My new (to me) G&L Invader XL Tribute

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/jwebsmall/PICT1050.jpg

Somebody traded in this Invader Tribute and I grabbed it.
(I think it is okay to post used guitar prices? If it is I'll
post the price I paid - it was a steal.)

The finish is gun smoke metallic and the head stock is black.
(I don't see this color on the G&L web site under finish options.)
The maple neck has a nice flame to it - very pretty. The
fingerboard is a nice piece of rosewood.

The mini toggle splits the neck pickup only.
When combined with the bridge humbucker
it has a bit of a strat #4 position quack particularly
when playing up the neck. The neck alone split is
probably not very useful. (The USA
Invader's toggle splits both pickups.)
The bridge humbucker can get a little bit
of twang which surprised me.

The bridge is the saddle locking bridge like on the ASAT Special.

This was made in Korea (I think 2005? This model is no longer listed
on the G&L site - all Invaders are USA only now.)

The neck nut width is 1 11/16".

I have been planning on eventually ordering a USA ASAT (not sure which model).
But I wanted to have some playing time on the wider
neck to see how I liked. I also wanted to have some playing time on
the saddle lock bridge to see how I liked that.

Perhaps Craig knows if the pickups in this Invader are the same as the
USA model. I guess not because the USA are Seymour Duncan. I wonder
if these pickups are what is in the Tribute ASAT Deluxe.

I like the humbucking tones when you need that fat sound with
distortion. But I think I still prefer single coils. Somehow the humbuckers
sound like I have cotton wads in my ears particularly the neck pu.

I've only been home about 30 minutes and this is growing on me quick.
It feels really substantial. But when I A/B to my USA legacy there is
a difference in weight and the solid feel. The USA legacy feels even
more substantial but the tribute is much better than most other
brands out there.

I had never considered the invader before but I really like
this form factor. I had gone to look/listen to the ASATs
and knew they had this guitar with the wider neck. Since
I was considering ordering my next USA G&L with a 1 11/16"
neck I wanted to give this guitar a test drive. It was so
nice (and inexpensive I bought it - that was not my intention
however.)

The saddle locking bridge is really nice because I can rest my right hand
on it while playing without detuning it like a trem.

These pickups sound good but I wonder if the Seymour Duncans would
be a noticeable improvement. I played the USA ASAT special and it
was very impressive but I not yet ready to order because I still
don't know which one I want and neck size, etc..

I don't know - the longer I play this the more I like it.
I saw an Invader on ebay with active EMG's (Music Farm? I
forget). For some songs - there's nothing quite like
the EMG. But without the screaming distortion they are
kind of sterile sounding (i.e. beyond cotton).

I think I may end up with a USA invader one day.
Does anybody on the forum have a USA Invader? Which
configuration. How do you like it?

Last edited by jwebsmall on Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:08 am, edited 8 times in total.

I test drove a Tribby Invader at a store which was enough to decide to grab a USA model online without worry.



Getting a US model in that same config may be redundant, as putting Duncans or something else in yours should put it basically equal as far as how it sounds.
Duncans will have 4 wires to do proper coil-spiltting as well...

My XL is almost a case queen these days....

Enjoy...
BW

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See Tutorial: Posting photos.

Somebody traded in this Invader Tribute and I grabbed it.
(I think it is okay to post used guitar prices? If it is I'll
post the price I paid - it was a steal.)

Yes, used prices are ok to post: see READ ME FIRST: guitarsbyleo.com History and G&LDP Guidelines

The finish is gun smoke metallic and the head stock is black.
(I don't see this color on the G&L web site under finish options.)

That is because that finish was a Tribute only color and the Tribute Invader XL has been
discontinued. The Tribute finishes are shown in the individual spec pages. The Finishes page
is for USA models only.

The bridge is the saddle locking bridge like on the ASAT Special.

And is optional on the US Invader models. see USA Guitar Options.

This was made in Korea (I think 2005? This model is not longer listed
on the G&L site - all Invaders are USA only now.)

The serial number will tell the build year and month, see: Serial number significance.

Perhaps Craig knows if the pickups in this Invader are the same as the
USA model. I guess not because the USA are Seymour Duncan. I wonder
if these pickups are what is in the Tribute ASAT Deluxe.

