Distorting my invader...

[A Skater]

Okay, there's something I wanna find out. All the guitars I've had have had the normal humbucker(Epiphone Junior's Humbucker, Fat Strat humbucker). I loved the tone I had on my Fat Strat. I recently threw in a Duncan invader to replace my humbucker, and I can't get the tone I wanted. I distort it, and I wanted to get the "Dammit" Tone from the song, I've heard it live from a SD Invader and it sounded awesome(When Tom Played it) Here's my Q:

1. Why is it less loud than my old setup?(I have to play at higher levels)
2. Why is it harder to distort?(I have to crank up my DS-2 to a high 3 o'clock)

Could it be how it is wired?

 

[joelap]

Re: Distorting my invader...

Okay, there's something I wanna find out. All the guitars I've had have had the normal humbucker(Epiphone Junior's Humbucker, Fat Strat humbucker). I loved the tone I had on my Fat Strat. I recently threw in a Duncan invader to replace my humbucker, and I can't get the tone I wanted. I distort it, and I wanted to get the "Dammit" Tone from the song, I've heard it live from a SD Invader and it sounded awesome(When Tom Played it) Here's my Q:

1. Why is it less loud than my old setup?(I have to play at higher levels)
2. Why is it harder to distort?(I have to crank up my DS-2 to a high 3 o'clock)

Could it be how it is wired?

I'd adjust the height of the pickup. Try bringing it closer to the strings.

What amp are you playing through?

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Distorting my invader...

from my experience... Make sure all your solders are solid. Also something tells me it might be installed in parallel instead of series... I had that problem when I installed my first hotrails into my ol jay turser. Try reversing the ground and hot leads.
dan

 

[Forbes]

Re: Distorting my invader...

Sounds like its not installed correctly, or maybe too far from strings, it should distort easily, be pretty damn loud and sound fat. The dammit sound is very easy for me to nail with my invader loaded RG, so maybe it isnt fitted properly. I get the same with my encore, the humbucker just doesnt sound like a humbucker should, it sounds weak (i replaced it myself), but i just can't be bothered to go back and try to fix it as its barely used.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Distorting my invader...

Red and white soldered together and taped. Green and bare to the back of a pot and black to the switch/volume pot as the case may be.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Distorting my invader...

Architect's right, unless you're using your stock singles in combination with the Invader, then it would be: red and white solder together and taped off, shield and black to the back of the pot (ground) and green to switch. make sure all of your solder joints look shiny and smooth and that all of your pots and switch contacts are in good working order.

 

[A Skater]

Re: Distorting my invader...

:smack: The pickup was installed by my local shop guy, but as mentioned....I think it might be the placement. I noticed that the humbucker was too in...I'll try to get pictures of it soon. Anyways, it's a fat strat going through a DS-2 Pedal to a Fender Frontman(25W). I have to go talk to the local.


EDIT: I Recorded a little something with Sound Recorder, and here's how it sounds:

DISTORTED

CLEAN

 

[Forbes]

Re: Distorting my invader...

eww eww ewwww, mate no offense, but that is 100% opposite to what i get from my invader, i could NEVER make my invader sound that thin, i don't know what your problem is, but it must surely be with the installation, and i doubt its the placement, because that is a million miles away from the fat invader tone i love, i feel for you man, but all i can think of is take it back to the shop and explain the issue, and hope its a simple wiering problem.

Don't worry, this is an awesome pickup when you get it fixed, and you will nail that dammit tone easily!

 

[Davey]

Re: Distorting my invader...

does the shop guy have more experience with wireing dimarzio pups? if thats the issue it's wired as a single coil with the 2nd one grounded.

take it to an experienced duncan user/tech and then adjust the height yourself.

fret the stings at the last fret, then adjust the heights of the pup so it's 1-2mm lower than the strings, then fine tune it so you get the sound you want.. but first get the wireing sorted.