NPD Invader neck

[Clint 55]

It's insane. The 3 ceramic mags make it sound huge and warm, but it has grit too. Not precise like a full shred, but I'll use bridge position for that. Super impressed! I want to use 3 magnets for my bridge pickup. A C5/JB hybrid is in there right now.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Awesome! I love it! Reminds me of a Nightswan every time I see an HHx pup layout. Never tried it, always wanted to...

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Yeah! Thanks! It works well, you'd probably like it. I wanted to make a step up from the super simple set up of a bridge humbucker and volume only. The middle still balances volume wise like a neck pickup, but it bites more like a bridge pickup. I didn't want to have to worry about having to get the guitar to balance with a clean neck sound and rock bridge sound so I just made an all rock pickguard.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: NPD Invader neck

I know what you mean about having "vanilla" set ups, but simpler is better and only use what you need...
I sometimes throw in a Series/split/Parallel for more tonal options, which the way you describe the middle pickup in yours as opposed to being in the neck position, is somewhat akin to having an S/S/P switch in some respects..
What are you putting in the bridge, another Invader, or are you adding magnets to your Custom Hybrid?

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Well that's different!

 

[Mincer]

Re: NPD Invader neck

What an interesting pickup arrangement. How well do they blend?

 

[jeremy]

Re: NPD Invader neck

bad ass. bet it sounds huge

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

I know what you mean about having "vanilla" set ups, but simpler is better and only use what you need...
I sometimes throw in a Series/split/Parallel for more tonal options, which the way you describe the middle pickup in yours as opposed to being in the neck position, is somewhat akin to having an S/S/P switch in some respects..
What are you putting in the bridge, another Invader, or are you adding magnets to your Custom Hybrid?

Yes, I like using splits for versatility or for getting humbucker guitars to sound good in all positions. I decided to make an all rock pickguard for this one to incentivize myself outside my blues comfort zone. I have some 1/4" ceramic magnets on the way that I want to try to add to the JB/C5 hybrid. I also have a Distortion on the way that I want to try with the full Invader magnet set up. Gonna go for a bit more focused sound in the bridge at first but still want it to sound big. Really liking the Invader though!

Well that's different!

Thanks! I was going for a change between my usual sounds.

What an interesting pickup arrangement. How well do they blend?

I wired it for middle position to be kill. I wanted to keep the aesthetics of a simple set up kind of like the VH or Tom Delonge strats but with another "bridge" pickup.

bad ass. bet it sounds huge

Thanks. It sure does! I was really surprised with how good it sounds.

 

[daenius]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Oh man! If I had something with that layout I'll try to do 27 or 31 frets ahahahah

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Have you tried them in the opposite positions? I'm thinking the Invader might sound more full than the C5/JB in the bridge position AND the C5/JB might be a bit more crisp than the Invader in the middle position.

I have never played a guitar with a humbucker in the middle position but I suspect I might like it!

 

[jeremy]

Re: NPD Invader neck

if it was the bridge invader id agree with you but i think the neck model in the middle is a fine choice

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Oh man! If I had something with that layout I'll try to do 27 or 31 frets ahahahah

HA :knockedou

I have never played a guitar with a humbucker in the middle position but I suspect I might like it!

Yeah! It works well for a humbucker. I have another strat with a Phat Cat P90 in the middle and it likes that spot since neck can be bassy and bridge thin.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Either way, I really like this one a lot, and I'd love to hear it!
I'm going to try this sometime with this extra 1hum pickguard I have. I have two extra Bill/Becky L500XL shielded, so maybe I'll grab an L500L for the mid position. Maybe mess around with 250k pots and s/s/p switches and maybe an emg-pa2 preamp..
Might be more versatile if I went with an L500L bridge/ L500R middle.. Didn't mean to be thinking out loud here, but you inspired me. Thanks for sharing

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Nice, that sounds like it'd be heavy! Are you gonna rout the pickguard?

 

[Demanic]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Where did you order the spacer magnets from?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Yes, I'll most likely use a dremel with a sanding drum then finish it by hand. That's why I'm using this 1hum guard cause its half way there already. OK now I'm thinking about pole pieces, so maybe I'll use my Holdsworth and something with adj poles..what was your second choice?? I don't wanna copy you and do an Invader Neck. Haha but I might.
Did you make your own guard or is it aftermarket?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Where did you order the spacer magnets from?

Mojotone. So far I've only found ceramic in the 1/4 inch width. That would be cool if there are 1/4 wide alnico bar magnets. The sound of the pup loaded up with mags is awesome.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Yes, I'll most likely use a dremel with a sanding drum then finish it by hand. That's why I'm using this 1hum guard cause its half way there already. OK now I'm thinking about pole pieces, so maybe I'll use my Holdsworth and something with adj poles..what was your second choice?? I don't wanna copy you and do an Invader Neck. Haha but I might.
Did you make your own guard or is it aftermarket?

Ha. I don't care if you copy me. I tried freehanding pickguard routs before and they came out badly. I'd like to actually get proper jigs and bit for my router and be able to do it right, but haven't so far. I had warmoth make the pickguard. My second choice for pickups? I was scheming about the Demon in the middle and the bridge Invader in the bridge but I ordered the neck version by accident. It's awesome tho! Middle is going to be bassy anyways so it worked out well to have the bassy one in the middle and then still have a big but trebley bridge.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Just wondering about other choices because you obviously put some thought into this. I appreciate your insight, it already has me thinking, so I'm already well on my way. I did make a jig from a metal mounting ring and it works pretty good, i did that free hand stuff before and it takes too long haha.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: NPD Invader neck

Oh cool, good work on the jig. I have plenty of jazz and blues tone with my other guitars, and one of my other guitars is an hsh with a p90 in the middle and partial splits. So I wasn't worried about getting the pickups to blend, getting single coil sounds, and so on. I just took the punk or metal strat concept of 1 humbucker only, like the Tom Delonge strat or the Van Halen strat and added a middle for like an auxiliary bridge pickup. My first instinct was to put a humbucker with cut in the middle such as the full shred, demon, or parallel axis, and put the beast pickup like the Invader, Dimebucker, or Alt 8 in the bridge. Accidentally got the Invader neck but I'm lovin it. So I think I'm gonna keep that in the middle for my sludgy sound and then have the bridge for cut.