The Ultimate Tom Delonge Pickup Shootout (X2N, Invader, Dirty Fingers)

[@camaroj42]

Maybe it's my crappy speakers but I really like the sound of the invader neck pickup.

[@tf2156]

I was thinking the same thing but even with headphones i like it. Thinking about getting it for my next strat build haha

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

I want two custom single-pickup guitars sharing the same Invader set down the road; not as many pickups have adjustable poles let alone for both sides or really any that big, but it allows you to get a similar volume between each part of all strings instead of a fixed radius pickup or pole pieces placed in a permanent position.

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Definitely sounds like he had a neck pickup in there.

[@jikemenkins7098]

Dude, seriously SERIOUSLY good video! HIGH EFFORT! Can't thank you enough for your troubles.

[@DeweyJHall1]

The Invader Neck wins for me. It has that twang and note clarity that all those old school Tom Riffs had. Stay together for the kids, sounded perfect with neck invader also. Tom's tone is not as distorted as people think, and when you played those riffs on that Neck Invader, they sound perfect! Well done!

[@RobertAragonIsGhxst]

Definitely that one rocked

[@roflgrenz]

Hey mate, awesome comparisons. I wanted to listen to any pickup side by side so I made some shortcuts for ya. To anyone this helps: You're welcome :) Cleans: 2:31 Detonator 3:02 X2N 3:35 Invader (Bridge) 4:04 Invader (Neck) 4:34 Gibson Dirty Fingers Distortion: 5:07 Duncan Designed Detonator 5:25 X2N 5:49 Invader (bridge) 6:07 Invader (neck) 6:25 Dirty Fingers After Midnight (with distortion) 6:46 Detonator 7:05 X2N 7:29 Invader (bridge) 7:52 Invader (neck) 8:13 Dirty Fingers Going away to college (distortion) 8:36 Detonator 9:01 X2N 9:24 Invader (bridge) 9:47 Invader (neck) 10:12 Dirty Fingers Not Now (distorted) 10:37 Detonator 10:59 X2N 11:21 Invader (bridge) 11:43 Invader (neck) 12:05 Dirty Fingers The Adventure (distorted) 12:31 detonator 12:56 x2n 13:21 invader bridge 13:46 invader neck 14:14 dirty fingers Enthused (distorted) 14:43 detonator 15:01 x2n 15:19 invader bridge 15:37 invader neck 15:56 dirty fingers All Systems Go 16:17 detonator 16:40 x2n 17:01 invader bridge 17:24 invader neck 17:47 dirty fingers Dysentary Gary 18:12 detonator 18:35 x2n 19:03 invader bridge 19:25 invader neck 19:54 dirty fingers Wasting Time 20:23 detonator 20:45 x2n 21:10 invader bridge 21:36 invader neck 22:01 dirty fingers Up ALL NIGHT 22:26 detonator 22:40 x2n 22:54 invader bridge 23:07 invader neck 23:20 dirty fingers DAMMIT 23:41 detonator 24:03 x2n 24:24 invader bridge 24:44 invader neck 25:05 dirty fingers

[@andy_182]

Fuck man thx

[@TylerLL2112]

Damn, here take this gold. 🏅

[@roflgrenz]

@@andy_182 XD

[@roflgrenz]

@@TylerLL2112 O ty :D

[@lone-wolf-1]

Thanks man!👌🏼

[@gunsandguitars6678]

holy s*** dude you went through a lot of work, thanks for the comparisons ☆

[@immattbailey]

I know right ! I’m thinking wonder how long this took him haha and to change the pick up etc

[@djprofessx]

I really loved how the neck invader sounded. It completely surprised me with how much fuller it sounded than the bridge invader that I’ve been so accustomed to. It also sounded closer to the Dirty Fingers, in my opinion. I loved them all. In fact, this has now made me want to purchase the Dimarzio X2N and put it on one of my strats. I have the bridge Invader, Dirty Fingers, and I’ve had the Duncan design detonator in the past on a Squier TD strat. It’s definitely a sleeper because of its reputation of it being installed in the Squier, but it kicks! And it still can pull off the blink sound with absolutely no problem at all. I would have to say, my top pick was what caught me off guard. The Seymour Duncan Invader neck humbucker is the winner in this shoot out, for me. I’m definitely going to purchase one thanks to your trial. Thanks for doing this. Truly amazing comparison!

