What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

[Gtrjunior]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you are looking to add a solo boost, I would suggest something like an MXR Micro Amp in the fx loop.
As for the boost in front of the amp, typically dirt pedals go toward the beginning of the chain.
Guitar->tuner->wah->dirt...
Many people put modulation in the fx loop
I also put Reverb and delay in the loop. I put delay first. It keeps the reverb off of the delay repeats. Too much reverb isn't usually good, it can make things too muddy.
All that said...experiment! Ultimately, what sounds good to you, is the right way.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you are looking to add a solo boost, I would suggest something like an MXR Micro Amp in the fx loop.
As for the boost in front of the amp, typically dirt pedals go toward the beginning of the chain.
Guitar->tuner->wah->dirt...
Many people put modulation in the fx loop
I also put Reverb and delay in the loop. I put delay first. It keeps the reverb off of the delay repeats. Too much reverb isn't usually good, it can make things too muddy.
All that said...experiment! Ultimately, what sounds good to you, is the right way.

Thanks! I'm still looking out for options since I plan to take the AII Pros out, once I find a LP or semi-hollow guitar at a great price; but I definitely want to make the best out of them at the moment.
Everyone here at the forum has been kind and knowledgeable about my situation, providing excellent options and ideas to solve it. Nobody criticized the Slash Alnico II Pro set on my guitar( a Flying V), so they definitely can do the job. They definitely are amazing for cleans and low output/gain music. Just would like to take them to ''the maximum'' in terms of gain, without necessarily have them on 9 or 10 in my guitar volume knobs.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Hello guys!
Forum user Nostalgic Distortion has a WLH Set and seems to be looking to trade it for Alnico II Pro's.
Do you believe a trade (my APH-2 set for his WLH set) would be nice?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Hello guys!
Forum user Nostalgic Distortion has a WLH Set and seems to be looking to trade it for Alnico II Pro's.
Do you believe a trade (my APH-2 set for his WLH set) would be nice?

HI! Been reading thru this thread as I too and considering swapping pickups in my V. I have Gibson Dirty Fingers tho, so lack of power is not my issue... Im just not sold on the tone of em..

I do have a WLH set in my LP.. The WLH set are very good sounding and the do seem alittle hotter then the are. I question whether they will be hot enough for what you are looking for though. They arent going to give you the output of a JB or Custom series.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

HI! Been reading thru this thread as I too and considering swapping pickups in my V. I have Gibson Dirty Fingers tho, so lack of power is not my issue... Im just not sold on the tone of em..

I do have a WLH set in my LP.. The WLH set are very good sounding and the do seem alittle hotter then the are. I question whether they will be hot enough for what you are looking for though. They arent going to give you the output of a JB or Custom series.

The pickup configuration I have on my DBZ Bolero is said to be a winning configuration on Flying V's: SH-5 (Duncan Custom) + 59' neck.
I don't know if I should start changing the pickups (step by step) until I find what I like. Since I like the Custom/59 combination, I could start with SH-16 Custom/59 Hybrid in the bridge...
Really like the Gary Moore style tones I get with Slash's AII Pro in the neck, but I could end up changing everything altogether.

To my ears, this Flying V wood is great sounding, very ''woody'', with a high emphasis on treble. Something to ''beef it up'' and tame a little bit of the highs would be nice.
PS. The bridge (treble) sound is nice, but something less piercing could help. Also more bass without sounding muddy.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Either one (custom/59 hybrid or a Custom) would be cool and cover alot of ground. When I change pickups, I try to pick based on what I think would enhance the guitar's tone and when possible, use something different. Although I do commonly use Custom 8s and 59b (in the neck) I have a 59/4b in the neck of my explorer and a Custom 8 in the bridge and its awesome.. Ive considered the same set in my V.
But, also want to try a Demon in the neck and black winter set one of these days and curious about a distortion set too.. I dunno which way to go with mine.. Sometimes the Dirty Fingers sound good, sometimes, not tripping my trigger..

