Pick up suggestions for a V

[Gar]

I have a Gibson Flying V on it's way and I am already thinking of changing the pick ups. I don't usually do this as I try to buy guitars for different functions but this one is similar to another guitar I already have, an explorer with the 498/500 pickups.

I have another explorer with BB2+3 in which I love, I have an LP and SG both with 61R&T which I like. I have a Trini Lopez with BB Pros which are good and a Non Reverse FB with Mini FB pickups which I love.

I was thinking of changing them to something with covers, like the T Type, or something uncovered like the Dirty Fingers to make it different from the explorer.

I'd like to change to Gibson pick ups because of brand loyalty, snobbery, trying to keep things somewhat stock and really just to narrow down as there's a whole world of PUs. EMGs are a thought though.

I had some 57 classics, and 490s in the past, wasn't keen on the 57 in an LP so much.

Any others, custom buckers?

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks,

Gar

 

[Filthypussybreaker]

Neck : PAF
Bridge : bill Lawrence xl-500
Dimebag style

This one had a sh13 dimebucker…kv2t from Jackson usa

 

[Deftone]

Tried a few in mine and hated them, then I tried the EMG 81/85 and it's awesome.

 

[dspelman]

It really depends on what you're going to use it for, of course.

I have no brand loyalty whatsoever.

I like the Suhr Aldrich pickups (the bridge pickup especially, the neck pickup less so). Very mid-rangy and very forward in any mix.

The DiMarzio Super Distortion was never on my radar until a couple of years ago when I picked up an Agile AL-2000 Floyd with one of those in the bridge position (the Sustainer driver is currently in the neck position, but I think that's going to be modified). Kicks butt.

I have two guitars that I love that have *hot* 57's (about 9.2 Kohm, but you have to sift through a bunch to find one) in the bridge position and a DiMarzio Fast Track II in the neck position. The FT II is a very hot (18Kohm) single coil size humbucker that was intended for the bridge position of a superstrat. In the neck position (there's a single-coil size sustainer driver sharing the pickup ring with it), it's about three times the volume of the '57 in the bridge, but is a startlingly good lead pickup. Once you're used to the volume differential, you'll find yourself doing some soaring lead work with it, and it has some serious punch for rhythm as well. Very crispy.

And finally, I have a V that had Invaders in it when I got it. Did not appreciate them. I pulled them and put Tom Anderson pickups in there instead, and I'm much happier with the result.

 

[Side Burns]

Neck : PAF
Bridge : bill Lawrence xl-500
Dimebag style

This one had a sh13 dimebucker…kv2t from Jackson usa

I have an Bill Lawrence Wilde L-500XL and a Dimebucker

 

[NotScott]

If you are into Schenker and his tones, Dean offers his signature pickups (DMT Lights Out) for $79 each. I have had them in my V for a few years now and have never considered swapping them for anything else.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=833721317559768

 

[Neffco]

P 90s!

 

[v-man]

The stockers are good in the V and despite having the same in the Explorer, may sound different in a useful way in the V. It doesn’t make much sense buying a set before you give a solid week or two.

Given the various Vs I have owned, I used BBs, 57s, TTops, Bill Lawrence, EMGs and P-Rails, aside from the 496/500s. my experience with 490s in the neck of the LP is such that I would never want to mess with them again (though they could sound differently in another guitar and I actually like the 498T in the LP).

 

[jbash]

It depends-

If I'm going for 70s hard rock, ala Schenker, Andy Powell*, KK Downing, etc- I'm going with late patent #/T tops types.

if I'm going for a 50s V tone and more of a blues/60s rock vibe, I'd go with some sort of brighter/clearer A2 PAF- BK Stormy Mondays, WT Legends, etc.

For heavier stuff (NWOBHM+) I've had good luck with Dimarzio Super Ds, and the Duncan Custom and Custom 5 (though to tame brightness, I stuck with 300K pots with the Duncans)

But it all depends on the individual guitar. If the guitar is very bright, the short mag A5s may be a bad choice. Likewise, if it's warm naturally without much clarity a SuperD may be mud.


* I'm aware he later put real PAFs in his 67 V for more power, but they were just as bright as the Late pat#s in the guitar originally.

 

[mdubya]

Wolfetone Marshallheads - I would contact Wolfe, personally, to get his direct recommendation.

Rewind - @cooljuk makes a couple of different VH flavored pickups. That is what I would want in a V or an Explorer. Same deal, I would contact James diredtly and go with his personal recommendation.

Score a set of real T-Tops.

JMHO.

 

[plexipaul]

SD `59 set ended my search (classic rock Jimi, A.Powell, M.Schenker).

 

[wmachine]

FWIW, A few years ago, I bought a new 2015 Gibson V. Made for the Japanese market. Came with 57 Classics and I fully expected to swap pups when I got it. Was amazed how good they sounded in the V, so they stayed. I swear 57 Classics are chameleons that adapt to what you put them in. I have them in various Gibsons and they sound different but good in everything I have them in.