Invader Coil Split

[fretburner]

What's everyone's opinion on coil-splitting a Duncan Invader set?

I've read that the Invaders are great in parallel but seems to be mixed on coil-splits.

I'd like to know before I order a couple of push-pull pots.

It will be on a 2013 Gibson LP Special faded

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[Artie]

I've read that the Invaders are great in parallel but seems to be mixed on coil-splits.

I'm in that camp. They sound amazing, (like sweet old-school PAF's), in parallel. But I can't remember if I've ever split them.

 

[fretburner]

Almost all my LPs have PAF type neck pups... I'm hoping to get more of a hot single coil or even P90 vibe.

I guess coil splitting would be the way to go?

Since parallel is not going to do the SC or P90 thing?

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[Masta' C]

The Invader splits great, but Parallel is really nice, also.

Just depends if you want a surprisingly solid single-coil-ish tone (split) or something more humbucker-esque that eases off the output and clears up the stock sound a bit (parallel).

If you're leaning toward "P-90" tones, I'd recommend Parallel or the PRS-style "split" with resistors. A straight "split" might not have the output/push you want

 

[GuitarDoc]

What's everyone's opinion on coil-splitting a Duncan Invader set?

I've read that the Invaders are great in parallel but seems to be mixed on coil-splits.

I'd like to know before I order a couple of push-pull pots.

It will be on a 2013 Gibson LP Special faded

Sent from my 2201116PG using Tapatalk

You're going to need the p/p pots whether you decide to go parallel or split, so go ahead and order them. Then you can use them to switch between series and split, or series and parallel, or parallel and split...whichever sounds best to you.

 

[fretburner]

It took a while, but finally did it. So far so good. Full review coming up when I plug into my 50w and 100w amps.





Previous owner modified it from 3 knobs to 4 knobs, so I made the 2 Tone knobs push-pull to split the invaders.
Changed the "plain" wraparound bridge to a "lightning" bridge. I haven't intonated it yet since I might bring it to the luthier and change the worn out medium frets to jescar jumbos.

 

[Mincer]

Well, that certainly looks really cool, indeed.

 

[fretburner]

Well, that certainly looks really cool, indeed.

I'm thinking of having a pickguard made for it, kinda like this:

 

[Mincer]

i think I kinda like it without. I am a fan of plainer single cuts like that. I really loved the late 70s Firebrand LPs, and the 90s Smart Wood LPs.

 

[fretburner]

And... I actually have a spare LP std pickguard... What do you think?

 

[Mincer]

Nah.

 

[jeremy]

i could go either way

 

[fretburner]

I'm debating with myself if I should just order a LP special pickguard or just go with this standard pickguard.

I guess I can just use the 1 screw below the bridge pickup for the standard pickguard so I won't have to drill that 2nd hole if I decide later to go with the LP special pickguard? That drill hole will be covered if I go for the LP special later on. The standard pickup should be stable enough even if I just use that 1 screw.

 

[fretburner]

Brought out the drill and put on the pickguard using only 1 screw so it can be covered should I get an LP special pickguard later on.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, that's fine. Or you could have used double stick tape to avoid any possible rattle/vibration noise.

 

[fretburner]

Yeah, that's fine. Or you could have used double stick tape to avoid any possible rattle/vibration noise.

I was thinking of that, but... The pickguard actually pushes against the pickup rings, very snug fit... If it does rattle, I'd put some double sided tape under it

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[jeremy]

actually, i think i like that look

 

[fretburner]

Finally plugged into my Silver Jubilee and Dark Terror into a 1960 with V30xG12T-75 and I got 3 things:

1. Hits the front end almost as hard as active pickups, I can go old school metal chug on the jubilee
2. Massive low end. Just massive. Never had pickups with low end as much as these.
3. It's darker than most of my other pickups (no doubt an all-mahogany guitar has something to do with that) but it is "glassy" for a lack of a better word. I really can't describe it. It's got that metal "sludge" going on, but I can actually still hear the individual notes. And despite its massive lows, it does not drown the mids and highs. This pickup is a weird one.

Now, for the split tone...

I will describe it as somewhere between an SSL5 and P90. It's almost as fat-sounding as a P90, but does not quite have the mid range. It also does not have the same clarity as an SSL5. Despite my attempts, I couldn't get a strat nor tele single-coil tone from it.

It is a weird pickup. Probably the weirdest pickup I tried since the Alt8. It is in a league of its own.

And yes, it is a modern metal pickup. It's not going to be my choice for 80s metal and hard rock. Although, I wouldn't mind playing Metallica and Slayer on this.