[@300atThermopylae]

The neck invader would have a lower output than the bridge which accounts for that "fuller" sound you're hearing. The higher output pick-ups are more compressed and you get a tighter sound but less dynamics than you do with a lower power pick-up. It will also diminish the pick-attack sound and, to my ears, makes fast playing sound a little more fluid. With a lower power pick-up, you get a more open pick-attack sound and can make fast playing sound a little more . . . rushed (?) for want of a better term. Steve Vai, pre-Ibanez, played an X2N and his current Evolution pick-ups are also high output. Joe Satriani's Fred pick-up was vintage to medium powered but his signature pick-ups have been creeping up in power as his playing/tastes mature/change. Interestingly, Billy Gibbons, Angus Young and Eddie Van Halen all use a low to medium power pick-up which was contrary to what I thought when I first started digging into this stuff . . . and Eddie's tremolo picking sounds nothing if not fluid so it just goes to show that the most important part of your sound is your fingers! I hope this helps some of you zero in on a pick-up based on what you're looking for and maybe saves you some money and soldering time! Enjoy the hunt!

[@diddyfaplord]

The neck does not sound fuller lol

[@Ron4president09]

@@diddyfaplord Mr faplord gets it!!! 😂

[@IKBroski4]

neck invader is perfecr for blink. Dirty fingers was better for AvA

[@pagonel]

yeah, that's the most blin-y one. other preferences are restlees metalheds - where detonator rocks imo

[@nickgames7120]

I prefer the bridge pickup

[@nickgames7120]

Never mind I changed my mind

[@nickgames7120]

Ok my mind changed back

[@nickgames7120]

I can’t make up my mind help meeeeeeeeee

[@evanage]

seymour duncan invader neck 4:04 6:06 7:51 9:47 11:43 13:46 15:37 17:25 19:26 21:36 23:07 24:45

[@connorohalloran9225]

I thought the Gibson dirty fingers really shined on most of the stuff. seemed a little more versatile.

[@daftdoggo7662]

Came for Tom, stayed for the permanent Waves shirt

[@littleredguitars2]

atta boy

[@chrisday5341]

The neck invader sounded really good. Less gain at times but very round and unique sounding. I dug it! Great video man!

[@ezgregory7794]

Neck invader sounds more like the original recordings.

[@ericcoombs]

This makes me wanna trade out my bridge invader for a neck invader

[@asdoriangui]

didn't know about the neck invader! what a surprise! i actually have the bridge version on my replica... that's why it never sounded the same to me! guess i'll have to get the neck version now......

[@davidmiranda7937]

I assume he used the neck invader for note clarity on his fast single note parts. Plus his tone started to be way less gainy in that era. So this all makes sense. Also he probably wanted the bottom end intact with the neck pickup

[@himynameis77]

Wow the neck invader really nails it along with the dirty fingers 👌🏻

[@JBGoode-zx7pp]

These two. Mystery solved.

[@NickSelfridge]

The neck invader actually added a nice twang that sounded more like Tom’s sound especially with dammit since it’s a single note riff. It stood out best to me (Edit) I just tried putting a neck invader in a strat build…cool twangy tone but too single coily especially for Blink 😬 I stand corrected, I prefer the bridge invader

[@kylezalewski8948]

I definitely agree. I'm not even sure if he recorded TOYPAJ with that guitar, or if it had that pickup in it, but there's a twang to the sound on that record that I've never been able to replicate with the Detonator. The neck Invader has it.

[@michaelcarey9359]

@@kylezalewski8948 That's because the neck Invader pickup has a widdy-biddy cap inbetween the coils that stops the neck from getting too muddy, while letting through the nice high end. The high end sound is party from the 25.5" scale, which is something the Gibso sig does not have. I didn't even know the Squire had a Detonator... they only sell Fenders at the stores I try out guitars at.

[@andy_182]

@@kylezalewski8948 The reason it has a twang is cuz he layered humbuckers with single coils

[@kristianjohnsen7995]

@@michaelcarey9359 Some squier strats has the detonator. It sounds allright for blink songs. In studio I’m pretty sure Tom used Les pauls with humbuckers for most of the big sounding guitars, and single coiled strats and tele’s for the single note riffs.

