No love for the Seymour Duncan Invader?

[Laura]

I had an Invader years ago and liked it. I think I sold the guitar. I just put another one in my Gutierrez Juggernaut after my guitar builder friend recommended it to me (Chris O'Dee). It had a BK Nailbomb which I did not like in that guitar (too tight, too bright). The Invader has plenty of bass but it is very balanced sounding to my ears. I admit it does not have the same amount of clarity in comparison to the MCP, BK or MCP pickups that I have but it does sound good. It is ugly as hell also but I dig it. Looks aggressive!

Just curious if anyone else is using an Invader and if so, what guitar is it in? Hopefully, I end up keeping this pickup because I hate wiring and soldering.

 

[gbsmusic]

I had one in my ESP years ago and liked it but after hearing WCR, MCP, and some of the other custom pickups it just doesn't do it for me anymore, just to harsh. My friend still has one in his Ibanez and loves it but its not for me anymore.

 

[petejt]

I still like my Invader. I have on in the bridge position of my ESP ltd ec-100qm electric guitar, which I use as a backup. It's sound is definitely very 'full-on' and aggressive. I have a Jazz in the neck so there's a nice balance there.

I am glad though that I went with a pair of Suhr Aldrich humbuckers in my main guitar, an ESP ltd ec-400. They can get just as demonic and brutal-sounding as the Invader, but are more versatile. The Invader is more bassy, yet the Aldrichs have a really punchy, low-mid strength that to me seems more powerful.
I really enjoy how they clean up when rolling back the volume control, which they do a bit better than the Invader.
For clean sounds they also sound better than the Invader- as I like to blend both pickups to approximate that Glassy Fender Twang.

 

[Laura]

I had one in my ESP years ago and liked it but after hearing WCR, MCP, and some of the other custom pickups it just doesn't do it for me anymore, just to harsh. My friend still has one in his Ibanez and loves it but its not for me anymore.

I agree about all of the MCP, BK and BG pickups that I have in my other guitars. However, the challenge I found with passives was finding the right pickup for each guitar. I tried a bunch of stuff in each guitar before I found the right fit. I did not want to wait on a custom order this time and Chris felt pretty sure that the Invader would do well in that guitar and thus far, I very much agree.

 

[Laura]

I still like my Invader. I have on in the bridge position of my ESP ltd ec-100qm electric guitar, which I use as a backup. It's sound is definitely very 'full-on' and aggressive. I have a Jazz in the neck so there's a nice balance there.

I am glad though that I went with a pair of Suhr Aldrich humbuckers in my main guitar, an ESP ltd ec-400. They can get just as demonic and brutal-sounding as the Invader, but are more versatile. The Invader is more bassy, yet the Aldrichs have a really punchy, low-mid strength that to me seems more powerful.
I really enjoy how they clean up when rolling back the volume control, which they do a bit better than the Invader.
For clean sounds they also sound better than the Invader- as I like to blend both pickups to approximate that Glassy Fender Twang.

I didn't buy the Invader for "cleans". I have a single coil Trilogy Suite (BK) in the neck of this guitar and it is chicken pickin' clean...maybe too clean for my tastes. I bought a Cool Rails to try but the pickup cavity was not big enough so I am stuck with what will fit.

 

[gbsmusic]

I had one in my ESP years ago and liked it but after hearing WCR, MCP, and some of the other custom pickups it just doesn't do it for me anymore, just to harsh. My friend still has one in his Ibanez and loves it but its not for me anymore.

I agree about all of the MCP, BK and BG pickups that I have in my other guitars. However, the challenge I found with passives was finding the right pickup for each guitar. I tried a bunch of stuff in each guitar before I found the right fit. I did not want to wait on a custom order this time and Chris felt pretty sure that the Invader would do well in that guitar and thus far, I very much agree.

Its very true, a pickup sounds different in every guitar and it just depends what fits the music you're playing.

 

[FUZZboat]

and they do look cool !

 

[lolzgreg]

I found it pretty abrasive with the magnets that are in there.

My buddy has a guitar with a prototype Invader in it that sounds pretty awesome, though.

AFAIK, the Invader, Distortion, and JB are all wound exactly the same put have different magnets and pole pieces. I could be wrong, and please correct me if I am.

 

[killertone]

Hey Laura, have you ever tried a BKP Warpig? IMO, they are kind of like an Invader but with the awesome clarity of a BKP. I think you would dig one.

 

[Laura]

Hey Laura, have you ever tried a BKP Warpig? IMO, they are kind of like an Invader but with the awesome clarity of a BKP. I think you would dig one.

I have one in my Pile-o-Skulls Dinky. I dig it. It is very dark in that guitar though. Sounds great just gets a little lost in the mix. I will fire up an amp here in a bit and do some more a/b'ing.

 

[killertone]

Hey Laura, have you ever tried a BKP Warpig? IMO, they are kind of like an Invader but with the awesome clarity of a BKP. I think you would dig one.

I have one in my Pile-o-Skulls Dinky. I dig it. It is very dark in that guitar though. Sounds great just gets a little lost in the mix. I will fire up an amp here in a bit and do some more a/b'ing.

Weird, I have Warpigs in 2 different LPC's and they don't seem dark. Who knows!

 

[Laura]

Hey Laura, have you ever tried a BKP Warpig? IMO, they are kind of like an Invader but with the awesome clarity of a BKP. I think you would dig one.

I have one in my Pile-o-Skulls Dinky. I dig it. It is very dark in that guitar though. Sounds great just gets a little lost in the mix. I will fire up an amp here in a bit and do some more a/b'ing.

Weird, I have Warpigs in 2 different LPC's and they don't seem dark. Who knows!

Are yours ceramic or alnico? It seems that I read that ceramic is a bit brighter and more articulate. I know BK offers both and I hear a lot of positive talke about the c-pig (ceramic warpig).

 

[Shask]

I REALLY want to try one. I have just been too busy to worry about putting much effort in trying to acquire one.

My current favorite 6 string pickup is probably the EMG 85. I have been moving towards bassier, less upper mid spike pickups lately...

 

[RaceU4her]

i loved it in my buddies old dean V ala Nile. way chunky