So i have heard alot of hate for the invader... i am curious, i tried them on the synyster gates model in store and thought they had a bigger sound than most other pickups... why is that? im guessing they have alot of lower mids... anyway im just wondering why players like syn from avenged for example use them when they are many other options like the sh6 for leads... has anyone here spent time on the invaders? what do you guys think of them for lead, hows the neck pickup also?
Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
- Thread starter Chazzy
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VHTJay
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
It is the combination of the wind, the ceramic magnets and those pole pieces that give the Invader its signature sound. Like with any pickup, it really depends on what guitar you have it in and of course. ...your idea of great tone! You are right; the Invader does have a "big" sound....lots of lows and midrange.
My cousin has a Tom Delonge sig strat and I love it in there! Chunky, tight and fluid leads!! In an SG equipped guitar I tried....I didn't like it near as much; it could get a little muddy.
Overall, I actually liked the Invader more for leads than rhythm work; a punchy and fluid tone that feels great to play. On the flipside, I love the distortion for rythm work.
It is the combination of the wind, the ceramic magnets and those pole pieces that give the Invader its signature sound. Like with any pickup, it really depends on what guitar you have it in and of course. ...your idea of great tone! You are right; the Invader does have a "big" sound....lots of lows and midrange.
My cousin has a Tom Delonge sig strat and I love it in there! Chunky, tight and fluid leads!! In an SG equipped guitar I tried....I didn't like it near as much; it could get a little muddy.
Overall, I actually liked the Invader more for leads than rhythm work; a punchy and fluid tone that feels great to play. On the flipside, I love the distortion for rythm work.
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
interesting as syn from sevenfold has a thick ass mahogany guitar... the other thing tho is that his invader is probably built with some slight difference in custom shop and his amp is designed specifically for his guitar...
interesting as syn from sevenfold has a thick ass mahogany guitar... the other thing tho is that his invader is probably built with some slight difference in custom shop and his amp is designed specifically for his guitar...
Dahla
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Why would you say that? I don't understand the notion of everything has to be custom for it to work.
Why would you say that? I don't understand the notion of everything has to be custom for it to work.
Metalblaze
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
I agree with Mr VHTJay there. In my Warmoth Strat was exactly like that. Tight and heavy, with full tone and very nice highs. In my LTD MH-400 which has a small doublee cut mahogany body/with a thick maple top and maple/roseewood neck, I didn't like it. It lost its low end. It still had the same feel in the mids and highs, tight etc, but with a lot less lows. That guitar is more maple than mahogany so I guess it's expected to be like that...
I agree with Mr VHTJay there. In my Warmoth Strat was exactly like that. Tight and heavy, with full tone and very nice highs. In my LTD MH-400 which has a small doublee cut mahogany body/with a thick maple top and maple/roseewood neck, I didn't like it. It lost its low end. It still had the same feel in the mids and highs, tight etc, but with a lot less lows. That guitar is more maple than mahogany so I guess it's expected to be like that...
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Though I am an avid collector of vintage guitars loaded with era vintage pickups, the Strat that has been my main axe for decades, is loaded with an Invader in the bridge along with some vintage style SC's in the other positions to cover the more vintage tones. There's just something about the INVADER, sunk deep into the gtr. body and further away from the strings than most, that allows you to command control over any tube amp's front end and deliver a definitive lead and rhythm tone. Controllable feedback takes on a life of its own with this pickup. I'm not saying that if you slip in a bridge Invader you suddenly arrive at this near perfect place, but with a bit of effort, getting to know your tone, and with proper setup, a well placed Invader can be split, series, and paralleled, and be your best friend. Since I like vintage, and chose to put nice single coils in my middle & neck, I cannot comment on how it would sound in the neck, but given its mid & low-end response, I would think it might tend to be too big of a pickup for that position. I just like its EQ curve, and its ceramic attitude. Good luck!!