[@floppacaps]

@@kylezalewski8948 a lot of TOYPAJ was on a tele lowkey

[@alexhiggin]

I gotta say I liked both the X2N and the Invader Bridge. The X2N had a lotta chunk but the Invader retained clarity through high gain a bit better. As for the neck invader, I’m surprised so many people like it. It sounds a bit too brittle to me regardless of if the Fender TD strats used them. EDIT: Opinions change. This is a two year old comment and as much as I still love my X2N I’m really taking a liking to the neck invader here. Lotta twang, reminds me of Enema and Take Off.

[@Nomad_za]

Thanks for the video! The Invader neck sounds the closest to the studio versions, but I can hear the other pickups fit in on the live shows, if that makes sense.

[@thinkingjack]

My friend bought the fender signature back in 2002 and when he dropped it and broke the pick guard I helped him install the replacement it was a neck position on his also. I only remember because he called fender and bitched about it and they replied saying it was the correct pickup just like toms guitar

[@eliascisneros5461]

I just put a dirty fingers humbucker on the bridge and a Seymour Duncan invader SH-8n neck pick up on my SG SPECIAL

[@jus10_lee]

The Neck Invader sounded closer to Tom's tone than the Bridge Invader imo. What's crazy is that Tom may not have even used his Strats with the Invaders on Enema or TOYPAJ. He's said before that he would just use Jerry Finn's guitars. I think overall the Dirty Fingers sounded the most well rounded.

[@raybbaby]

It's not that crazy. The equipment used while recording is rarely what performers are using on tour and at TV performances. Those big endorsements are for raising "brand visibility" and that's about it.

[@freeman2511]

yeah Tom used les pauls on like half of the enema songs.

[@Lucasarrillius]

Justin Lee you’re right on with that, he used les Paul’s in recording and very well probably used the neck pick up for a lot for the cleaner parts. His signature strats were jut love instruments for the most part

[@Bpags868]

The Strat + Mesa was just his live sound. I don't think that combo ever appeared on any of their albums. The tone on those two albums sounds more like Les Paul + Marshall to me.

[@jus10_lee]

Brian Paglia he definitely used the rectifier and a marshal on the albums too. He said it himself in an interview. The guitars varied though.

[@basilio182]

The Neck Invader sounded to me like TOYPAJ, Box Car Racer and Enema Of The State era :O!

[@jayz6008]

Man . As a teenager I remember seeing this Squier on musicians friend catalog and thinking how it would be grew to have. I totally forgot about it and seeing it again in your video made me feel nostalgic .

[@alexvaneeckhout]

Nice demo! My choices based on the examples with amp breakup. No cleans. #1 Dirty Fingers My all around favorite. I think the Dirty Fingers sounded balanced and open. I feel it would be the most versatile. #2 Invader (Neck) When it's in a mild crunch, it has kind of a jangle sound. Single note riffs on the A and D strings with high gain sounded mean! #3 Invader (Bridge) Good beef to it. More Low-Mids than the Dirty Fingers or Dimarzio. #4 Detonator Sounded similar to Invader (Bridge) except not as open sounding? #5 Dimarzio X2N When hearing the examples of this pickup right after hearing the beefy Detonator, I thought "thin" sounding, but that's probably not fair to say. Maybe, I'd say that it's not as muddy as the Detonator. It might cut through the mix more than the Detonator. CLEANS I'm a fan of single coils when it comes to cleans, so I don't really have an opinion on the cleans on any of the examples. Just the ones with amp breakup. Also, I love how you're playing a hardtail Strat! I have the Dirty Fingers (bridge humbucker)/Pearly Gates (Neck humbucker) in a Strat and it's my favorite setup. At a moderate/high gain, I get a nice woody tone with the Dirty Fingers without being too muddy. It kind of "sings" as it responds to your playing. Clean, ehhh, I don't prefer it. Usually go to Pearly Gates or combination (middle position) and I'll be contempt. I also have the Fender Delonge model, but didn't realize about it being a neck pickup. Just assumed that that was the bridge. After hearing the two Invaders, I went, "Huh, so that's the difference. Neat!" Thanks for taking the time to make this demo!

