Invader too muddy for Explorer?

[Agonybrian]

Ok guys, I'm in need of some advice on which pickup would work best for my situation. I play metal/thrash and I'm looking for a new bridge pickup.
In the past I've played either JB's or EMG 81's. The pickups I'm trying to pick from are the Invader, Distortion, and Custom.

We play in Drop B and I use a Gibson Explorer through a 5150. I have heard the invaders can have tendencies to sound muddy and it makes me nervous to test one out with a bigger bodied, mahogany guitar. Especially with how low we tune. The strings I use are 13-59 so that should help a little since they don't have much give and aren't floppy. I'm also confident that I can probably EQ a 5150 well enough to accommodate whichever pickup I end up with.

I play mostly rhythm with a little lead here and there. Like I said, it has quite a but of thrashy, fast, articulate picking as well. My other guitar player uses a Duncan Distortion in a Les Paul and I want something to compliment that. I'm looking for a tight sounding pickup with a lot of low end. Something massive sounding that won't get muddy.

Please help! I don't have the means of buying all 3 and trying them out until I find what I like in that particular guitar.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions, advice, words of wisdom, etc etc.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Many will say yes, but I believe the dudes in Nile have used Invaders in B and Drop A for a very long while. In Dean Vs and MLs. So its really up to the individual player.

 

[bazie]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

How about Gibson 500t or Dirty Fingers? Both are high power ceramics and for many people are the first and obvious choice for Explorer.

 

[Agonybrian]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Never tried the Dirty Fingers pickup. The 500t is what comes stock and I'm just trying to find something different. The 2 main deciding factors will be that it needs to sound huge but also not muddy when playing fast trashy riffs.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

The SH-5 Duncan Custom can pull that off.

 

[dominus]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

If it's a newer Gibson Explorer, the TB-5 Duncan Custom is what you want.

 

[Agonybrian]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

I was considering the SH-5 for a while but after watching some comparison vids on YouTube, my decision was leaning more towards the SH-8. Although, it's unfair to judge as it'll sound different through my rig and my hands. And video sound quality and hearing it in person are two very different things.

 

[EET_FUK]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

If it's a newer Gibson Explorer, the TB-5 Duncan Custom is what you want.

Just curious, as I vote for the Custom as well, but why you you say newer Explorer?

 

[dominus]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Just curious, as I vote for the Custom as well, but why you you say newer Explorer?

Because the newer Gibsons have wider string spacing on the bridge.

 

[Agonybrian]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

What year did this change happen?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Be different, get a pearly gates and make it work! But my vote is actually for the Full Shred in this case.

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Custom, Black Winter, Full Shred, these are what I'd be looking at.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

the Custom is good.
nothing wrong with the Invader, unless you want clean then it's kinda lumpy.

 

[Kais]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

http://www.buddyhawke.com/guitar-info/epiphone-explorer/

^this guy dropped an invader in his epiphone explorer, different wood than the gibson, but would give a rough idea if he only uploaded a sound sample or something

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: Invader too muddy for Explorer?

Many will say yes, but I believe the dudes in Nile have used Invaders in B and Drop A for a very long while. In Dean Vs and MLs. So its really up to the individual player.

I use the Nile setup. I've got a mahogany body strat with the maple neck and brass nut with a direct wired Invader.

Very loud, very broad, very brutal on the distortion. I wouldn't go so far as muddy BUT, and it's a big but, I'm using DR's Black Beauties and they seem to be less bright and resonant than regular strings (I usually use Dean markley HD). Couple with a mahogany body and an already bassy pickup, it could, depending on your tone setup be muddy but, perhaps slight adjustment of the EQ might counter any muddiness.

What I notice is it will ROAR in mahogany whereas, for me, it sounded a little restrained in the Ibanez Mikro I had it in - poplar body.

Use a brass nut and the sustain (use the correct strings - Nile use 70 for the A string, If you feel brave try a 65 or 66 for the B) will be righteous.