So I decided I hate my Invader.

[flipside]

OK, to make a long story short, i heard my guitar cranked through a huge church system yesterday and i was very disapointed with the tone. It sounded WAY to fizzly and gainy without enough definition and the bass presence wasn't all that spectacular either. The guitar I am playing is home made, and while it could be my poor craftsmanship (I actually thought i put the guitar together rather well) i'm thinking that the Invader just doesn't suit my tastes. My guitar is an alder body with a maple neck, and rosewood fretboard, and i'm looking for a pickup that can put out heavy rock, but that stays clear and articulate. Could anybody recommend me a replacement or something i could do to tame my Invader. Thanks guys.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

do not hate something which wasn't conceived to serve your needs. you might read elsewhere that the Invader has some menacing bass response at hi gain settings- this is a justified opinion, provided your setup complement what the Invader churns out.

i've not read pleasing remarks about the Invader in alder units, IMO they work better in mahogany/ ash guitars to fully exploit the inherent definition of these wood types. (my Invader is in my Ibanez S540- mahogany). in any case, you'd do well to check out the Distortion/ Custom Custom.

 

[flipside]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

do you or anyone have any experience with the Custom 5. I was looking at the SD tone chart and it looked appealing.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

the Custom 5 is in my Gibson SG (bridge)- it handles crunchy tones very well (AC/DC etc...). although it was conceived to handle the more restrained gain settings, it handles high gain superbly. the C5 cleans up splendidly with the volume knob rolled off.

 

[flipside]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

I have an epiphone les paul that a really dig the tone from, but i wanted a second guitar, so i decided to make my own. That since my les paul is mahogany which is a dark sounding wood, i would get an Invader which is a dark sounding pickup and put it in an alder body. That was my theory, i'm starting to think that it is the A5 magnets in the les paul that i really like. I've heard that the JB is really bright, which would be my other option, and logic would suggest that a bright pup in a bright guitar wouldn't sound great, so that leaves the Custom 5.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

i own the JB too- the pickup otherwise known as the midrange king but it's a little over-blown IMO, i hear lots of lower-midrange which reinforces the lower freq response- thick but not muddy.

if you think the C5 will do you good, do consider the CC which has more midrange definition but nothing too overpowering.

 

[flipside]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

i've never really considered the CC because of its A2 magnet, and the fact that it says its EQ is something like 3/7/7, whereas the C5 is 6/3/8 or something, which appeals a little more. Are those descriptions accurate?

 

[bloodswords]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

after years of Duncan experience, i deem the tone chart only 50% useful in my needs assessment. a less powerful magnet does not necessarily equate dud performance at high gain settings. i play black metal mostly & the CC (in my SZ320) handles insane distortion with ease + it does fine for my fusion needs.

if you still need some beefy bottom end, Duncan's Custom model might just be it.

 

[flipside]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

i think i should definately look into the CC at least. But one thing i hate more than anything is a mushy bottom end at high gain. I have toyd with the Custom idea but i have suspicions that the Ceramic magnet is what is responsible for that fizzly sound i hate, then again the Custom isn't wound near as hot as the Invader is. Another problem is a lot of the time you can't try out replacement pickups in a guitar before you buy them. Especially all at the same time.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

agree- i didn't try them either, just bought them & like them- was lucky most of the time i guess. the only one i didn't quite like was the '59...

i see that you're trying to avoid the ceramic magnet, well my last take on your situation here would be the Screamin' Demon humbucker- A5 magnet. i own one, residing in my Ibanez RG1550 right now, wouldn't swap it for anything else.

 

[flipside]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

thanks for all your help

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

The tone chart for the custom custom is the most misleading of all the pickups. This is not a bright pickup by any means. It is dark, thick, and articulate. It does have a spongey bass response because of the A2 magnet, but the bass is definitely there and the highs are nicely rolled off. It is a more vintage sounding medium-high output pickup, but sounds really thick with tons of lowmids. It retains clarity under any level of distortion, and I think should suit you better than the Custom 5 which you may find to be lacking mids.
I'd say get the custom custom then if you really do want to tweak further you can just swap the magnet for a ceramic or A5. Realistically any of the customs should do well for you.

 

[Natman]

Re: So I decided I hate my Invader.

Hey all, I'm a bit late on this topic, but I want to point out that many things will not wound the same through a massive PA for example. The variables of live playing are many, and room, mix, soundman, etc. all play a role. I don't trust them any farther than I can throuw them. I can't use reverb at my church because there's too much of it in the room. An actual distortion pedal (not OD) sounds better than tube drive for this particular application too, that was a surprise too. Anyway, I plan to modify my Invaders if I don't love them. I have an assortment of magnets coming and I may try hybridizing and or rewinding them until I'm happy. Just a thought...