SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

[Agitator]

Hey guys, I need some opinions on these pups combinations from anyone with experience.
I'm the owner of a pretty cheap Dean (EVO 1000) guitar, and looking to improve the stock muddy sound, I switched the bridge pup to an Invader (which made a world of difference - don't even use the stock neck pup anymore, as it's too silent) that I found for a cheap price on some forum. Now I'm also looking to switch out the neck pup, since I noticed a duncan distortion and custom custom pop up on the same forum for ~50€.
I'm a metalhead by heart but my primary focus ATM is a fusion band (we mash up all possible genres, from funk, jazz, rock, rap, to metal), so versatility is kind of the primary goal I'm striving to achieve.

The question is, how do the sh-6 and sh-11 do/compare in the neck position? How do they do on CLEAN cleans? (because the invader overdrives so quickly, even with little gain) What sonic difference does ceramic/alnicoII make?
Or maybe, if it would be a better idea to get rid of the invader and go with sh-6 bridge and sh-11 neck? Even tho I do dig the amazing chunkyness of the Invader, it may seem TOO hot at times.

Cheers.

EDIT: Also, I'm wondering if I should switch out the pots, as I have left the original ones in and I have no idea what they are. 250k, 500k or 1000k for these pups?

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

If you want versatility try a StagMag in the neck paired with the Invader...I had an axe with that set up and it smokes....I am a big Invader fanboy so I say if it works for you stick with it....

 

[Agitator]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

Thanks for the suggestion, the stag mag really looks like the kind of thing i need. I unfortunately haven't been able to find a used one for a low price in my area (I'm from Slovenia). I did find a jazz so I'm still looking for opinions on DD vs CC vs jazz for the neck. Would the jazz's output be too weak compared to the invader or could I even it out with the height of the pup?
Cheers

 

[Aceman]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

If you want a pickup that hot, I'd say go for the DD in the neck. I generally don't use pups that hot in the neck. I'd say go with the Jazz personally. Honestly, anything is going to sound better than whatever is in there.

I have never had a "too weak" neck balance problem. The neck is naturally louder. Usually easy to balance a standard output neck with a hot bridge. I have encountered "Neck too loud" issues where you can't lower the neck enough to balance it. Or if you can, the tone gets crappy.

Cheap Deans ??? Don't hate...I live about 5 miles from the Headquarters.

$50 Vendetta with a Duncan Detonator



$50 Vendetta with a Blackout

 

[Agitator]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

Cheap Deans ??? Don't hate...I live about 5 miles from the Headquarters.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on Dean, I love Deans What I was trying to say is it's a low price-range model (which brings fret buzz, bad tuners, bad stock pups), but it still plays great IMO Thanks for the advice. Looking at the tonal balance of the jazz (5/3/9) I'm kinda worried by the lack of mids that the DD and CC provide plenty, any thoughts?
Still no opinions on the Custom Custom in the neck and how it splits, anyone?
Also, what is the cause behind the "Pro shop" and "Players pick" labels?

Cheers

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

I believe player's pick indicates a standard catalog item and pro shop means its a less "popular" pickup thats geared more towards specialty tones.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

My favorite neck pickup is The Pearly Gates and I have paired it with The Distortion, The Invader and The Bill Lawrence L500XL and it works phenomenally well with all three.

If you are looking for a more ceramic sound and feel, the Black Winter neck pickup is the best thing to happen to ceramic pickups in a very VERY long time and with proper control of the volume knob can be used for anything.

Good luck and enjoy your new pickups in good health.

~LD

 

[EET_FUK]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

I would NOT put hot bride pickups in the neck. Especially the CC, which can get muddy in the bridge position.

Like Ace said, you shouldn't have problems matching volume with your Invader and whatever neck pickup you choose. My vote goes to the Full Shred neck, Sh-10n.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

My setup is an Invader in the bridge that keeps it brewtal and a '59 at the neck that is glassy and very nice. That produces a greatly unbalanced axe. Consequently a versatile one. I also wire the two pickups parallel in the common switch 'middle' position so it is a drastic signal drop and it totally tames the Invader, creating some water drop sound. Check the tone around 2:45:



For live I just flick the switch then roll back the volume a little. That way I don't need clean channel.

As for DD or CC bridge pickup in the neck, on a subjective note, none of them really works. Either too high signal or too dark. I haven't tried the DD bridge at the neck but I made a quick test of the CC and it was too muddy to me. In the bridge it was awesome.

For the bridge the CC has a very strong flavour with a little classic touch that works as a charm for brighter guitars (usually maple or alder, sometimes basswood). DD is more like a 'lawnmover', it tends to give the right amount of GGGGGRRRRR into your aggressive modern riffs regardless of axe on the side note that in the rare case of a very bright sounding guitar it may produce too much edge.

 

[Agitator]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

I got my hands on a Full Shred pickup, but upon recieveing it I noticed it's the bridge model (tag on the back says FS1BJ). Any noticable difference between the two? Cheers.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

I got my hands on a Full Shred pickup, but upon recieveing it I noticed it's the bridge model (tag on the back says FS1BJ). Any noticable difference between the two? Cheers.

The bridge model has more output!

 

[J E C]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

NecroPolo, that tune is KILLER!

 

[Agitator]

Re: SH-6 / SH-11 / Invader

Thanks to everyone for the replies, I've settled with the full shred bridge pup in the neck for now, sounds great even tho i could wish it to be brighter at times (which the neck model probably would be), but i hope that will improve when i get the coil tap capable wiring done for that twangier single coil sound.

BTW NecroPolo, that tone is cool (maybe a bit too much drive on the distortion) and the song in general is pretty awesome. Parallel wiring seems like an interesting option, will definetly consider it.

Cheers