Elvtheguitarist
New member
Which pickup Invader of Emg 81 will sound better or what is the difference
Invader vs Emg
- Thread starter Elvtheguitarist
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Johtosotku
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
Lots of differences; use the search. Being better is a matter of taste. Tell us some more about what you want and we'll be able to help you some more.
Lots of differences; use the search. Being better is a matter of taste. Tell us some more about what you want and we'll be able to help you some more.
Elvtheguitarist
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
Hi guys I was hoping to get a heavy metal sound that is versatile.Emgs are quiet and very heavy metal and versatile but has a "serile" sound that is associated with active pickups. Invaders I heard has a strong dark sound but it might not be versatile as Emg or is it?????
Hi guys I was hoping to get a heavy metal sound that is versatile.Emgs are quiet and very heavy metal and versatile but has a "serile" sound that is associated with active pickups. Invaders I heard has a strong dark sound but it might not be versatile as Emg or is it?????
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Invader vs Emg
I would think the proper pickup depends upon your setup, that is your guitar (body/neck/fretboard wood) and the amp you use, any effects... etc.
I also think that an EMG 81 could potentially be more versatile than an Invader, but I only say that from my experience with the 81. I've never tried the Invader so someone else could tell you more. However I do think the EMGs kick ass.
I would think the proper pickup depends upon your setup, that is your guitar (body/neck/fretboard wood) and the amp you use, any effects... etc.
I also think that an EMG 81 could potentially be more versatile than an Invader, but I only say that from my experience with the 81. I've never tried the Invader so someone else could tell you more. However I do think the EMGs kick ass.
Elvtheguitarist
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
Thanks
Basically I have a superstrat type guitar it is an Ibanez 2620QmM it has 2 Humbuckers, a 3 way switch, mahagony body ,maple neck, rosewood fingerboard ,24 frets, floyed rose bridge. Check it out
http://www.ibanezregister.com/
Just 3 questions for you guys
1)My guitar is a passive guitar of I change it to active do I have to cut up my guitar to create a battery compartment
2) Hi metalman does the 81 really sound "sterile"
3)How does the invader really sound like???
Thanks
Basically I have a superstrat type guitar it is an Ibanez 2620QmM it has 2 Humbuckers, a 3 way switch, mahagony body ,maple neck, rosewood fingerboard ,24 frets, floyed rose bridge. Check it out
http://www.ibanezregister.com/
Just 3 questions for you guys
1)My guitar is a passive guitar of I change it to active do I have to cut up my guitar to create a battery compartment
2) Hi metalman does the 81 really sound "sterile"
3)How does the invader really sound like???
Last edited:
Moonsorrow
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
To answer your one question about having to cut up your guitar to fit the battery for the EMG....Look inside your control cavity.....is there room to put a 9 volt battery in there? If there is,no cutting is needed!
To answer your one question about having to cut up your guitar to fit the battery for the EMG....Look inside your control cavity.....is there room to put a 9 volt battery in there? If there is,no cutting is needed!
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Invader vs Emg
2) I don't find it to be sterile at all really. The clean sound can be kind of flat sometimes but that would also be due to the amps I use and the fact that they don't have the greatest cleans out there. Playing EMGs through the wrong amp will make them sound sterile, but put them through something that has a good tonal feel and they should be great.
I can't answer your third question out of experience, but the Invader is supposed to be a really dark pickup IIRC. Plenty of bass and mids, so overall a bassy, dark pickup. This can change a little depending on the guitar though.
1) You should not need to modify your guitar at all. Generally there is always room for a single 9-volt battery in the electronics cavity. But you could always check.
2) I don't find it to be sterile at all really. The clean sound can be kind of flat sometimes but that would also be due to the amps I use and the fact that they don't have the greatest cleans out there. Playing EMGs through the wrong amp will make them sound sterile, but put them through something that has a good tonal feel and they should be great.
I can't answer your third question out of experience, but the Invader is supposed to be a really dark pickup IIRC. Plenty of bass and mids, so overall a bassy, dark pickup. This can change a little depending on the guitar though.
