change drastically from what you have now, though. With any of these pickups, you'd lose mids but gain power, lows and highs. You could always get a Pickup Booster and continue using the Slash set.

 

[Despair]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Thought the exact same thing. Played a guitar with the Pegasus on (from a customer). Seemed like ''dark'' version of the Custom. Big, Fat, Strong; but at the same it wasn't something I really ''wanted'' or needed. Again! That was somebody's else guitar, not mine.

Yeah! It didn't surprise much when I played. As I wrote above, it wasn't my guitar.
There are much things that can be done with a Flying V. I believe I'm kind of an Alnico V guy. I guitars with JB's, STK-S7, STK-S6, 59' neck, the 498T...
I also liked ceramic pickups like the SH-5 and the Dimarzio Super Distortion

If you like the way the guitar sounds, and just want a bit more output, you could try swapping in unoriented A5 magnets. Or roughcast UA5. It changes more than just the output, slight dip in midrange, but more low mids, and more upper mids and higher.

Super Distortion doesn't seem like it's enough different from the Custom. Thicker and stiffer feeling, with less upper mids but more ceramic bite. The Custom is one of the few ceramics I can stand the presence/bite on [other being the PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion]. So I don't put a lot of time in on ceramics. If I wanted a thicker Custom, I'd go for a Custom 8. But I consistently prefer A8 over ceramic magnet pickups. Tastes vary. It might be enough different to make it worthwhile, particularly since it's a different guitar in so many respects as well.

'59/Custom Hybrid is worth a look, if you want a flexible pickup that isn't like the others you mentioned. Could also try a Screamin' Demon in the neck, if you are concerned about the '59B having too much bass. Great cleans, runs full gamut from clean to high gain quite competently.

P-Rails set plus matching Triple Shots could be a lot of fun, P-90s are underrated in metal, and the ridiculous gamut of other tones is fun. Series for high gain, parallel for low gain, and rail single coily sounds [I'd tend to reverse orient them compared to the normal arrangement, for more teleish tones rather than stratty, given you already have a stratty guitar].

But if you just want the axe to be a straight up metal machine, a Mayhem set [or PATB-2 plus neck Distortion, though if you are OCD about string alignment over polepieces it'll bug you in most Gibson-spaced guitars] might be what you want.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

The Pegasus or something from the Custom Family would be my choice. A Jazz or 59 for the neck. The EQ qould change drastically from what you have now, though. With any of these pickups, you'd lose mids but gain power, lows and highs. You could always get a Pickup Booster and continue using the Slash set.

Thanks man! Yeah!
It's definitely a difficult decision. Didn't ''update'' the post in a while since I used to play in a band that made latin pop music. Low gain was the way to go there, but those days are over. I definitely like the Slash pickups sound and don't plan to sell them, even if I remove them from the guitar. The Boost suggestion is intriguing. I have been researching them for acoustic guitar use, but they could do the trick.
Slash Alnico II Pro's are great on the clean department. Just would like to ''boost'' the output for more high gain rocking sounds. The ''Slash'' advertisement can be deceiving. While I did know I was going to have a low output pickup, I thought it could reach ''ovedriven'' / high gain tones more easily. They're amazing once they reach ''the top'', but how can I take them there faster (and at lower volumes)? My amp is a Blackstar HT-40*

 

[Despair]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you really like the sound of the pickups and just need more output, easiest solution is just use a clean boost! Or like many guitarists [including Slash IIRC], a 6 to 10-band EQ with a gain control can be used as a boost, while also shaping tone. Or a parametric EQ.

Slash's Appetite for Destruction sounds were recorded with a Caswell-modded 2204 [SIR #39 or the other similar modded one whose number I always forget]. And he sometimes used a Mesa to get feedback while using a splitter and only recording the output of a Marshall. So his higher gain sounds aren't just the pickups, but the whole gear chain.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you really like the sound of the pickups and just need more output, easiest solution is just use a clean boost! Or like many guitarists [including Slash IIRC], a 6 to 10-band EQ with a gain control can be used as a boost, while also shaping tone. Or a parametric EQ.

Slash's Appetite for Destruction sounds were recorded with a Caswell-modded 2204 [SIR #39 or the other similar modded one whose number I always forget]. And he sometimes used a Mesa to get feedback while using a splitter and only recording the output of a Marshall. So his higher gain sounds aren't just the pickups, but the whole gear chain.

Yeah! Definitely the guy has a really tricked out rig made for high gain. I have read that the clean boosts provide volume + gain depending on where they're placed on the chain.
My pedal chain goes like MXR Analog Chorus to MXR M78' Badass Distortion to Dunlop 535q Wah to guitar. I use the amp's footwswitch for the main ovedrive/distortion (high gain) tones, and use the 78' as an OD mostly (to boost volume or color sound). My preference is always as the JB and Custom, to get my ''distortion'' like ON = DISTORTION, OFF = I'm back to clean. Using a clean boost would be something ''new'' for me. Should I just leave it on all the time?

I do believe Slash's Alnico II Pro pickups should be amazing on semi-hollow guitars.

 

[Gtrjunior]

What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

I was going to suggest a boost of some sort as well. It would still allow you to get the clean/semi clean tones/OD tones with the boost off. Then when you wanted straight up high gain, kick the boost on.
I have a BB Preamp Comp boost which kicks MAJOR ass. And I'm using it in front of a Splawn Quickrod!! The small amount of boost along with the added compression makes it SING!
Best thing about the Xotic lineup is that they don't color your tone at all (imo). They just add a lil' sumthin'-sumthin'...

 

[Mincer]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

As far as boosts go, check out the clean Pickup Booster, and the Killing Floor (boost with some gain added). The Slash pickups tend to get a little 'sloshy' like many A2 pickups do under high gain, so many people use an Overdrive to tighten the bass.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

I was going to suggest a boost of some sort as well. It would still allow you to get the clean/semi clean tones/OD tones with the boost off. Then when you wanted straight up high gain, kick the boost on.
I have a BB Preamp Comp boost which kicks MAJOR ass. And I'm using it in front of a Splawn Quickrod!! The small amount of boost along with the added compression makes it SING!
Best thing about the Xotic lineup is that they don't color your tone at all (imo). They just add a lil' sumthin'-sumthin'...

So the ''magic trick'', is something like ''boosting''' at the time of high gaining. The mix of using the boost at the same time of using the amp's OD channel, that will do the trick? How do I ''stack them up'' for even more gain/volume boost for solos? According to the videos I have seen, the boost should go first in the chain for ''gain'' and last for volume.

As far as boosts go, check out the clean Pickup Booster, and the Killing Floor (boost with some gain added). The Slash pickups tend to get a little 'sloshy' like many A2 pickups do under high gain, so many people use an Overdrive to tighten the bass.

What you saying is what I somethings feel when doing power chords with the bridge, like it needs a little more power, strength, and authority in the bass department. Example: With the SH-5, I ''break the wall'', the JB ''drills it'', but with the Alnico II pro is like ''I'm in front, but I need more''. I imagine that's due to it being low output, but you guys and many pros know how to do the trick with low output pickups.

PS. I'll be checking out the Killing Floor pedal. Only got some questions regarding the input/output jacks stability and quality. BOSS really suck on that department* And if there's any type of volume cutoff or something. I use MXR due to their quality, consistency, and because they plain work easily without any problems.