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

An amazing deal for a Trembucker Bridge and Regular Neck Saturday Night Special came up today on Reverb.com for $125, and I just freaking missed it!
There is not much information online about them. They sounded pretty good, but don't know how they fare against my APH-2 or the 59 set. I really need more output on the neck position, a little less bass there, more output on the bridge, some ''rawness'', and that they don't have any tone unbalance that I need to use the tone knob to compensate for ex: APH-2 neck sounds amazing with the tone down or up, the bridge needs to be in the middle to come alive. With it down, it feels muddy. I imagine that with a 2 tone/ 2 volume knob guitar there wouldn't be such a problems as I only have a 2VOL/1TONE at the moment.

I'm looking for Seymour Duncan (or even Dimarzio) passive pickups that can do the job. Feel free to help out.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Well... the time has come. Dimarzio Super Distortion for the bridge and a Dimarzio Transition for the neck. Will keep you guys posted. I believe I will keep the Seymour Duncan APH-2 set for another guitar in the future. Since I'm beginning (still trying) to learn how to solder, I will take it to my guitar tech once more. Really don't know what to expect of the Transition neck, it was recommended by the Dimarzio crew; but I know the Super D nails killer (classic) tones.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Yup, the Super D kills....
I’m curious to hear your thoughts in the Transition. I know nothing about it. I’m running a 36th Anny in the neck.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Wow, that went in a completely different direction. I hope your choice works out.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Yup, the Super D kills....
I’m curious to hear your thoughts in the Transition. I know nothing about it. I’m running a 36th Anny in the neck.

Wow, that went in a completely different direction. I hope your choice works out.

Hi everyone! Really anxious to try the guitar with my own hands!
Here's an update on everything!

My guitar tech Juankyman says the Dimarzio Super Distortion on this guitar is very ******* AMAZING, that it feels at home here. ''Chunky, thick, clear, creamy, loud, perfect attack, compression, and just right bass tightness'' are the words he used.

He said that the Dimarzio Transition neck feels like an improved Seymour Duncan 59': more bite, sizzle, singing tone, never muddy, good clean tones, but the bass could be tighter. He's not ''in love'' with the Transition, but he says it's right on my ballpark. I like my 59'nJ humbucker tone!

I'll update with my very own personal review as soon as I pickup the guitar and play it thru my rig. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
About the Slash set VS my actual pickup selection, he said the Slash are amazing pickups, but that this combination kills them in this guitar. As always, tone is subjective and every guitar, and player are different.

 

[OsvyRock]

My Own Review of the Dimarzio Super Distortion + DimarzioTransition neck combination

My Own Review of the Dimarzio Super Distortion + DimarzioTransition neck combination

The guitar is back in my possession.

Just turning on the Blackstar HT-40 (with the settings I had). HOLY MOLY! The Super Distortion gave me the real KISS tone, very powerful and cool indeed! Boston, Def Leppard rhythm tone, Judas Priest, etc. I could even nail early EVH tones! The Transition, well.... it was dark, very EMG like, lacked spark, sterile sounding, very bassy, dry... It ain't the best neck pickup I have ever played... A day later (today) I gave it tries thru my Marshall MG15CD and the Blackstar HT-40. The Transition has an amazing singing tone. Sounds more Slash than Slash with just the right push so the creamy sounds get out with punch not stuck. The Transition necks acts like a bridge pickup. It ain't a traditional sounding neck pickup, the leads are better than the ones in the Super D, it cleans up pretty well with the volume knob too, very good tracking too.

I believe this is a quite ''unbalanced'' combination. The Super D sounds amazing, but needs a more vintage pickup in the neck position. The Transition, well... maybe get paired with the Transition bridge? I know the Transition will part from this guitar one day into another, but I will not sell it. It definitely offers something. I'm actually thinking of using Super D for rhythm and riffs, Transition for solos and cleans; but both clean up pretty well.

The Duncan Custom SH-5 is definitely one of my favorite pickups and this one definitely keeps up with it. The SH-5 is darker with more thump in the bass, slightly less mids. The SD offers better cleans, but the SH-5 has better OD leads. Very interesting. I believe the case at least on this guitar will continue.

Please feel free to make future suggestions or ask any questions you may have!

 

[gregory]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

There are three DiMarzio medium output "Neck" pickups that I think would work very well in the bridge, but I haven't read anything by anybody who has tried them:

• Gravity Storm Neck
• Evolution Neck
• Transition Neck

...but if any sound like the LiquiFire in the bridge, I'll have to pass.