Johtosotku
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
I don't really find the 81 that sterile. It only excels in high gain, though. I haven't tried the Invader. So if you want versatile in the metal genre, the 81 could be your bet. If you want to play some lighter stuff too, I'd probably jump for something else.
I don't really find the 81 that sterile. It only excels in high gain, though. I haven't tried the Invader. So if you want versatile in the metal genre, the 81 could be your bet. If you want to play some lighter stuff too, I'd probably jump for something else.
Re: Invader vs Emg
You were just trying to tell us it sounds sterile. Now you're asking if it sounds sterile? :eek13:
No, it does not sound sterile. You ever heard of judas priest? Is their tone sterile? Hell no, all the use now is EMGs.
An 81 is very versitile from cleans to high gain and everywhere in-between. I've not found something it can't do well.
On an ibanez I doubt you would have room for a battery. So if you want something that is in the same vein as the EMG81, I'd suggest a JB. Tonaly they sound similar, the JB is quite a bit thicker and better sounding for leads.
You were just trying to tell us it sounds sterile. Now you're asking if it sounds sterile? :eek13:
No, it does not sound sterile. You ever heard of judas priest? Is their tone sterile? Hell no, all the use now is EMGs.
An 81 is very versitile from cleans to high gain and everywhere in-between. I've not found something it can't do well.
On an ibanez I doubt you would have room for a battery. So if you want something that is in the same vein as the EMG81, I'd suggest a JB. Tonaly they sound similar, the JB is quite a bit thicker and better sounding for leads.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: Invader vs Emg
1) No, it should fit under the pickguard.
2) It depends. The bridge 81 is very bright sounding, which is great for high gain rhythm as it keeps you sounding very tight and defined. I don't particularily like the 81 in the bridge for cleans.....when used there I find it to sound pretty flat and boring. Then again I find most bridge pickups to have a very unappealing clean tone. In the neck it becomes a little more alive.
Also, the "sterility" depends alot on your choice in amp. I've found that some amps really have their own sound, which EMGs tend to sound pretty good with. On the other hand some amps are pretty transparent and draw alot of their sound from the guitar/pickups. I find that EMGs don't tend to sound good with these amps.....its in these amps that I find they get the "sterile" tone some people complain about.
In short.....in my opinion getting a great tone is finding the right combination of guitar, pickups, and amp to jive with your own personal style. Giving a blanket statement saying that EMGs will sound like this or like that without considering the amp and what you're going for is really misleading.....hence why I'm not saying whether you'll like them or not.
3) Somewhat clear with a strong lower midrange and bottom end. Good for brighter amps. Will sludge up slightly with darker amps. With high gain I feel this is a better punk pickup than metal pickup.
IMO.
1) No, it should fit under the pickguard.
2) It depends. The bridge 81 is very bright sounding, which is great for high gain rhythm as it keeps you sounding very tight and defined. I don't particularily like the 81 in the bridge for cleans.....when used there I find it to sound pretty flat and boring. Then again I find most bridge pickups to have a very unappealing clean tone. In the neck it becomes a little more alive.
Also, the "sterility" depends alot on your choice in amp. I've found that some amps really have their own sound, which EMGs tend to sound pretty good with. On the other hand some amps are pretty transparent and draw alot of their sound from the guitar/pickups. I find that EMGs don't tend to sound good with these amps.....its in these amps that I find they get the "sterile" tone some people complain about.
In short.....in my opinion getting a great tone is finding the right combination of guitar, pickups, and amp to jive with your own personal style. Giving a blanket statement saying that EMGs will sound like this or like that without considering the amp and what you're going for is really misleading.....hence why I'm not saying whether you'll like them or not.
3) Somewhat clear with a strong lower midrange and bottom end. Good for brighter amps. Will sludge up slightly with darker amps. With high gain I feel this is a better punk pickup than metal pickup.
IMO.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Invader vs Emg
The 81 & Invader are two of my favorite pickups. They've always been my "go to" pickups, as I've always gotten great sounds from both.