Though I am an avid collector of vintage guitars loaded with era vintage pickups, the Strat that has been my main axe for decades, is loaded with an Invader in the bridge along with some vintage style SC's in the other positions to cover the more vintage tones. There's just something about the INVADER, sunk deep into the gtr. body and further away from the strings than most, that allows you to command control over any tube amp's front end and deliver a definitive lead and rhythm tone. Controllable feedback takes on a life of its own with this pickup. I'm not saying that if you slip in a bridge Invader you suddenly arrive at this near perfect place, but with a bit of effort, getting to know your tone, and with proper setup, a well placed Invader can be split, series, and paralleled, and be your best friend. Since I like vintage, and chose to put nice single coils in my middle & neck, I cannot comment on how it would sound in the neck, but given its mid & low-end response, I would think it might tend to be too big of a pickup for that position. I just like its EQ curve, and its ceramic attitude. Good luck!!
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DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
No one designs an amp for a specific guitar. It may be that he uses pedals or other external gear (like maybe EQ) to shape his tone. While it's a romantic notion to think everyone gets their best possible tone with just guitar->amp, the reality is simply not that simple. Even live, unless you're 5 feet from the cab, you're probably not hearing the cab, but what's been done to it after it's miked and routed through the P.A.
Where's that pic of the guy in front of a stack of Mesa 4x12 facades but his guitar is running through a miked 2x12 combo backstage?
Then there's the all-important individual player's tone; just because you have his sig model axe and the same amp doesn't mean you have his attack and phrasing.
No one designs an amp for a specific guitar. It may be that he uses pedals or other external gear (like maybe EQ) to shape his tone. While it's a romantic notion to think everyone gets their best possible tone with just guitar->amp, the reality is simply not that simple. Even live, unless you're 5 feet from the cab, you're probably not hearing the cab, but what's been done to it after it's miked and routed through the P.A.
Where's that pic of the guy in front of a stack of Mesa 4x12 facades but his guitar is running through a miked 2x12 combo backstage?
Then there's the all-important individual player's tone; just because you have his sig model axe and the same amp doesn't mean you have his attack and phrasing.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
No reason to believe this is true at all. Sure its possible but there is no indicator that it is so. I think your head would explode at how many albums have been recorded with gear that is stock and off the shelf. Gear that many around here would describe as "junk"
You would also probably be amazed at what a good engineer can do to a tone. No one would remember VH1 tone if it wasnt for Ted Templemann
No reason to believe this is true at all. Sure its possible but there is no indicator that it is so. I think your head would explode at how many albums have been recorded with gear that is stock and off the shelf. Gear that many around here would describe as "junk"
You would also probably be amazed at what a good engineer can do to a tone. No one would remember VH1 tone if it wasnt for Ted Templemann
RStabler
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
I have seen Children of Bodom many times. I really wish Roope Latvala would learn this trick.
The lead(Alexi) runs through a single 4x12 in the middle of the stage and rhythm(Roope) runs through 6 4x12s on the right. If you're standing to the right, it is all you hear. It's quite annoying.
I have seen Children of Bodom many times. I really wish Roope Latvala would learn this trick.
The lead(Alexi) runs through a single 4x12 in the middle of the stage and rhythm(Roope) runs through 6 4x12s on the right. If you're standing to the right, it is all you hear. It's quite annoying.
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Well cmon... were talking about avenged sevenfold here... lead guitarist has got cash to burn, and his hellwin amp is designed specifically with his tone and for his guitar... its likely seymour sends him custom invaders with maybe a sharper high end of something...
Well cmon... were talking about avenged sevenfold here... lead guitarist has got cash to burn, and his hellwin amp is designed specifically with his tone and for his guitar... its likely seymour sends him custom invaders with maybe a sharper high end of something...
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
It is not likely... Bigger names use off the shelf pickups. Just cause someone has spare cash doesnt mean they are blowing it on pups. The hellwin amp supposedly was based on his favorite amp tones... not specifically for his guitar.
In short... its a pure endorsement amp... its not something that was used on the great early recordings. Dont fall for the endorsement hype dont believe that you need custom gear to get good tones.
