EMG 81, Dimebucker, Invader?

[refugemusic]

I am contemplating changing pickups but i really dont know which one to choose. I have a dimebucker in there right now. You can see what that sounds like here www.officialrefuge.com . I hear such good things about emg's but i was also interested in the invader just because i know there is a natural midboost which i think im after. Mid scoops sound mean on heavy stuff but not so good on rung out chords and progressions which is more my style. What do you think i should do?

 

[Raz]

I am contemplating changing pickups but i really dont know which one to choose. I have a dimebucker in there right now. You can see what that sounds like here www.officialrefuge.com . I hear such good things about emg's but i was also interested in the invader just because i know there is a natural midboost which i think im after. Mid scoops sound mean on heavy stuff but not so good on rung out chords and progressions which is more my style. What do you think i should do?

Well I have all three of those pups. The Dimebag in my Peavey Wolfie, which I was actually surprised when I first heard it...I was assuming something a lot more 'dirty' sounding, but they're really bright. Then I have the Invader pups in my Washburn USA 7 string...now these pups took me the longest time to get a comfortable tone...if you go to the SD site, or more specifically the tone chart:

Duncan Tone Chart

you'll see that these pups are described as fat and powerful...believe me, with regards to the seven string pup, this is an understatement. So I had to dial in specific sound contours on my V-Amp just to please these moody pups. Now last but definately not least, or should I say I'll save the best for last, I have a set of EMG 707 pups in my Wayne Custom 7. WOW, I love these pups...I would say they're a happy medium between the brighter Dimebag and the fat and powerful SH-8 Invader pups. The 707's are rich and loaded with character. Oh just to mention, I've heard that the Invader pups are not good for clean tones...well that's baloney...they're very smooth in the clean zone...but my hat goes off to the EMG's! Just to get back to your question...at first for the longest time, I was unhappy with the Invader pups...it sounded mean on rythm, but I just couldn't get the lead tone I wanted...but after creating a specific tone bank for the Invader pups, cutting back on the gains and bass, I was able to free up the beast within!

I could do sound clips, comparing the different pups if you like and post them...(the cheesy tunes in my signature are old and were created before I captured my tone)