The 81 & Invader are two of my favorite pickups. They've always been my "go to" pickups, as I've always gotten great sounds from both.
Shredhead7
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
The entire Emgs being sterile is an interesting argument. Honestly sterile is a real bad way to put it. Think of the Emg 81 as being really clean actually, and a bit compressed. That is the entire reason why people like the 81, because it lets an amp do most of the tone coloring, and the pickup doesn't have tons of overtones. It focuses the sound and keeps definition under pretty much all conditions. I don't personally like the cleans in the bridge position emg 81, but thats because i like the overtones other pickups produce. Emg 81s do make clean sounds, but there isn't as much depth to them which is why some don't like them. It isn't that emgs are sterile, but the 81 wasn't meant to produce outstanding clean sounds, it was made for distortion and it does that well. Anyway during clean passages i wouldn't use a bridge pickup even with other pickups. If you have a good amp and use a pickup other than the 81 in the bridge for cleans you should really like the tone, and it would be plenty versatile. Each emg pickup is built for a purpose and you should realize that when purchasing them. If you want overtones check out an 85 or maybe passive pickups, but for most rock/metal players an 81 in the bridge works out fine.
The entire Emgs being sterile is an interesting argument. Honestly sterile is a real bad way to put it. Think of the Emg 81 as being really clean actually, and a bit compressed. That is the entire reason why people like the 81, because it lets an amp do most of the tone coloring, and the pickup doesn't have tons of overtones. It focuses the sound and keeps definition under pretty much all conditions. I don't personally like the cleans in the bridge position emg 81, but thats because i like the overtones other pickups produce. Emg 81s do make clean sounds, but there isn't as much depth to them which is why some don't like them. It isn't that emgs are sterile, but the 81 wasn't meant to produce outstanding clean sounds, it was made for distortion and it does that well. Anyway during clean passages i wouldn't use a bridge pickup even with other pickups. If you have a good amp and use a pickup other than the 81 in the bridge for cleans you should really like the tone, and it would be plenty versatile. Each emg pickup is built for a purpose and you should realize that when purchasing them. If you want overtones check out an 85 or maybe passive pickups, but for most rock/metal players an 81 in the bridge works out fine.
Schecter006Elite
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
Invader is very bassy and huge sounding. EMG's are good for metal and are super quiet but they IMO sound the same in every guitar. However if you play metal I do completly suggest going active, but there are other ways to achieve it. I.E. getting a naturally heavy sounding pickup (Distortion, Invader, whatever)and getting a SPC knob. An SPC is an active knob that raises the mids thus creating more clipping within the gain stage and creating a heavier sound. I have a Distortion and I have an SPC and I can't even think of not playing metal without it. And the Cool thing is (since your looking for versatility) you can just back off the knob and get the pickups natural sound. Or you can blend and do what you want. So it has the advantage of being just as heavy as an EMG with more tonal options. You just have to either sacrifice a tone knob like i did or get a hole routed in your guitar which would be a good idea since your guitar most likey doesnt have the room for a 9v anyway. kill 2 birds with one stone. Honestly I played an explorer with emg's (81, 85) through my amp, and it really was no contest. My guitar was heavier sounding any day of the week. I didnt really know why (and I was slight disappointed because of the reputaion EMG's have), but i thought the EMG's (or atleatsthe 81b) had a lack of bass and was no where near as chrushing as my tone is. Word to your mother.
