I have a Fender Stratocaster that has enough room that I can swap in an invader or an emg 81. Which should I buy?

Why are you limiting yourself to only these 2 options? And what other pickups do you haev in your guitar, and are you going to swap them too? If I were somehow limited to both of those I'd pick the 81 because I have it and it's cool.

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I'm not limiting myself to any pickups. I just want to make my stratocaster have better tone for metal, without having to buy a new guitar.

Like I said before, my pickups go | | || so I can fit a humbucker.

Buy a Dimarzio x2n, the emg sounds too sterile, and the duncan just = mud.

x2n is fucking nice, really clear, think chuck schuldiner

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You can't use EMGs with the passive pickups on your strat.

yes he can. jon levassuer did it with his strat in cryptopsy

I have a Duncan Performer Detonater, which is a $40 dollar invader, and it's not muddy at all. It actually has a really cool sound to it.

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I like the 81 more than the invader. But I think the x2n would be a great contender too.

In the end, its a strat and it will sound like a strat.

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the x2n destroys both.

Ok, you're right, but you can't just drop it in.

devo420:
If you decide to go with the EMG then make sure to read the EMG faq about combining actives and passives.

I say the x2n too. Not only because I own one but because I've used EMG 81s for years and the x2n slays it.

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tonezone all the way, great sound and output, but still good dynamics wich emgs and x2n wont have. overal a great versatile pickup.

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X2N is a great pickup...so is the 81. I have each in a different Ibanez. If you want any degree of versatility, go with the X2N. 81 is going to give the same sound no matter what.

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bareknuckle warpig

i'm getting one for me next gitarre!

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Invader is not muddy at al in a strat.
You just shouldn't tune down to B or something with it.

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I'm going to rephrase my question.

Which pickup would work best for metal in a Fender Stratocaster?

bransforbreakfast, Karl Sanders plays in Drop A with an Invader in a Fender strat, as well as numerous set neck and neckthru all-mahogany guitars, so it definitely works for Nile.

If it's a bright sounding guitar: Dimarzio Tonezone. If not, well get it anyway, it slays. X2n is also killer, also consider the Evolution if you do a lot of bridge lead playing. Their is no definite best, just read the descriptions, try em out if possible, and listen to sound samples, it's the best thing you can do.

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Quoted for truth. Do it.

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I got a guitar with emg 81's and another with Duncan Invader and a JB.


imo i'd go the 81, a lot punchier then the invader, i noticed more clarity in my sound with the 81. Invader sounded too bassy on my rig (mind you i got a Mode Four and these already have huge bottom end).

At the end of the day everyone has a different set up and different tastes. See what you like.

I'd get the tone zone, it sounds very warm and would do good in a strat. Decent amount of output.

Invader would work good in a strat too, but it's very bassy, you'd need to balance it out with the rest of your rig (it's not really punchy-bassy, more rumble-bassy).

The 81 sounds nearly the same in most guitars, just try a guitar with an 81 (and LTD or something) and see if you like it.

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Personally If I had to choose pickups for a new guitar EMG's wouldn't be at the top of the list. I have the 81/85 set right now and whilst I really quite like the 81, the 85 sucks balls. I would definitely want to try out a load of Dimarzio's and a BKP Ceramic Warpig. It all depends on what amp you are using. If you have a load of gain on tap already then getting a stupidly high output pickup is a bit pointless, tame the pickup for better clarity and versatility etc (bit generalised but you get the idea). It still amazes me how many metal players that sound seriously heavy just use the ol' Duncan JB/Jazz combo which has significantly less output than X2N/81/Warpig etc.

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I am using a Line6 Spider III. Based on everyone's responses I am think I am going to go with a Warpig. I really want to be able to play some metal but have the option to play some classic/blues. I am in love with Paul Waggoner's tone from BTBAM.

Good choice. The only thing I'd say, and I'm not trying to be dick, but you may not find it really improves your sound whilst you are playing on that amp, as all the digital crap etc in it will mask a lot of the tonal differences coming through. Just saying don't be disappointed is all.

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An incredibly huge amount use overdrive pedals on recordings.

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Yeah, yeah I know that , I just meant that there seems to be preconception that having very high output pickups is the only way to go to get a heavy tone. I'll admit, I was one of them when I bought my last guitar!

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Oh yeah definitely. Listen to Hate Eternal. That's all a PAF Pro in the bridge. Granted Erik Rutan boosts his amps(except the Powerball maybe) with a roccaforte bastard(overdrive/treble booster), but it still sounds amazingly brutal for a pickup with just 300mV of output.

Someone's gonna come over and buy my X2N off me tomorrow, and once I sell my EMG's from my Ironbird too I'm putting my PAF Pro in the bridge of it, until I decide to get something hotter in the bridge(probably evo), and move the PAF Pro to the neck, but I might not even do that, don't wanna spend more money right now.

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