[@CaringClover]

This is basically what I was gonna say, but much smarter

[@DiedrichKnickerbocker1783]

D Activator X is a better pickup than X2N in my opinion. As for this demo I would say SD Invader (neck) is clearly the winner.

[@tylerl8934]

The neck invader and x2n killed everything.

[@duosonic391]

Agree completely with both

[@a.siphrodias2867]

Totally agree. Although I really liked the bridge Invader on certain parts as well!

[@DetroitLionsDynasty]

fake news. bridge invader is way better

[@DetroitLionsDynasty]

Fake news

[@jonathananthony1901]

I know its been said.... but WOW that Invader bridge nails Tom's tone closer than i ever expected!

[@noahcarroll6934]

After listening to this, I’m pretty sure my Tom Delonge strat has the neck invader, but I’m curious to go double check

[@9unslin9er]

I'm usually a DiMarzio guy. but the X2N sounds horrendous.

[@obsoletetv2737]

I think he used the Dimarzio X2N for Stay together for the kids, it sounds too perfect.

[@mercatorjubio3804]

Up ALL NIGHT 22:26 detonator 22:40 x2n 22:54 invader bridge 23:07 invader neck 23:20 dirty fingers

[@punkgrl325]

I'm blown away by how well the neck Invader handled these riffs. The X2N was a bit too muddy on the lows and harsh on the highs. It's tone was also a bit thinner compared to the others. The Dirty Fingers got a bit too bright for my liking on the higher notes, but overall, I think it was the clearest, and while the Detonator and bridge Invader were overall very similar, the Invader was a little more clearer and louder. However, they both got a bit muddy on the lower single notes (wasting time is where this really showed). The only one that really compensated for all these flaws was the neck Invader. Not only does it already have the thick, solid tone of the Detonator and bridge Invader, but because it's the neck, it's still significantly clearer and cleaner than both, and isn't overly bright or harsh. Dirty Fingers would probably be second for overall playing, with the bridge Invader coming in third for the signature Tom tone. For the best of both worlds though, the neck Invader wins it for me. That being said, crazy props on this video. It must have been annoying constantly swapping the pickups in and out, but man, it was definitely worth it!

[@jaychen2000metal]

Surprised how clean the x2n sounded. It's a fire breathing dragon, supposedly

[@lilstjimmy]

You can't go wrong with the fat tones of the bridge invader imo. The dirty fingers and x2n are also both great!

[@SP-xy7yh]

I have my Fender Tom DeLonge Strat registered with Fender, and the service diagrams do indeed say it’s an SH-8n (neck) Invader. It makes a lot of sense, because the overdrives and distortions sound a lot more polished than the bridge version, which sounds too damn harsh for pop punk.

[@fdre3wsd]

bon2yan88 I have a bridger too, oh well works for me

[@Ron4president09]

They all bridge pickups this has been debunked like 800 times

[@DetroitLionsDynasty]

could have been a misprint in the booklet though, why don't you see what is actually in your guitar

[@Ron4president09]

@@DetroitLionsDynasty he made the comment 4 years ago and never followed up, clearly talking outa his @$$. They were all built with bridge pickups (which for the record sound excellent) and can absolutly be used to play pop punk, ever heard of rolling back the volume lol works wonders

[@JPCommenting]

They are bridge pickups. To get that sounds that you see in the video all you have to do is volume down your guitar a bit. 90% of the tone in that pickup is simply your volume knob, the other 10 (given that you don't have your "tone" / High pass filters linked,) should be the way you play.

[@JorisGriffioen]

I think a lot of people are comparing the sound of one guitar with a full mix. The extra highs in the neck Invader are covered by the cymbals on the record. The bridge Invader sounds much more like the actual guitar parts of those records, especially the amount of compression it creates. Either way: great video dude, thanks!

[@Chugs4Serotonin]

To me, the neck invader sounds like it has more mid-range along with more high-end, and less low-end than the bridge invader. So even if the high-end gets covered up, the mids would still stand out

[@andy_182]

Josh Martin which one sounded more identical to the records

[@Chugs4Serotonin]

@@andy_182 to me, the neck invader, but it's close. Run the neck invader, and add just a little low end from the amp to make up for the lack of low end the neck version has so it has a little more "omph". The bridge version is pretty scooped, so you'd have to compensate by adding mids. I think you could easily get by with either version. The bridge version just has a little too much bite. Sorry for the super late reply. Just saw this comment.

