The Seymour Duncan Invader pickup was designed for extreme output while retaining string definition and great tone. It does exactly that. I recently installed both the bridge and neck versions in my limited edition BC Rich JR-V. Starting with the clean tones, the bridge is bright and powerful. The EQ of the pickups (as designed with the magnets, pole pieces, and winding) provides plenty of bass under any circumstances while retaining just enough mids and clear, sparkling treble. The neck pickup's clean tone is punchy, powerful, and has very well defined lows and mids. When you kick on the overdrive, the pickups begin to show what they can really do. Harmonics (both artificial and natural) are a breeze to hit, the overdrive is smooth, and the sustain and tone are fantastic. When compared to the stock BC Rich pickups they replaced, the Invaders have much more power, tone, and personality. They accomplish all of this without being muddy, which I've found to be a bit of a rarity with extremely high output pickups.
When you crank the distortion all the way up, you get what these pickups are really for. Running them through my BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone pedal creates some amazing results. String definition is retained, but the power, punch, and strength are remarkable. Palm-muted riffs shake the house while still being distinct in any position on the neck. Open notes and leads are very distinct. Either pickup gives a great lead tone for solos and no matter how fast your picking or sweeps are, the pickups will deliver. I love these things for all things metal, but they are versatile enough for any style of music. Play with the volume and tone pots, and you can discover a whole range of tones suitable for whatever you could want. Additionally, they are 4 conductor pickups, so you can coil split or coil tap with the proper wiring. What's not to love?
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