Sh-4 vs sh-8

[SH8I-N-V-A-D-E-R]

Hi guys. I have a PRS Tremonti SE electric guitar and I want to put duncans in it. After some thinking I ended up with those two pickups, the sh-4 and the sh-8(invader). Which one is going to sound better at the bridge position? Keep in mind that i play metal and I want something heavy, cause the stock pickup doesn't do the job for me.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

i'd go with the invader

 

[Brown Note]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

quoting myself:

Jb is the jeep of pickups, it does everything well but throw in a bit of grit and gravel and nothing compares to it. With any amount of distortion JB has the greatest dynamic sound; it starts a very rough and mean and while you hold the note, decay gets this sort of wailing tone that cleans up nicely before fading out(depending on amp settings, of course) and that's the singing JB. For distorted rhythms, JB has a very percussive attack to the sound that's not too tight and this gives it a more natural feel.

It's no wonder jackson throws in jb for nearly all their USA guitars!

For rhythm playing take invader!!! It is the sht*. It's not the most dynamic or tight pickup out there, but invader absolutely annihilates *every* humbucker in sheer heaviness, every one! Without exeptions! Period!!

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

What is this Invader you speak of, and where might I acquire it?

Actually, I'm curious now that I read your description. Maybe I'll go find one of those Teles with the racing stripes and in Invader, just for a test drive.

 

[Brown Note]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

the invader: http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/sh8_invader/

you get it from any shop that sells duncans

 

[Frazer Stockton]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

The SH-4 is a wonderfrul bridge pickup ... But for metal ... go with the SH8

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

The SH-4 is a wonderful bridge pickup ... But for metal ... go with the SH8

I think it depends on what flavor of metal you're going for. I wouldn't know about nu metal or death metal, but for the classic metal that I love so much, the JB's in my Jacksons are bang on. I can tell when my EMG-equipped guitars are better-suited, like for Slayer or Justice-era Metallica.

What kinds of metal tones are best done with an Invader?

 

[Frazer Stockton]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnfAtCQklA heres an example of the SH-4 really distorted.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

:werd:

The JB can do metal. I'd take the JB over a Invader any time of the day.

What kind of amp do you have? You don't have to use pups that are the "standard" for metal. Mark Morton from Lamb of Gob used p90s (phat cats) for a video lesson of "set to fail". Hell, he even uses '59s in other guitars.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnfAtCQklA heres an example of the SH-4 really distorted.

I have a hard time hearing what's what from that video.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

If you're into hard rock/metal and you've never tried a Custom, I think you'll probably like it more than a lot of other pickups marketed at the metal crowd.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

I've got a Custom in the bridge of a Jackson Dinky (Japanese DK2), and I think it's an awesome metal pickup.

 

[Dr. SH-8]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

What is this Invader you speak of, and where might I acquire it?

Actually, I'm curious now that I read your description. Maybe I'll go find one of those Teles with the racing stripes and in Invader, just for a test drive.

You mean the Esquire Custom GT models?
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/511241.jpg

I had the metallic silver one a few years ago, then sold it, then regretted it.
So I just recently purchased the crimson red one via eBay.
They've gotten incredibly rare to find. Used models in good condition go for USD 500+.

JB and Invader are two completely different beasts in my opinion, so I couldn't tell which one's better. I think with the right settings and EQing both are equally well suited or rhythm.
But I like to picture the JB as a knife, while the Invader is more of a baseball bat. The Invader has more bass and mids, but way less treble than the JB.

Artists using the Invader:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1LBM9K3j0s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTlyyjB6hfw

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

Yup, it was the Esquire Custom GT. Not usually my thing, but I liked those.

I liked that Synyster Gates tune. Did I detect a hint of Friedman/Becker influence?

 

[Dr. SH-8]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

Yup, it was the Esquire Custom GT. Not usually my thing, but I liked those.

I liked that Synyster Gates tune. Did I detect a hint of Friedman/Becker influence?

Yepp, that Synyster Gates tune is pretty cool!
I think the blink-182 clip gives a better idea of the Invader in a live situation, though.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

I think the blink-182 clip gives a better idea of the Invader in a live situation, though.

Interesting. The Blink-182 sound is one that I don't like. I see how some could dig it; I'm not bashing it at all. Maybe it's just the playing, or the song, that I don't like. Or the people in the audience.

 

[Dr. SH-8]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

Interesting. The Blink-182 sound is one that I don't like. I see how some could dig it; I'm not bashing it at all. Maybe it's just the playing, or the song, that I don't like. Or the people in the audience.

He uses a Marshall JCM and Mesa Rectifier blended together.
He's got the gain on max on the JCM's clean channel and gain maxed out on the Mesa's dirty channel.

It sounds a little spongy and nasal, but that's what I like about the Invader in general. It has that distinct low-mids gnarl, which I love!

Hehe, well about the audience, I think it's your typical MTV "get-paid-to-go-nuts" audience.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

I shall seek out this I-n-v-a-d-e-r and play it through a tube Marshall's crunch channel, in order to determine its true nature.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

The Invader is incredibly fat and warm. It is clearly misnamed. It's not like Vikings coming in, more like a slow steamroller. In general, only useful for rhythm playing.

The JB can be flubby. In general, useful for screechy leads.

Unless you already know you are limiting yourself to one of these it might be better to get a DD, which does both and has a fairly aggressive high-pitched scream that many people will miss in the Invader.

 

[Dr. SH-8]

Re: Sh-4 vs sh-8

The Invader is incredibly fat and warm. It is clearly misnamed. It's not like Vikings coming in, more like a slow steamroller. In general, only useful for rhythm playing.

The JB can be flubby. In general, useful for screechy leads.

Unless you already know you are limiting yourself to one of these it might be better to get a DD, which does both and has a fairly aggressive high-pitched scream that many people will miss in the Invader.

Pretty accurate short description!

Next Duncans for me to try in my Schecter C-1 are the Alternative 8 bridge and the Jazz neck model.

Hearing things that the Alternative 8 is kind of a JB/DD hybrid in terms of output and tonality.
Can't wait to try it!