[@Chugs4Serotonin]

@@andy_182 I also REALLY like the X2N, but it also has a little too much bite like the bridge Invader.

[@andy_182]

@@Chugs4Serotonin Hey man thanks for getting back to me, after comparing my TD fender, to a neck invader in a different strat, I strongly believe the Bridge invader, will get you closer, if used with the right amps obviously. Im running through BiaSFx2 and i can get a Damn identical sound

[@wiseguy9202]

I thought the Dirty Fingers was the most clear with a good balance of lows and highs. That's my pick.

[@nathanbartlett5284]

DiMarzio is very clean... very nice. Well done video

[@BC_J0MBI]

I know this video is a little old , but i always come back to reference it. Any way i can get your general Clean and distorted amp settings? ball park would be fine. i just cant seem to get the enema, boxcar, TOYPAJ cleans mainly.

[@AdamStephenTaylor]

dirty fingers, closest to studio, invader neck, closest to live

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

maybe he got the idea of kurt cobain putting a 59n in the vandalism strat

[@DevStepTV]

Tom used a single coil neck pickup for recording some toypaj songs

[@kmw5100]

Interestingly enough, the detonator sounded pretty cool on the after midnight bit.

[@JordanBMR]

Surprisingly the the best all around one is the detonator. X2n is my least favorite, it sounds too muddy on the high end. It’s like the X2n is trying too hard.

[@poppunkloser]

Brother how are you doing? lately i've struggling with the invader height from the strings, what's the distance you'd recommend? Thanks a lot =)

[@lucapisconti]

Invader Neck is my next pickup for my Stratocaster. Invader Bridge is too hard and with many bass frequences, Tom sound of years 1999/2001 it was so clear and clean even if he played so distorted!

[@rdavid3848]

Thanks for doing all that work. Your playing is amazing. I liked the Gibson Dirty Fingers the best. It had the big beef and some midrange definition I liked. The Duncan Invader bridge gets second place.

[@jeanpaulconvers5385]

Thanks for this beautiful work. Great video . The Dirty Fingers is a wild pickup, a real alive thing !

[@emilholmgrenmusic]

It's weird how the Invader neck pickup sounds MORE aggressive than the bridge pickup, I prefer it to the bridge one by a country mile. It sounds more open and bitey. I'll still go with the Dirty Fingers as I have them on one of my Les Pauls 😉

[@nickwilkinson429]

Mine would be 1) Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge 2) Dimarzio X2N 3) Gibson Dirty Fingers

[@skummtoons6686]

Thanks for the video post. A lot of time went into doing this. I picked up a TDL Squier black strat for $70.00 with the DD detonator. This thing sounds great and plays like butter. I got lucky on finding this one. It's on my profile pic. Thanks again 👍👍.

[@3lackwoodmusic]

Would love to hear this shootout with the guitars double tracked and panned L&R. Dirty fingers was awesome for power chords, I think invader had it for lead lines and single note stuff.

[@garethallison5915]

Invader neck and Gibson Dirty Fingers both sounded legit to my ears. 👍

[@antoniolopez6798]

Hello friend ... LIKE ... Excuse me ... I want to put the "Dirty Fingers" pickups on my guitar ... and I have seen many forums that rave about these pickups ... But I saw one that talks that they are too loud and not very defined, and that they can only work in a large tube amplifier so that they sound good ... My amplifiers are some hybrids and others digital (30W) ... Are they as noisy as that guy says in the forum that is complain so much or are they okay? I already bought them and I am about to put them (or sell them) ... THANK YOU and LIKE

[@dennisavila317]

What recording software do you use? (Like that rush shirt btw)

[@rowlandstraylight]

