Behold the Synyster Kitty!

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Okay, as promised: One more quick video featuring the Hello Kitty Strat, this time with one of those new Duncan Synyster Gates Invader pickups. I’m told the ceramic-magnet Invader is literally the hottest possible non-active pickup. I’m inclined to believe it.

Take this one with a grain of salt. As much as I love trying to make a pink $99 guitar and a Lunchbox amp sound as heavy as possible, this pickup just might sound a wee bit heavier with a big-ass mahogany guitar and a big-ass tube-dude amp. But still.

FYI, here’s the earlier post I did using a Duncan Phat Cat pickup, plus the same built-in fuzz.

Behold, mortals:

Tech notes: Guitar tuned down to CGCFAD (low to high). Royer R-121 mic (still working after the Lunchbox fell on it).

amp fender gates Hello Kitty invader lunchbox metal strat Stratocaster synyster zt

Comments

13 responses to “Behold the Synyster Kitty!”

June 26, 2012

Double D

Dear me! That little kitty roars like a less-than-gruntled lion! And classic oops! moment… …glad to hear your mic survived.

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June 26, 2012

matcaster

CGCDFA really :what: ? not CGCFAD ?

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1. June 26, 2012
  
  joe
  
  D’oh.
  
  Fixed it.
  
  I didn’t think anyone actually read that far! 😉
  
  Reply
June 26, 2012

Oinkus

That is just nasty , couldn’t have more fun doing almost anything could you ?

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June 26, 2012

DohminSemper

Sounds good man but wouldn’t it be better to do in-the-mix demos the next time? 😉

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June 26, 2012

Jim Williamson

Bad Kitty!

Hey, I think I have a distant cousin to your blushing feline — the Squier Tom Delonge sig Strat (made in China, hard tail, rosewood fingerboard, too-skinny neck, one volume knob, one “designed by Duncan” Invader clone). It’s been a drop-D fave since I got it for $90 used.

And which I shall now call my Hello Tommy guitar.

Looking forward to the onboard distortion project.

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1. June 26, 2012
  
  joe
  
  Got a pic, so I can introduce the two beauties to each other? 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. June 26, 2012
    
    Jim Williamson
    
    Kitty, meet Tommy. Oh well, not an exact match. Standard output jack placement on the Tommy. Under the hood: rectangular pickup routing just big enough for the one humbucker and single vol pot. Might be room for a 9v batt and whatever distortion magic you and the Kitty have in store for us. Should be an interesting project.
    
    Reply
June 26, 2012

Phil Cody

Very cool. Joe (as always). But hey, it’s more what you did with it than what you did it with!

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June 27, 2012

Oinkus

Just saw another one of those on CL yesterday, that was black and $120 bucks > almost in my price range too !

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June 27, 2012

JH

aaaahhhhh! that made me cringe when i saw it falling! Thats what happens when u get in that zone when playing, all bets r off and anything goes.
What did u think of the gates PU? I’m contemplating getting a charvel w/ a floyd and of course my head is beyond that and thinking about what kind of pickups to put in it already.

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1. June 27, 2012
  
  joe
  
  I hear you. I have broken SO much stuff over the years because I am such a clumsy oaf get so lost in playing.
  
  The Synyster pickup is basically a classic Invader with new cosmetics, and obviously, a LOT of great heavy players have made it their tool of choice. It’s incredibly hot and loud for a passive pickup — it really slams the front end of your amp! I generally tend to gravitate toward vintage-output pickups, but I’m going to keep that Invader around, because it’s a great way to get the high-gain, high-octane sound without actually going active. I’d say it’s a great choice if you’ll mostly be playing crunchy-chunky stuff.
  
  Reply
October 28, 2012

bee bee bling

Kitty is good for sawing out a travel guitar that hides inside.

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