Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .

Guitar Center
5.0 (48)
$115.00
Amazon
4.6 (76)
$115.00
Reverb
5.0 (25)
$104.99 New
$74.99 Used
Musician's Friend
5.0 (202)
$115.00
Thomann
4.7 (44)
$125.00
Gear4Music
£139.00

Average Price: $110

Standard/Professional

$99

$200+

Price Tier

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Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8, a force to be reckoned with in the world of guitar pickups. This robust pickup is designed for aggressive playing styles, and it's the perfect choice for rockers, punk enthusiasts, and metalheads alike. Equipped with a trifecta of large ceramic magnets, hot coils, and 12 black oxide cap screws, this powerhouse pickup delivers a bolt of electrifying energy straight into your amp. Not only does it pump power into your amp, but its wide magnetic field also allows it to produce a unique brightness and a sound that's entirely its own.

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is not just about power; it's also about versatility. This pickup comes with a 4-conductor cable that facilitates complex pickup switching configurations, giving you the freedom to explore a wide range of tonal possibilities. If you're looking to drive your tone to the extremes of metal mayhem, the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is the pickup for you!

Key Features:

  • High output and maximum power delivery due to the combination of three ceramic magnets, hot coils, and 12 black oxide cap screws
  • Unique brightness and sound due to its wide magnetic field
  • Versatility and wide range of tonal possibilities with its 4-conductor cable
  • Ideal for aggressive music styles such as punk, garage, thrash, metal, and other heavy rock styles
  • Works for any 6-string guitar regardless of string spacing
  • Comes in black, adding a sleek and stylish touch to your guitar.

Product specs

Brand Seymour Duncan
Model SH-8b Invader Bridge Humbucker
Finish Black, Custom, Reverse Zebra, White, Zebra
Year 2010s
Made In United States
Categories Guitar Pickups

FAQs

Is the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 a passive or active pickup?

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is a passive pickup, known for its thick and deep low-end response, making it ideal for heavy music styles.

What type of music is the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 best suited for?

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is best suited for heavy rock and metal genres due to its high output and aggressive tone.

Can the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 be installed in the neck position?

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is primarily designed for the bridge position, but there is a specific neck version available for balanced tonal matching.

What makes the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 unique compared to other pickups?

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 features oversized ceramic magnets and custom over-wound coils, delivering a powerful and aggressive sound ideal for high-gain applications.

Does the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 work well with lower tunings?

Yes, the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is designed to handle lower tunings effectively, providing a tight and well-defined sound even with heavy gauge strings.

Science of Loud

Science of Loud

Seymour Duncan Invader: Sound Samples

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan Invader: Sound Samples by Science of Loud

Seymour Duncan Invader: Sound Samples

Science of Loud

Science of Loud

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan - SH-8 - Invader - SH8 by Dennis Kayzer

Seymour Duncan - SH-8 - Invader - SH8

Dennis Kayzer

Dennis Kayzer

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader pickup - ULTIMATE METAL TONE! by Gergo Hajer

Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader pickup - ULTIMATE METAL TONE!

Gergo Hajer

Gergo Hajer

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan CUSTOM SH-5 vs INVADER SH-8 - Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo by Mike Stamper

Seymour Duncan CUSTOM SH-5 vs INVADER SH-8 - Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo

Mike Stamper

Mike Stamper

Video thumbnail for DiMarzio PAF PRO vs Seymour Duncan INVADER SH-8 - Passive Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo by Mike Stamper

DiMarzio PAF PRO vs Seymour Duncan INVADER SH-8 - Passive Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo

Mike Stamper

Mike Stamper

Reviews

PROS

  • Delivers powerful high gain with excellent harmonic characteristics

  • Exceptional low-end crunch for metal, punk, and thrash genres

  • Versatile across various guitar types, from Telecasters to SGs

  • Enhances sound quality of lower-end guitars to rival higher-end models

  • Produces clean tones better than typical single coils

  • Responds well to volume and tone control adjustments

  • Ideal for drop tunings without losing clarity or power

  • Offers both thick distorted sounds and nice cleans

  • Easy installation process appreciated by users

  • Affordable price for the quality and performance provided

CONS

  • Prone to oxidation and paint peeling in humid conditions

  • Some units may arrive with defects (e.g., zero ohms issue)

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8.

Setup and maintenance

  • Lowering the Invader pickup to 2mm from the strings, as measured with the low E pressed at the last fret, can reduce distortion and improve clarity.

    Source
  • Rolling off the volume slightly helps maintain clean tones, as this pickup tends to push amps to breakup easily when played clean.

    Source
  • Lowering bass and minimizing gain can make the Invader suitable for playing Grateful Dead-style music, despite its aggressive nature.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Invader bridge pickup is known for its high output and bass-heavy tone, which can become muddy if tuned down beyond standard or half-step down tunings.