This was a very interesting comparison. Best is difficult. The neck Invader nails the Tom Delonge sound, but I'd keep the dirty fingers if I were playing a more varied rock repertoire, and the X2N for a more more metal tastes. Hot DiMarzios are all about the pinch harmonics and I find that I have to do less EQ recording with them to get them to sit in the mix, and they cut through everything else live much better, but tend to not sound as impressive unaccompanied or in a three piece. That said I sold the guitar I owned with an X2N in, although I do regularly record a guitar with one in and on a Floyd equipped guitar it is a squealing monster from hell. Cutting but much thicker than the dime sound associated with a similarly styled blade humbucker. I had a bridge Invader in my Squier strat in my late teens and early 20s. It was a brutal monster that crushed all subtlety. I had it paired with a Gotoh Hotrail in the neck which was the only thing that I could find to match the insane output. It sounded so Dave Murray (Iron Maiden). I switched to an X2N for a while in search of a bit more clarity before going back to a more stratty sound with some STK1s. Whilst my taste moved on from Blink 182 in the years between teenage me finding pre-enema imports in the one independent record store my corner of small town England had to offer, I did find a few combinations over the years that nailed the sound and bought back waves of nostalgia. My stage guitar 2004 to 08 was a deArmond (briefly another fender cheap brand with a neck that felt very Squier strat) M55 with a GFS crusader pickup. It did that sound better than my strat ever did. The surprise results was a iron gear steam hammer that I tried briefly in my Ibanez SIR70FD. Ok, it's a big pole piece away from the hammerhead which is IronGear's take on the Invader style but it's quite a bit brighter, although the mahogany Ibanez is quite dark sounding. I didn't keep the iron gear pickup, as I was after something tighter opting for the Dimarzio/IBZ in the end.

[@Haetni]

For my Taste...: 1. Invader 2. Dirty Fingers 3. Detonator

[@nicolasgarza2001]

GREAT VIDEO!! I really liked the neck invader also.... You solved my questions on building a Strat. Keep at it!

[@krystofzobacek9206]

SUPER video ;-) I like Dimarzio X2N.

[@as17ns22]

Cool video. I think a key thing to remember here though is that a number of different guitars would be used on studio recordings, along with different amps and settings. There is definitely a "tone" of his that is common on a number of the records, but it is hard to pinpoint exactly what that is.

[@draleigh8881]

invader neck all day x2n is second

[@M3Besh]

Alot more clarity with that neck pickup. I'm guessing brighter eq and lower output are responsible. Consequently, guitar companies don't like to use bright pickups in the bridge positions and naturally, users push for higher output even when it may ruin articulation.

[@snapascrew]

I’m (sort of) friends with toms equipment manager and he verified Tom used the bridge invader only. Any neck invaders sent out on signature models is all on fender and it’s unknown why

[@whoohaaXL]

I wound up ordering the chinese-made clone invaders after hearing way too many good reviews about them. Got a bridge and a neck pickup set for $20 shipped. I'm thinking that it was going to be a waste, and that I'd have a neck Invader clone sitting around for no reason, but honestly I think I'm using that in my build. I really liked the twang it had during the clean and the rounded balls during distortion! Nails Toms sound. I'll put the bridge in one of my many Ibanez RGs. One of the lead guitarists, well they're both lead guitarists, from the band Strung Out, has a purple body / black bobbin bridge Invader in his LTD horizon. For anyone who doesn't know Strung Out, Tom's white sticker guitar had a sticker for them on it, and they are probably the most Metal of all punk bands. Putting it in an Ibanez RG with a mahogany body is just going to be Metal all day long, which I love. 🤘😈🤘

[@djalexander4099]

I dug the dimarzio

[@larrysentelle1244]

First, thank you for all of the work you did to make this shootout possible, you did an excellent job! I've been using Invaders since the late 80's/ I stull own a hot rodded Charvell...One Invader in the bridge position wired to a 500K potentiometer, san the treble bleed resistor. Tom may put his name on the design but, I've been playing a guitar set up like this since Tom was a kid! LOL Had to buy. I own a 2002 black model. You want the Invader or any high output pickup to reallly scream? Find a potentiometer whose value is 2 Meg ohm. You think the stock set up rocks hard? Try this! You won't have much taper left on the volume control but, you will make a good tube amp sound like it is going to explode! For Punk/Metal/Hardcore it'ss my go to. This beast, a coup[le of sweet OD pedals and a tube half stack, and if you can't find a great heavy tone, give up, surrender! I like both the neck PUP and the Bridge Invader, both tones are very useful/ The 1988 Invader in my Charvell and the 2022 Invader sound extremely different. The 1988 version is more tonally round than the PUP which came in the 2002 Delonge, the mids are much more forward. The 2002 Invader (the 1988 and 2002 are both Bridge models) sounds scooped. The 2002 Fender Delonge has a Big, phatt, punchy low end, crystal clear highs. The two guitars make great partners in the studio. The Delonge Strat is a one-trick-pony, yeah but, it does what it does beter than any other guitar. I abhor active PUPs. I thought the GIbson Dirty fIngers sounded really sweet, maybe for a nice SG.