Yes, to both (except without the covers). See List of pickups used in G&L guitars and Decoding the various G&L Alnico Humbucker pickups.

BTW, the body is Basswood and it also was available in Black on a Basswood body and in Trans Red on a Mahogany body.

Hope this helps.

BW's USA invader is beautiful! It looks like ash?

Craig thanks for all the information!

Craig is it possible to order the USA Invader with a basswood
body and maple top?

Does anyone on the forum have the USA Invader in HSS config?
How does that sound?

My serial number indicates it was made in Korean in September 2005.

I really love the sound of the basswood on my Tribute Invader.
I took it to bed with me last night. Let me clarify that.
I put my guitar stand next to my bed so when I got tired
of playing I could just put in on the stand and not have to
get up to put it away - played it again immediately upon awakening.
That's one thing unique about G&L - they are the only
e-guitars I've owned that I find myself wanted to play
unplugged. Even this tribute sounded great although
I understand the body woods of the USA are more carefully
selected.

I'm not crazy about the neck pickup - it's okay - just not
spectacular. Maybe I will upgrade the pickups later
if I decide to keep it. BTW I paid $349. It was in mint
condition - since they are an authorized G&L dealer I had
to ask them if this was used or old new stock they were trying
to blow out. They said it was a trade in. I don't understand
why the previous owner got rid of this guitar (maybe the neck pu?)
The store didn't remember what he traded it in on. There are 9's
(old) on the guitar and I think it comes stock with 10's - no? Any way
there is a hint of strings touching the frets in the low registers
but not even buzzing. There are no places in the upper registers
where bending causes fret outs - I checked that. When I put 10's
back on it should be fine. It sounds great even with the ancient
strings on it. The action is fine now. If I decide to keep
it and upgrade the pickups I may take it over to the local
plek shop and have them scan it so I can see the fret dressing.
But really doesn't need it. I'm still trying to figure out why
the previous owner traded in this guitar. If I trade it in it wll only be
because I'm upgrading to a USA AST Deluxe (or maybe Bluesboy)
or perhaps an Invader plus - still haven't decided. I may
just keep it regardless of whether I get another USA G&L.
The flame maple on this neck is stellar! The ends of the frets
are cut back recessed into the rosewood and filler added so this
neck will never become a cheese grater even if left in the desert.
A Beautiful fret job. This invader guitar is unique - a diamond in
the rough even if it is the poor country cousin to the USA Invader!

Last edited by jwebsmall on Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:59 am, edited 2 times in total.

P.S.

Would either the Schaller or Sperzel locking tuners
drop into this Tribute Invader without modification
to the headstock?

Thanks!

I'm either going to keep this guitar or trade it in on a USA Invader.

If I keep it I'm thinking I'll throw in Dimarzio pickups

neck: PAF Joe DP213
bridge: Fred DP153

I understand the Dimarzio Fred splits really nicely too.

I think this is going to be a keeper. I don't want to give
up that basswood sound either. And I absolutely love
this neck (and the maple flame on it - a beautiful chuck
of wood). I can't see myself parting with this guitar -
it's special.

I originally said the mini toggle only split the neck pickup.
This is wrong. It splits both pickups.

It didn't split the bridge humbucker when I bought the guitar
because a wire had broken off the mini toggle switch. I opened
the cavity and found this dangling wire. I soldered it back on.
I also saw what looked like several cold solder joints. So I
re-soldered everything and it works great now.

I originally said the neck pickup wasn't all that hot.

Now that the wiring has been fixed the pickups are hot
and the split sounds are fantastic. (I also adjusted the neck
pickup height.) I was thinking I would swap out the pickups
when I bought it but no need to now!

I was thinking about ordering a USA Invader XL but this
guitar is fantastic now. I suppose this might be the
reason the previous owner traded it in. And the dealer
said it had sat for months and they didn't understand why
nobody bought it for $349. Did I ever luck out.

The neck is stellar and the intonation is spot on even in
the low registers on the high strings. This guitar is a real
gem. And I love the sound of the basswood body.
This is a keeper.

Way to go!.. You should be able to get it dialed in to what you need now. And at that price point, it's pretty hard to find anything nicer...

Enjoy,
BW