    Source
  • The Invader's high output is popular among fans of Blink 182, specifically because Tom DeLonge used it in his Strat.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Some owners recommend using 1 meg pots and SD Double Shot harnesses to enable series/parallel splitting for more tonal versatility with the Invader.

    Source
  • Parallel wiring is recommended for better tonal quality, providing an unexpectedly good sound for such a high-output pickup.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Seymour Duncan JB is noted as a cleaner alternative, offering better clarity and versatility for those seeking a less aggressive tone.

    Source
  • Some users find the Invader less fizzy and more versatile than the EMG pickups they have experienced.

    Source
  • Users find the Invader less suited for blues compared to models like Dirty Fingers, but some appreciate its crunch for non-traditional applications.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Invader excels in high-gain, metal, and punk applications but may lack the nuance needed for clean tones, unless specifically modded or adjusted.

    Source
  • Owners note that the Invader excels in palm mute chugs, offering a sound less fizzy than EMG pickups and more versatile than the Kent Armstrong Motherbucker.

    Source
  • The SH-8B Invader can handle surf rock and Texas blues, though it may not be the ideal choice for traditional blues due to its high output.

    Source
  • The Invader can adapt to emo and high-gain metal genres, though amp choice significantly affects tonal outcome for blues and emo styles.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 35 Ratings

5 star
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1 star
ben_ferguson

heavy but versatile bridge humbucker

I put this in a Dean ZX with a Duncan Alnico II Pro neck pickup (both volume pots have a treble-bleed circuit too), and I'm convinced this is the pickup that was meant for basswood bolties. It beefs up the bottom end on this bright guitar, and gets a nice hot-Tele bridge sound when split. I like this pickup clean as well as dirty, but it does take some EQ twiddling and height adjustment for the best sound. Once you do though, you'll get gnarly harmonics, killer thump and a lot more crunchy mids than I ever thought I'd like. Brighter pickups may be better for warmer/darker-sounding guitars, but for a bolt-on I think this one rules.

kiwi13

A must have

I have always installed invaders in my guitars. Even in the Ibanez RG series. I always wanted an American strat and now I have one with this beauty in the humbucker position. It’s a killer high gain pick up for any metal head.

jellyfish834

Sick

I don’t understand why people think the only thing this pedal can play is metal. It’s good for most genres. Nice cleans, thick distorted sounds. Very easy to get controlled feedback.

Roles:
Genres:
jakobsteve

Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

This is a great high gain pickup, very nice harmonics. Amazing Sound in general.

marcepan

Great pickup for metal

Have this in almost all my guitars, thats my favourite pickups

Artist usage

Add artist
See how James Hetfield uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

James Hetfield

Singer, Guitarist

Metallica

...
Verified via Photo

James Hetfield is known to have used a Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 pickup on early albums. A user-uploaded photo shows the Invader in the bridge position of his guitar.

See how Thomas DeLonge uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Thomas DeLonge

Singer, Guitarist

Blink-182

...
Verified via Photo

This pickup featured in Tom's custom shop Fender Stratocaster. It had a white or black Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader neck pickup in the bridge position.

See how Synyster Gates uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Synyster Gates

Singer, Guitarist

Avenged Sevenfold

...
Verified via Seymourduncan

players Synyster Gates

See how Troy Van Leeuwen uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Troy Van Leeuwen

Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

...
Verified via Seymourduncan

Troy Van Leeuwen uses the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8, as noted on the Seymour Duncan website.

See how Wes Borland uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Wes Borland

Singer, Guitarist

Limp Bizkit

...
Verified via YouTube

He uses Invader in his Jackson's King V and WR1.

See how Matt Pike uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Matt Pike

Guitarist

Sleep

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Matt can be seen with a Seymour Duncan Invader in this McNaught guitar.

See how Ola Englund uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Ola Englund

Guitarist, Podcasters & Streamers

Six Feet Under

...
Verified via YouTube

Ola Englund using Seymour Duncan Invader on this video.

See how Mark Morton uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Mark Morton

Guitarist

Lamb of God

...
Verified via Seymourduncan

Mark Morton uses the Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8, as highlighted on the Seymour Duncan website.

See how Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein

Guitarist

Misfits

...
Verified via Premierguitar

He uses Invader humbucker.

See how Willie Adler uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Willie Adler

Guitarist

Lamb of God

...
Verified via Guitar

According to Guitar Geek's rig diagram, Adler uses Seymour Duncan Invader pickup on his Framus guitar.

See how Glenn Danzig uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Glenn Danzig

Singer, Guitarist

Misfits

...
Verified via Photo

Used live during the 2015 Legacy Show

See how Karl Sanders uses Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

Karl Sanders

Guitarist

Nile

...
Verified via www.gear4music.com

He uses Invader as the only humbucker in his signature Dean model.

Album Usage

The Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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lyric_kayden

lyric_kayden

Gear IQ 1118

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