[@AdamStephenTaylor]

If you ever have a conversation with that guy who bought the yellow duo-sonic, can you ask him about the pickup please so we can put this thing to bed. I hear elements of both in the live recordings around 2000-2001 and I can't quite decide which he is using... The bridge has a resonant peak at 5k, the neck has it at 8k and when I play around with a parametric equalizer I definitiely hear a sort of nasily bump that souds like the the mark tom and travis tone around 7-8k. At this point it wouldn't surpise me if he was using both, but for specific songs or if he had some custom wired version that splits the difference between the two.

[@zachparker1901]

The invader neck and the dirty fingers are my favorite

[@pepitoflanders]

Dude ! Amazing video i love the way that the dirty fingers and invader neck pickup sounds !

[@tommypayne]

It’s between the two Seymour Duncan Invaders or the Gibson Dirty Fingers for me 🤷🏻‍♂️ but overall I think the G.D.F just pips it 🎸🏆

[@bmxmeadows]

i wanna hear the invader in your es-335. thats the setup he used for Box Car Racer i believe, it was his red es-335 that he had it in. i may be wrong lol

[@eighthnotes]

BTOWNTV you're correct. I put an invader in my Sheraton for that reason. Such an odd mashup..very different tone

[@lauriekosmiski82]

I've upgraded dozens of ES335 style guitars with an Invader in the bridge and a P90 in the neck... blues for ages... middle position is swampy...

[@dodjiegarcia2320]

Dirty Fingers sounds more Green Day. (Runs and hides.)

[@christopherstorrier5560]

Wow ,a foam green Tom Delonge...but they don't exist though my m8 has one....his Strat started of with a silver knob then somehow became black chrome & yes i did see another black tele style knob...& what is that knob ? A modern flat headed Tele knob...this is the guy that said it's blue....THAT'S NOT BLUE BUD...EYETEST AT SPECSAVERS...Seafoam Green

[@jamescassidy4045]

Hey brother, I'm doing a T>D Squier build, and having trouble finding a good bridge. I ordered a MIM one, but it ended up being to big, and I'm pretty sure it didn't have the right screw holes. Can you recommend a good USA bridge that will fit? It's a Squier Affinity, 2014 or somewhere around there. Cheers bro!

[@AdamStephenTaylor]

Aye, Fender's Service schedule lists the neck as the pickup... wonder if Tom's custom shop models had that config.. Certainly sounds like the Live sound.. I also thought it was less gainy than I got out of my invader bridge - never could get the sweet cleans, now I know why

[@clintstevens6218]

I'm listening through very high quality speakers and I think, all-around, the Invader Bridge comes off the best here, at least through your setup and without hearing your tone in a full mix. I would easily rank the Invader Neck as second because, while it didn't knock my socks off, its thinner stand-alone tone still sounded plenty Invader-ish and would probably sit great in a proper mix. The Dirty Fingers and X2N tie for third because both worked well on some parts, yet sounded a bit terrible on others. The Detonator is definitely last here. It ultimately sounded rather subdued and generic, which is surprising since I've heard it sound great in the right guitar!

[@the_nondrive_side]

Invader neck through this video was by far the best... It had the cutting tone you need in a mix the rest had nicer bass but... Tom plays with a Band.

[@AkiraSpectrum]

Very cool video concept! I think I agree with your rating overall. The Invader and Dirty Fingers had the low end power but also the high end presence that I associate with Tom. The X2N was actually really good too. The Detonator sounds like a pretty decent stock pickup, but seems to suffer from what I see in a lot of overseas bridge pickups: a lack of high end richness/presence/chime. The Invader neck sounded pretty cool but didn't give me the impression that it naturally fit into Tom's tonal characteristics.