It is not likely... Bigger names use off the shelf pickups. Just cause someone has spare cash doesnt mean they are blowing it on pups. The hellwin amp supposedly was based on his favorite amp tones... not specifically for his guitar.
In short... its a pure endorsement amp... its not something that was used on the great early recordings. Dont fall for the endorsement hype dont believe that you need custom gear to get good tones.
Swyse
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Here
I'm not sure what having cash has to do with his gear. A lot of players use stock les pauls with stock pickups through stock Marshalls as an example. I don't understand why he would use a custom invader and a custom amp. Additionally if you're speaking about his tone on albums, artists commonly use whatever they can get their hands on to get great sound in the studio, many artists use vintage/boutique instruments and amps in the studio and play their actual signature equipment live. I think it is much more likely he gets his sharper high end somewhere other than a custom invader that is different than what he endorses, surely he doesn't plug his guitar straight into a hellwin amp?
Here
I'm not sure what having cash has to do with his gear. A lot of players use stock les pauls with stock pickups through stock Marshalls as an example. I don't understand why he would use a custom invader and a custom amp. Additionally if you're speaking about his tone on albums, artists commonly use whatever they can get their hands on to get great sound in the studio, many artists use vintage/boutique instruments and amps in the studio and play their actual signature equipment live. I think it is much more likely he gets his sharper high end somewhere other than a custom invader that is different than what he endorses, surely he doesn't plug his guitar straight into a hellwin amp?
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
No he normally uses a bogner from what i can tell, especially during the marshall days, i dont think he actually used them... but why use an invader at all? thats what i dont get, alot of you guys said its great in a strat, but hes using them is a monster slab of mahogany...
No he normally uses a bogner from what i can tell, especially during the marshall days, i dont think he actually used them... but why use an invader at all? thats what i dont get, alot of you guys said its great in a strat, but hes using them is a monster slab of mahogany...
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Well look, im interested in all pickups, not too long ago i posted about having some issues with my bareknuckle nailbombs... in alnico 5, i wanted more output and a sharper tone. im playing in drop D now so i will prob get the brighter tone im after, should i sell my bkps and just buy some invaders? or maybe change the magnet in bkps for ceramic to get them sharper and slightly high output sounding.
Well look, im interested in all pickups, not too long ago i posted about having some issues with my bareknuckle nailbombs... in alnico 5, i wanted more output and a sharper tone. im playing in drop D now so i will prob get the brighter tone im after, should i sell my bkps and just buy some invaders? or maybe change the magnet in bkps for ceramic to get them sharper and slightly high output sounding.
Gibson 1964
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
If you want sharper, run from the invader. The alnico nailbomb is brighter. There are other pickups that are probably better for a similar tone to a nailbomb. I have found the invader to be bassy and somewhat wooly in my guitars. If a BKP nailbomb is too dark, the invader will most likely be worse.
If you want sharper, run from the invader. The alnico nailbomb is brighter. There are other pickups that are probably better for a similar tone to a nailbomb. I have found the invader to be bassy and somewhat wooly in my guitars. If a BKP nailbomb is too dark, the invader will most likely be worse.
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Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
Yea, but the nailbomb was too dark in drop C... ive since changed tunings and am in Drop D... Could i do a avenged sevenfold style sound on the nailbomb? i wont need the sound often just for a few covers my bandmates want to do...
Yea, but the nailbomb was too dark in drop C... ive since changed tunings and am in Drop D... Could i do a avenged sevenfold style sound on the nailbomb? i wont need the sound often just for a few covers my bandmates want to do...
Gibson 1964
New member
Re: Invader pickups... why do lead players use them?
IME, too dark in drop C is going to be too dark in Drop D. A whole step is not that huge. You have a guitar with a nailbomb in it, right? Try and see if you can do an avenged sevenfold style sound with it? Duplicating someone's gear in no way indicates you will sound a thing like them.
IME, too dark in drop C is going to be too dark in Drop D. A whole step is not that huge. You have a guitar with a nailbomb in it, right? Try and see if you can do an avenged sevenfold style sound with it? Duplicating someone's gear in no way indicates you will sound a thing like them.
