new pickups for a Flying V

Churst · #1 (**permalink**) 22nd July 2008 , 01:41 AM

I've recently acquired a mid 90's Epiphone Flying V from ebay for £90 and then had it fixed for another £90...

the pickups on it sounds like sh**!!! really muddy and far too bass heavy... I'm used to playing a strat, but I've heard much better results from guitars of a similar value and period!

does anyone have any suggestions for a set of non-active humbuckers in the region of £150?

Ian B · #2 (**permalink**) 22nd July 2008 , 07:21 AM

Hi,

I've just got a cheap'n'cheerful (and I mean cheap) V copy and it plays so well I decided to upgrade the pups. I had a set of Swineshead Condors on a seldom used guitar so decided to try these on the V. A big mistake, as good as these pups are, I ended up with much the same problem as you have, they were too bottom heavy and they just didn't have the character of the stock pups, so back they went.

This is most likely down to the cut price way the V has been put together not the Condors, as they were fine in the other guitar. Swineshead do a range of great hand made pups, well within your price range Swineshead Pickups - Guitar pickups that offer you something different The exotic wood surround models look great (my Condors are in Zebrano wood)

Another option would be Irongear pups Guitar Pickups UK - IronGear Pickups - About Us I've got a pair of Steamhammers on another guitar and they are truly excellent, especially considering the price, £22.95 when bought direct.

I've also got pups from Guitar Fetish on another guitar GFS Pickups and they are great. The exchange rate atm means these are a total steal, and the delivery was very fast.

I'm just throwing these names forward as different options to the better known brands out there, but the service and general v.f.m from each company was great. Before ordering, I asked each whether my choice of pup would be suitable for the guitar I was upgrading and the gave honest advice. In one case they suggested a cheaper pup as being more suitable, which was nice to hear.

Ian

JAYDMF · #3 (**permalink**) 22nd July 2008 , 11:35 AM

My advice is to get a Seymour Duncan JB for the neck and something with rails like the Dimebucker for the bridge if you wanna keep some balls to the sound but have some nice highs either that or get a duncan distortion to slap in there, they sound pretty damn nice but arent that bass heavy. Probably best to rewire the whole thing with new pots if your going to do it as the stock wiring in epis is generally crap

Churst · #4 (**permalink**) 22nd July 2008 , 01:03 PM

yeah the wiring is a pile of crap! I was planning a full re-wire of the electrics anyway.

Those IronGear p'ups look great for the price and I may just get a set and see how they do, just because they are so cheap!!

I've used Seymour Duncan before, and must say I love it. I've got Hot Rails in the bridge of my Mexican Strat and gave it some real balls! But I'm not sure whether rails would be the way to go for the V.

I'm not looking for something with a super hot output either, I use a Line6 Spider II amp and noticed it has this really bad distorted sound if I play a really hot guitar through it... I suppose it's one of the problems of playing with digital amps.

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#1 (permalink) 22nd July 2008 , 01:41 AM
Churst Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Staines, UK Posts: 66	new pickups for a Flying V I've recently acquired a mid 90's Epiphone Flying V from ebay for £90 and then had it fixed for another £90... the pickups on it sounds like sh**!!! really muddy and far too bass heavy... I'm used to playing a strat, but I've heard much better results from guitars of a similar value and period! does anyone have any suggestions for a set of non-active humbuckers in the region of £150?
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#2 (permalink) 22nd July 2008 , 07:21 AM
Ian B Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 134	Hi, I've just got a cheap'n'cheerful (and I mean cheap) V copy and it plays so well I decided to upgrade the pups. I had a set of Swineshead Condors on a seldom used guitar so decided to try these on the V. A big mistake, as good as these pups are, I ended up with much the same problem as you have, they were too bottom heavy and they just didn't have the character of the stock pups, so back they went. This is most likely down to the cut price way the V has been put together not the Condors, as they were fine in the other guitar. Swineshead do a range of great hand made pups, well within your price range Swineshead Pickups - Guitar pickups that offer you something different The exotic wood surround models look great (my Condors are in Zebrano wood) Another option would be Irongear pups Guitar Pickups UK - IronGear Pickups - About Us I've got a pair of Steamhammers on another guitar and they are truly excellent, especially considering the price, £22.95 when bought direct. I've also got pups from Guitar Fetish on another guitar GFS Pickups and they are great. The exchange rate atm means these are a total steal, and the delivery was very fast. I'm just throwing these names forward as different options to the better known brands out there, but the service and general v.f.m from each company was great. Before ordering, I asked each whether my choice of pup would be suitable for the guitar I was upgrading and the gave honest advice. In one case they suggested a cheaper pup as being more suitable, which was nice to hear. Ian
Offline	Last edited by Ian B; 22nd July 2008 at 07:23 AM. . <

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#3 (permalink) 22nd July 2008 , 11:35 AM
JAYDMF Hell-Rider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucester Posts: 931	My advice is to get a Seymour Duncan JB for the neck and something with rails like the Dimebucker for the bridge if you wanna keep some balls to the sound but have some nice highs either that or get a duncan distortion to slap in there, they sound pretty damn nice but arent that bass heavy. Probably best to rewire the whole thing with new pots if your going to do it as the stock wiring in epis is generally crap
Offline

#4 (permalink) 22nd July 2008 , 01:03 PM
Churst Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Staines, UK Posts: 66	yeah the wiring is a pile of crap! I was planning a full re-wire of the electrics anyway. Those IronGear p'ups look great for the price and I may just get a set and see how they do, just because they are so cheap!! I've used Seymour Duncan before, and must say I love it. I've got Hot Rails in the bridge of my Mexican Strat and gave it some real balls! But I'm not sure whether rails would be the way to go for the V. I'm not looking for something with a super hot output either, I use a Line6 Spider II amp and noticed it has this really bad distorted sound if I play a really hot guitar through it... I suppose it's one of the problems of playing with digital amps.
Offline