Invader is very bassy and huge sounding. EMG's are good for metal and are super quiet but they IMO sound the same in every guitar. However if you play metal I do completly suggest going active, but there are other ways to achieve it. I.E. getting a naturally heavy sounding pickup (Distortion, Invader, whatever)and getting a SPC knob. An SPC is an active knob that raises the mids thus creating more clipping within the gain stage and creating a heavier sound. I have a Distortion and I have an SPC and I can't even think of not playing metal without it. And the Cool thing is (since your looking for versatility) you can just back off the knob and get the pickups natural sound. Or you can blend and do what you want. So it has the advantage of being just as heavy as an EMG with more tonal options. You just have to either sacrifice a tone knob like i did or get a hole routed in your guitar which would be a good idea since your guitar most likey doesnt have the room for a 9v anyway. kill 2 birds with one stone. Honestly I played an explorer with emg's (81, 85) through my amp, and it really was no contest. My guitar was heavier sounding any day of the week. I didnt really know why (and I was slight disappointed because of the reputaion EMG's have), but i thought the EMG's (or atleatsthe 81b) had a lack of bass and was no where near as chrushing as my tone is. Word to your mother.
Re: Invader vs Emg
I just have to laugh...
Will someone find the clips of a guy using a strat and a LP into the same amp with an 81 in the bridge of each?
They sound totaly different depending on the guitar, JUST LIKE ALL PICKUPs. Well maybe except for optical pickups, but I may just be saying that out of ignorance.
I just have to laugh...
Will someone find the clips of a guy using a strat and a LP into the same amp with an 81 in the bridge of each?
They sound totaly different depending on the guitar, JUST LIKE ALL PICKUPs. Well maybe except for optical pickups, but I may just be saying that out of ignorance.
scottcrud
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
They don't sound the same in every guitar. Take it from a guy who's used EMG 81's for the last 15 years. My two main guitars both have 81's and they sound very differnt. 1. is a 1993 robin raider made of northern ash ( they say they use swamp ash but this thing is heavier than a Les Paul) with a bolt on maple neck with rosewood board. The bass notes are very tight and subdued and the tone is bright.
2. My number 2 guitar is a Warmoth Mockingbird with a mahogony body, maple neck ebony board, the bass jumps out, and the overall tone is darker, even my tonedeaf singer and drummer notice how much darker sounding the Mockingbird is compared to the Robin.
I just recently started using EMG 85's and what a difference it's made, it's crunchier and more brash sounding than the 81 and the pinch harmonics literally jump out. I've found my new pickup until the Duncan metal livewire arrives and I can check that out.
They don't sound the same in every guitar. Take it from a guy who's used EMG 81's for the last 15 years. My two main guitars both have 81's and they sound very differnt. 1. is a 1993 robin raider made of northern ash ( they say they use swamp ash but this thing is heavier than a Les Paul) with a bolt on maple neck with rosewood board. The bass notes are very tight and subdued and the tone is bright.
2. My number 2 guitar is a Warmoth Mockingbird with a mahogony body, maple neck ebony board, the bass jumps out, and the overall tone is darker, even my tonedeaf singer and drummer notice how much darker sounding the Mockingbird is compared to the Robin.
I just recently started using EMG 85's and what a difference it's made, it's crunchier and more brash sounding than the 81 and the pinch harmonics literally jump out. I've found my new pickup until the Duncan metal livewire arrives and I can check that out.
Elvtheguitarist
New member
Re: Invader vs Emg
Yo guys thanks for the advice I decided to go EMG's 81 in bridge 60 in neck
at the price of 310SGD(including installation fee and pickups) about 197 USD I think it was an expensive but awesome deal I will post pics after I get my guitar
Yo guys thanks for the advice I decided to go EMG's 81 in bridge 60 in neck
at the price of 310SGD(including installation fee and pickups) about 197 USD I think it was an expensive but awesome deal I will post pics after I get my guitar
D-EJ915
Stretchologist
Re: Invader vs Emg
Sweet stuff, that should sound awesome. The 81 is absolutely brutal in my flying V, it has tons of bass (which you wouldn't think), sounds really thick and isn't 'sterile' at all.
Now the HZ H4s on the other hand...those are sterile, but the 81 rules, I use the 18V mod btw.
Sweet stuff, that should sound awesome. The 81 is absolutely brutal in my flying V, it has tons of bass (which you wouldn't think), sounds really thick and isn't 'sterile' at all.
Now the HZ H4s on the other hand...those are sterile, but the 81 rules, I use the 18V mod btw.
