Good pups for Epi Flying V?

[maxdave2010]

Hey guys,

I've got an Epiphone Flying V. I got it second hand, but I think it's a 67 model. Alder body, mahogony neck, rosewood fretboard. The stock pups are nice, but they lack that Duncan edge I put an old Invader in the bridge, but it's a bit... too much.

Seeing as the selector switch is very temperamental at times, I'll probably be giving the electronics a complete overhaul. So, any thoughts on replacement pups, for a good, all-round rock guitar? Something that can do it all, from AC/DC to Metallica, then sail back down to Santana and RHCP?

I'm thinking:
Bridge: SH-11 CustomCustom
Neck: SH-2 Jazz

Sound good for an alder/mahogony+rosewood guitar? Any other suggestions?

-Dave

[Aceman]

59's - all the way. The amp should provide more than enough gain!

A CC is probably not the answer. It's a very cool but very particular pup. Or - for something hotter go Jazz/JB.

[ErikH]

The Custom Custom can be a little hot for AC/DC type stuff. It's OK with low gain amps though. The CC/Jazz combo is cool, one of my favs and a combo I had used before for a long time.

However, like Aceman said, and I agree, the '59 set. That set can do it all. Your amp will dictate whether you can do Metallica stuff or not. The rest is covered easily.

[saladin]

Go with the 59's. I must say though I used an Epi V to record with a few years back and I put in a Dimarzio PAF Pro in the bridge and it kicked major booty, and I don't care for most Dimarzio's.

[TimmyPage]

Change the pickguard and get P90s *still has wet dreams about that one V...*

[Aceman]

Can't believe I forgot about those P-90 V's! They were awesome, and fairly easy to make! MAybe not the best for some of the more metal stuff though...

[frankencat]

I've got a Dean '79 V with a APHn and CCb and it's old school RocknRoll all the way! I love it.

[Aceman]

There is nothing "old school" about a Dean! But that CC is probably a Classic rock gem in there.

[TimmyPage]

Actually that 79 V he has is pretty hardcore...

Dude.. get it right.. and in that Dean V... 78/78!

[Sly_D]

I really must have strange ears, because to me there's nothing old school about the CC. The CC is a beast of its own that you like or hate (I hate it).

To me old school = 59b. Or to some extent, the Custom for harder rock.

The CC has a bizarre voice. First time I tried it, I'd been using the Super Distortion for years, followed by the Gibson Burstbucker #2. When I installed the CC, I thought: what is this thing????

Unfortunately, I think the same thing today. I prefer Epiphone's stock pickups to the CC. The Custom is so much better.

But this opinion comes from a guy who think that the best pickup ever created on hearth is the 59b

[gripweed]

I agree with Sly that the '59 is a great pickup and it would be my choice for that "V". Nothing will get you closer to the tones you want than the '59. If you *must* go hotter than the '59, try the C5. The great thing about the '59 is that it handles gain really nicely, so it can go from old to new school very easily. I would agree with your choice of the Jazz and it matches well with a '59.

[Lewguitar]

59's - all the way. The amp should provide more than enough gain!

A CC is probably not the answer. It's a very cool but very particular pup. Or - for something hotter go Jazz/JB.

I want to say 59's too.

Although there's lots of great choices.

I know 59's sound awesome in Gibson SG's and Explorers.

The Jazz/JB would be cool too.

So would the PGn/Custom...though I've never tried it in a Flying V...only in my Strats.

Lew

[BigDaddy]

59 neck, C5 bridge. Alder body? Are you sure?

Alder is a very warm sounding wood with a nice mellow midrange. I think a humbucker with the A5 magnet would bring out the highs it might lack and an A2 would be too compressed for the Alder body. That's why my choice would be a 59 and C5.

[maxdave2010]

Cheers for the advice guys, you've given me some helpful ideas.

The bridge pup is my main priority, and it's certainly the one that'll get the most use.

I think I'm leaning very much towards the SH-1 '59b at the moment, probably matched up with an SH-2 Jazz in the neck.

Listening to the 59 sample clip, it sounds like it's got a lot of high end. This is great for rhythm, but will this make it piercing when playing lead? Or will it remain well balanced?

I've mainly used ceramic magnet, high output pups in the past. Are these more piercing-highs-inclined than the 59?

Very inexperienced here, thanks for your help!

-Dave

[gripweed]

Cheers for the advice guys, you've given me some helpful ideas.

The bridge pup is my main priority, and it's certainly the one that'll get the most use.

I think I'm leaning very much towards the SH-1 '59b at the moment, probably matched up with an SH-2 Jazz in the neck.

Listening to the 59 sample clip, it sounds like it's got a lot of high end. This is great for rhythm, but will this make it piercing when playing lead? Or will it remain well balanced?

I've mainly used ceramic magnet, high output pups in the past. Are these more piercing-highs-inclined than the 59?

Very inexperienced here, thanks for your help!

-Dave

There is nothing piercing about the '59's high end. Ceramics (depending on how they're wound) will generally have more highs. The '59 is a great versatile humbucker. You can most certainly use it for lead or rhythm.

[paultelestrat]

i have an EPI V , '58 style , made with that LUAN and LIMBA wood .(looks like korina , but it's not). it was suggested to overhaul the electronics.so it got new pots , pups , switch , etc. i play classic rock and blues . my friend had an extra set of duncans laying around which he thought were seth lovers , so i was like cool ,i'll try'em. when i checked the ID #'s later , found out they are JAZZ's.took that V to my next practice and MAN was i surprised.i was quite impressed!!!! BTW , they're both JAZZ neck pups.this V rocks.

[gripweed]

i have an EPI V , '58 style , made with that LUAN and LIMBA wood .(looks like korina , but it's not). it was suggested to overhaul the electronics.so it got new pots , pups , switch , etc. i play classic rock and blues . my friend had an extra set of duncans laying around which he thought were seth lovers , so i was like cool ,i'll try'em. when i checked the ID #'s later , found out they are JAZZ's.took that V to my next practice and MAN was i surprised.i was quite impressed!!!! BTW , they're both JAZZ neck pups.this V rocks.

Umm... Limba is korina.

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/option..._bodywoods.cfm

[paultelestrat]

yeah , but it's just a veneer.not the whole body