[@John-wr3yy]

I guess that if you want that sound of the Invader Neck pickup , but you already bought the Bridge pickup, you could achieve this sound by swapping your Pot to a 1meg

[@wipperwils2111]

What I can say that surprised me most was that the frickin stock Duncan Designed unit was great, different but not inferior. In most tracks the beat the dirty fingers IMHO.

[@mspeedm5849]

Dirty fingers nails it on Dammit and the neck invader bridge pos seems damn close on most others esp D-Gary I wonder though if the neck invader has been modded ( internal cap swap) Those pickups always have that inline cap reducing the lows on 1 coil

[@underpressureman]

so did your blue fender tom delonge signature come with a neck or a bridge invader? Theres people saying that thiers had the neck pickup, but in your tom dellonge pickup shootout you didnt mentin what yours came with. You were saying you thought maybe it was a mistake so does that imply yours did come with a bridge version?

[@orangegoblin2162]

In my opinion from best to worst... 1. S.D. Invader Bridge 2. Dirty Fingers 3. Duncan Designed 4. S.D. Invader Neck 5. DiMarzio

[@littleredguitars2]

Yeah I had high hopes for the dimarzio but it didn't work out this time around

[@oscar18034]

surprised people are praising the neck invader. i can’t stand it compared with the bridge version.

[@michaelpaulaguilar9741]

I prefred the Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge. I was listening trying to figure out what tone i liked best. I wasn't trying to compare it to Tom's sound or the recordings.

[@wiraadimas]

the ivanders bridge is very amazing sound, because he using the metal pickups with the strat haha

[@xhumblebragx]

but i prefer neck invader better that bridge

[@xlilxillx]

they all sound pretty much the same except the neck invader which has a noticeable annoying treble resonance

[@Big_Theft_Auto]

Yeah i made my mind now and also will go for the neck invader on my bridge as so Manu others. Also I must say this probably IS the best comparision video on youtube!

[@ryanwyatt8733]

Dirty fingers,invader neck,dimarzio, the others..

[@daffy7588]

Bro sick video I subbed - this is everything I was looking for in one video for some binge gear watching ! I wanna grab a squire model but also wanna mod a nice mexi and put probs dirty finger in it Orr invader with maybe two in a HH Setup could bring. Some dope tones too hmmmmm

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍🇺🇸❤Dimarzio & Gibson

[@kmarkusaurelius]

Great video! It was really hard to pick a favorite. I know it would be a ton more work, but I was curious if you've considered putting these pickups in your 335 to see what difference the semi-hollow body makes?

[@gabfuentebella4791]

The neck invader sounds alot brighter than the rest

[@laurenceburbank2998]

I have the same exact guitar made in indo China same color with same exact pickup but duncan designed exact same as the 2 seymore duncan invadersetas I bought for another guitar!. Greatguitar!

[@RobertAragonIsGhxst]

I hope i get 2 see them live b4 they retire. I just wish ut was like the old days $20 for entry n getting in the mosh pit skanking my heart out like the skank bunny i am. Punk rock till death

[@lollihorse]

First of all, thank you for all the work you put into this video! Excellent!!! I've been looking to replace the single humbucker in my strat, along with some other mods. I have to say, I didn't find much difference between the detonator, invader bridge and x2n, although I think they're all great for their intended purpose. I was pleasantly surprised at the sound of the invader neck. To my ears the note definition was much better and sounded more classic rockish if that makes sense. It's exactly what i'm looking for.

[@stephenrussick719]

A lot of people thought that Tom used the neck invader, but it was mainly at the time that he was blending the mid range of a Mesa with the high end of a jcm 800 instead of the pickup deal.

[@scottdockrill]

For STFTK the neck Invader seemed to sound exactly like the tone he acheived; though, it's hard to tell unless Jerry Finn was here to tell us exactly the signal path and amps he used as well as room size and cabs etc. The DiMarzio definitely brought the Dude Ranch flavor. I think it's like guitars and tools, there are always specific jobs for each and to sell them would be a shame. I'd be more apt to find some used guitar pieces and build some guitars to put them in.

[@RobertAragonIsGhxst]

I was wondering if i change my pickups on my squier is it worth buying an American made to get that full body and better wood or not

[@ismaelo182]

X2N was my favorite