 

[gregory]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you're still searching for a neck pickup don't be afraid to get something with bass. There isn't much wood in that area.

The Breed Neck, Air Norton and 36th Anniversary Bridge would be my choices.

The Whole Lotta Humbucker Bridge model looks like it has potential, too.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

If you're still searching for a neck pickup don't be afraid to get something with bass. There isn't much wood in that area.

The Breed Neck, Air Norton and 36th Anniversary Bridge would be my choices.

The Whole Lotta Humbucker Bridge model looks like it has potential, too.

In this particular guitar, the neck position has a lot of BASS! Something like the Pearly Gates (I believe) would do good there. The APH-2 had bass, but the Transition bass beats it in a ''too much way''; and believe me I like bass! The 59'nJ is still my favorite neck humbucker.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Hello!
I'm once again in the search of the ideal neck pickup for my V. I feel the Transition neck pickup to be too tight, sterile, dark, bass heavy, and too modern to my ears.
I have been suggested a PAF Pro in the neck, but I have considered PAF 36th DP103, finding the old (original) DP103 or purchasing a PAF 59' from Dimarzio.

Which are your recommendations?

PS. This one will be my Dimarzio guitar, but I will be coming back to Duncan. Better selection for 24 3/4 guitars.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Without going all the way back to the beginning of this thread, I’ll suggest the. Bluesbucker.
I have a super D in my LP and HAD it paired with a 36th anny.
I found the 36 too bassy and undefined in the low registers, which probably isn’t all that uncommon in gainy rock tones...
Anyway, I swapped in a BBucket and I’m loving it! Very round sounding and p90-like. With high gain it’s still a bit tubby down low but I’m primarily using it for some lead tones and cleans.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Without going all the way back to the beginning of this thread, I’ll suggest the. Bluesbucker.
I have a super D in my LP and HAD it paired with a 36th anny.
I found the 36 too bassy and undefined in the low registers, which probably isn’t all that uncommon in gainy rock tones...
Anyway, I swapped in a BBucket and I’m loving it! Very round sounding and p90-like. With high gain it’s still a bit tubby down low but I’m primarily using it for some lead tones and cleans.

Thanks for your reply! You got straight to the point. I'm worried about excessive bass on the neck position. I believe I need more output than the APH-2, little less bass, and nothing ceramic for the neck again like the Transition. The Super Distortion will stay in the bridge, but I need a good companion for him a la SH-5/59 style. Some say the Transition is a PAF 36 on steroids. I want something more organic and vintage. The SD definitely has a classic vibe, and is not as hot as I imagined. Just right for me.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Gibson flying V- Gibson 500T, Black Winter, the mighty JB or its variants...the Skolnik sig set, Mustaine Thrash Factor
The Nazgul, and The Distortion Set

Any of these would excell in a Gibson Flying V

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What to put on my Gibson Flying V?

Gibson flying V- Gibson 500T, Black Winter, the mighty JB or its variants...the Skolnik sig set, Mustaine Thrash Factor
The Nazgul, and The Distortion Set

Any of these would excell in a Gibson Flying V

Thanks for the suggestions! Just need a neck humbucker that matches my Super Distortion (bridge) pickup. I never had the stock pickups on this guitar. It had a EMG 81/85 combination when I purchased it, but internal electronics were faulty. My tech suggested going passive for this guitar, so the Slash Alnico II set I had stored went in. After years installed, I decided I really needed something more fitting for my style of playing aka getting the distortion without any pedals, and going from clean to high gain tones at ease. The SD really fits the bill for me there, competing at ease with my JB & Duncan Custom fitted guitars. The thing is that I definitely had a bad neck pickup recommendation. The Transition ain't right for this guitar. Maybe a 25 1/2 scale Alder or Basswood guitar, just not this, and definitely not with a Super Distortion in the bridge. I believe my musical tone taste is somewhere in the 70's, 80's vibe.

As I wrote before, I will return to Seymour Duncan once I research pickups for my SG. I just want to "finish" my V with a permanent configuration. ��

My "WINNING" combinations are:
TB-4, STK-S7, STK-S6
SH-5 / 59'n

Maybe those could help people say in which "tone /pickup realm" I belong.