Pleasant gear surprises??

[Dave Locher]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but I was expecting the Seymour Duncan Invader bridge to be a barely contained sludge machine.
Instead, it's a very strong pickup with solid definition and lots of everything across the EQ range. It sounds absolutely fantastic.

I won't call it versatile, jazzy or a jack of all trades, but it's good at what it does and it's a one trick pony that learned a couple more, so to speak.

Now I want to try an Invader. Dang you!
What pickups can you compare it to so I have a frame of reference?

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

Almost all my guitars have been pleasant surprises.. :laugh2:

But mostly my $200 (shipped from China) Chinese "Grote" semi-hollow..

My expections were'nt too high..I just wanted a semi-hollow to try that was cheap & did'nt look like it was designed in the 1920's .. :laugh2:



But when this landed up it:

a) Looked incredible (that's a real 'tiger maple' cap on top as I noticed when swapping pup's)
b) Played like a dream out of the box & really sounds super sweet with a pup swap..



Also, my AXL Badwater LP copy that I bought new on ebay for $150 a few years ago ...another killer axe that plays/always played like butter & looks great too. Coppery/bronze pick-guard/bridge/tone-knobs/tuners/jack-plate etc. Lovely tone... I have'nt done a thing to it since I got it..not even adjusted the pickup height :laugh2:

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

But mostly my $200 (shipped from China) Chinese "Scrote" semi-hollow..

Fixed.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

Go play your Bender ..uh-h ..Fender :laugh2:

 

[Diego]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

Now I want to try an Invader. Dang you!
What pickups can you compare it to so I have a frame of reference?

Well, it replaced a JB on my guitar. The JB was very focused and crunchy in the upper midrange, with a very balanced bass and treble response. None overbearing.
The Invader has waaay more bass, the mids are much thicker and pushed, with a hint more sizzle in the high-end. And it's way hotter as well.

It doesn't have the JB's upper mids response though. There's no doubt in my mind that the JB would have been easier to sit in a mix, because in comparison it sounded thinner and more focused.
But it sounded a bit too stock and "meh" in this guitar. I mean, I've had a JB for over 10 years, so I was quite bored with it to be honest. I'll make the Invader work.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Pleasant gear surprises??

Well, it replaced a JB on my guitar. The JB was very focused and crunchy in the upper midrange, with a very balanced bass and treble response. None overbearing.
The Invader has waaay more bass, the mids are much thicker and pushed, with a hint more sizzle in the high-end. And it's way hotter as well.

It doesn't have the JB's upper mids response though. There's no doubt in my mind that the JB would have been easier to sit in a mix, because in comparison it sounded thinner and more focused.
But it sounded a bit too stock and "meh" in this guitar. I mean, I've had a JB for over 10 years, so I was quite bored with it to be honest. I'll make the Invader work.

Yep, still want one. Thick and bassy and hot is my thang. And I also find the JB thin and polite.