Best middle pickup for HSH Invader setup?

DoctorPepper1886

New member
Hello!

I was looking into getting a HSH Stratocaster and swapping out the pickups in it. I want to go with Duncan Invaders in the Neck and Bridge, but I have no clue what to throw in the middle. Seymour Duncan's Pickup Finder recommends a Quarter Pound single coil, but it appears that the Invaders would overpower the single coil. I am thinking of wiring a switch to each Invader for Series/Split/Parallel, but I don't know if that will fix the potential issue. Is there any single coil/single coil humbucker that would fit the Invaders? I typically play rock, metal, and blues so that is a factor.

I am also a Steve Vai fan and was thinking of instead getting some DiMarzio Evolutions, I am pretty set on those Invaders, but if a HSH with them is almost impossible I may just pick up the DiMarzios

Thanks to whoever responds!
 
They make Invader single coils. What do you want to do with the middle pickup to begin with?
 
If you want it to keep up output wise you'd have to go with a super hot single coil size humbucker like the Duncan Hot Rails bridge or the Dmz Sugar Chackra. If you don't care out a volume imbalance or are gonna do switching to drop the output of the hums, then your options will open up. Let us know what sound you're going for. If you just want to match the hot hums in tone, or introduce some single coiley tone, or something else.
 
I want to go for a beasty, low end, endless tone machine to add some chunk and heft to some of that metal and rock I play. I am a big fan of the Strat 2/4 positions, and as stated, I plan to add a Series/Split/Parallel switch to each Invader to help calm them down, so that should free up some options.
 
I use a QuarterPound on my HSH that had Invaders for a while (switched to a StagMag/Jazz since). It worked pretty good. You have to make sure the pickup heights balance well. I also tried a JB Jr for a while and didn't like it.
 
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