SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

[PwnageEngage]

Hello,

I'm an avid metal player. I tend to play newer metalcore and thrash.

I have an Ibanez 870QMZ (basswood body, 5pc neck, bolt-on).

I'm considering replacing the CAP-VM pickups (if anyone has more info on these pickups, i'd love to know more about them. Perhaps they're suited for another genre and not metal?) for either SH-4, SH-6, or SH-8.

I've seen some comparison videos on Youtube, but some of them sound pretty similar to me. The only thing I can say that the SH-4 has a terrible clean sound imo.

So SD experts: Can you tell me the major/minor differences between these pickups? I would love some help and/or recomendations.

Thanks!

EDIT: So it's come down to the following 2 (although i'm still researching other options): The aforementioned SH-6 Distortion and the Black Winter. I'd appreciate any info i can get on these 2 PUPs.

Also, this is my current setup: Laney LV100 Tube Fusion amp (running on the clean channel) + ML-2 Boss Metal Core Distortion Pedal (distortion knob is on 6/7) + NS-2 Boss Noise Supressor. Hope this helps!

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Hello,

I'm an avid metal player. I tend to play newer metalcore and thrash.

I have an Ibanez 870QMZ (basswood body, 5pc neck, bolt-on).

I'm considering replacing the CAP-VM pickups (if anyone has more info on these pickups, i'd love to know more about them. Perhaps they're suited for another genre and not metal?) for either SH-4, SH-6, or SH-8.

I've seen some comparison videos on Youtube, but some of them sound pretty similar to me. The only thing I can say that the SH-4 has a terrible clean sound imo.

So SD experts: Can you tell me the major/minor differences between these pickups? I would love some help and/or recomendations.

Thanks!

Black Winter. Don't muck around.

[toneseeker74]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

I spent a while trying to figure out the same question. Tried the Distortion, JB, Full Shred and Screamin Demon. Then the Black Winter came out. I need to get a set, because every track I hear played with them just rules.

[darthphineas]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Between the three you mentioned, the magnets are the primary differences. The pole pieces are an added difference with the invader.

The JB is the most versatile, especially if you need clean tone. If you don't require clean tone, go for the DD. The Invader will be thicker.

For something between the JB and the DD, have MJ make you a Dokkenbucker.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk

[LatsMcGee]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Being you have a basswood guitar I'm recommending dimarzios, The Deactivator X set or the Crunchlab/Liquifire combo....

[dominus]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

I believe this guitar is basswood:

[Ryan84]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Confused why you feel the sh-4 has bad cleans? Of the 3 it's Alnico 5 which compared to other the two ceramics would be less harsh and sterile. As far as cleans most people would say the Invader is too dark, almost unusable clean. But the positive is the Invader has that extra power and bass response for metal/high gain.

[Progbusters]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

they should all work but I'd side with the Invader, Black Winter, or Dimarzio's for the modern metalz

[oneblackened]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Either the DD or Black Winters. Invader is way too loose for what you want to do.

[Gibson 1964]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Black Winter. Seriously.

JB is its own animal. In Metal, it is the preferred pickup of classic megadeth. It is a fairly bright pickup with an upper mid spike. A very classic sound. Pinch harmonics are cake with the JB and DD. Under extreme gain some complain it is flubby. I feel it can have a bit of a cocked wah sound, which can be friend or foe.
DD is like a boxier black winter. The black winter is similar, but IME superior in every respect. The DD is a very dark pickup with a piercing high end. Absolutely great in the right guitar. I would say it is definitely a classic pickup, but to my ears it seems somewhat lacking in the mids and has more lows than I like. I am being picky though, it is a great pickup
Invader. Loose, flubby, overly bassy, too dark to have much definition IMO. It ends up sounding dark and fat and flubby. It is the only SD pickup I tried which I do not like at all.
Black Winter is a remarkably balanced pickup. No spikes, no mud, string definition like nothing else, and I would say it sounds relatively open for a high output pickup. It preserves nuances well. Played clean, with light drive, or under gobs of distortion it sounds excellent.

[LatsMcGee]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Don't get the Invader "lose" stuff, how lose the Invader and even the JB feels depends on your amp more than anything....You can always run the Invader with a 1 meg too....

[Big D]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

If you can wait i would get a Sentient 6 string

[darthphineas]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

If you can wait i would get a Sentient 6 string

is the OP looking for a neck model?

[Demanic]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

Don't rule out the Alternative 8. I put one in an RG-120 and it's huge with distortion but nice and clear clean.

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: SH-4 JB vs SH-6 Distortion vs SH-8 Invader - Which would be best for me?

My vote is for the Black Winter. I much prefer the cleans of the BW to the JB.