Seymour Duncan SH-8b Invader Bridge Humbucker Pickup - Black Neck

Had a noisy bridge pickup and was l looking for a solid replacement with a gain heavy tone, employee recommended the Seymour Duncan invader and I never looked back since. Cranking the gain and running a maxon overdrive boosted with a metal muff gives a great doom tone. Was also super surprised with the clean tones as well.

Most reviews I read lack key information, so to put this in perspective I will state that this pickup replaced the JB/SH-4 that came stock in the bridge position of my USA Select Jackson KV2. It is tuned in standard E using 9-42 gauge nickel wound strings, currently Elixer Nanoweb. The Invader compared to the SH-4 isn't near the dramatic difference in sound that I was expecting or hoping for. There is slightly more gain/overdrive with the Invader. It sounds a little more scooped than the SH-4 and has less range. You may have better experience with it depending on your style of music, especially if you tune lower and use heavier strings. I personally think that could be where the Invader may shine, but I can't say from experience. Now for some stuff nobody probably cares about that I feel is worth mentioning. I never had any complaints about the JB pickup. It is extremely versatile and it sounds great for all of the music I play. The only reason I changed it was the simple fact that I have been using it for 17+ years (I got my KV2 new in 2003), and I wanted to change it up a little. Not long ago I simplified my rig tremendously, and I thought maybe the Invader would make an already great tone even more "metal". I also figured changing the pickup would provide an even more distinct sound difference from another guitar I have with a JB pickup in the bridge. My inspiration for guitar is mostly thrash metal from the 80's and early 90's. Think "The Big 4", etc. I play covers and my own original music with that same sound and feel. The JB works great for it as well as everything else that I play. It also works great for clean tones. While the Invader does give my KV2 little bit more gain than JB, I wouldn't necessarily call it an improvement. To be honest, I think it sounded better with the JB for the type of music I play. If this was my only guitar I would switch back the JB, but for now I will leave it. I hope this helps. Good luck

I love the Invader. I would have it in all my guitars if I could.

Love this pickup. Tried a ton of others from Bare Knuckle to Rio Grande-they're all decent-but nothing beats the good old Invader for balls to the wall Johnny Ramone style rhythm guitar. I play very little lead guitar. If I did I'd go for an EVH humbucker which delivers great rhythm but also solid leads. I've used an Invader for years and will continue to do so. Compared to most boutique pickups it's a steal price-wise as well.

I have always used dimarzio pickups for balanced tone, superdistortion or evolution. I play mostly metal solos. These invaders have higher output than dimarzios and yet maintain balance. They are powerful and not out of control. I' ve experienced Wide range of mids and warm screaming notes and harmonics. I use them on bridge position on my ibanez rg and they sound hot, angry, fast, and full of potential and sustain.

I got a signature model guitar with this pick-up pre-installed and I must say, I am impressed, it's got one of the best tones I think I've ever heard. It's great for high gain and power chords. The guitar I have it in never goes lower than drop D and stays mostly in standard, I would love to put one of these puppies in the bridge spot of my c# standard/drop B guitar. One of these playing through that on a high-distortion channel would have a great sound. Now, when it comes to clean, this pick up isn't bad, not exactly made for clean, but if you put it through a clean channel with maybe a little bit of fuzz it is incredible. All-in-all I love this pick up