Dirty Fingers or Invader?

[Tiger10594]

Hi, I'm looking for a bridge for an sg body for hard rock to thrash metal.  I was looking for power and distortion and power, and I'm a huge fan of pinch harmonics and Dimebag squeals, and figured either a Seymour Duncan Invader, or a Gibson Dirty Fingers.  I was wondering which would do better for this.  I've tried an Invader and loved it, but I've heard great things about the Dirty Fingers, and really can't decide.  Your opinion would be great.  Thanks.

 

[DocNrock]

The Dirty Fingers is RLW's favorite pickup.   :toothy12:  Seriously, he hates it.

I have one of the new ones and it is really bright and harsh, IMHO, and I like hot pups.  I think it would be great for punk, but I didn't like it, even for metal, and even in a Les Paul Studio model.

That said, I have heard great things about the early 80's Dirty Fingers pups.  I have a pair I scored on E-bay that I haven't put in anything yet, but they are slated for my Jackson RR3.

I personally am a DiMarzio fan.  Consider an X2N.  I've got one in one of my builds and pinches are effortless.  Good crunch, too.

 

[Tiger10594]

Ok....I looked up the X2N....it really got my attention.  That is probably going to be what i get now, but how is it compared to the Invader?

 

[DocNrock]

Ok....I looked up the X2N....it really got my attention.  That is probably going to be what i get now, but how is it compared to the Invader?

Honestly, I've never played the Invader.  I think DangerousR6 has.  He'll likely chime in here at some point.  Given what you asked for tonewise, the X2N will not disappoint.

 

[JamesL]

I've got invaders AND X2Ns!!! take that one doc!!!!!

The invader is really harmonicly rich, but it's a dark pickup..

In my opinion I think these two pickups are about even, they will both do what you want. The dirt fingers aren't my thing.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I've got invaders AND X2Ns!!! take that one doc!!!!!

The invader is really harmonicly rich, but it's a dark pickup..

In my opinion I think these two pickups are about even, they will both do what you want. The dirt fingers aren't my thing.

Invade bridge, X2N bridge=Screamo+ Darkness+Screm/dark combo.

 

[GoDrex]

I like the invader - - it's great in an already very bright guitar. For instance I put it in a guitar that has a maple/ebony neck and sounded good but thin with the stock pickups. It it was a good match IMO. It's now not overly bright and sounds much heavier and thick. It's pretty good for harmonics, but since it's not a treb-ly kind of pickup it's not the best I've used for that. A Duncan JB is better for harmonic squeals IMO.

According to SD's site the invader's tone eq is like  7 / 8 / 4  (bass. mid. treble) - lots of bass and mid, low treble.

Dimarzio's site says the X2N is like 5.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 (bmt)

for comparison the JB is 5 / 6 / 8 (bmt) - - I've used both the Invader and JB and I can say those numbers seem to describe the tone of those pickups pretty well. I have no idea about the X2N.

I personally would avoid gibson pickups - but I'm weird like that. :laughing7:

 

[Orpheo]

I like the invader - - it's great in an already very bright guitar. For instance I put it in a guitar that has a maple/ebony neck and sounded good but thin with the stock pickups. It it was a good match IMO. It's now not overly bright and sounds much heavier and thick. It's pretty good for harmonics, but since it's not a treb-ly kind of pickup it's not the best I've used for that. A Duncan JB is better for harmonic squeals IMO.

According to SD's site the invader's tone eq is like  7 / 8 / 4  (bass. mid. treble) - lots of bass and mid, low treble.

Dimarzio's site says the X2N is like 5.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 (bmt)

for comparison the JB is 5 / 6 / 8 (bmt) - - I've used both the Invader and JB and I can say those numbers seem to describe the tone of those pickups pretty well. I have no idea about the X2N.

I personally would avoid gibson pickups - but I'm weird like that. :laughing7:

gibson humbuckers. the p90 and the minihumbucker of gibson are great, though.

 

[GoDrex]

I owned a Gibson V in the 80's and the pickups were crap. So now I don't do Gibson pickups. Makes sense to me. :laughing8:

 

[Tiger10594]

Ok....I really can't decide now between the Invader or X2N.  Both sound perfect for me so I'll ask, which would be better for harmonics?  Because that's one of my bigger issues.

 

[DocNrock]

I can't comment on the Invader, as I've never tried it.  But I can tell you that harmonics fly off of the X2N.  Sometimes I get squeals that I didn't intend, just because my fingertip touched the string on an upstroke.  :laughing7:  Then I go, ooh yeah!

 

[JamesL]

Being as Doc is a dimarzio guy, he's gonna argue  Dimarzio!!!!

I have them both, I find the Invader has more harmonics..

 

[Tiger10594]

Ya, after comparing them, Invader sounds best, that's what I'm going to go with.  Thanks for your help guys.