Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

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$104.99 to $123.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (35)

5 Reviews

Find out who is using Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8

1 community setup

15 wishlisted

82 saved

Page last updated Jul 06, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated July 6, 2026.

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Price

$115.00

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5.0 (48)

$115.00

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4.6 (76)

$115.00

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5.0 (25)

$104.99 79 available New

$74.99 10 available Used

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5.0 (202)

$115.00

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$115.00

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4.7 (44)

$125.00 $123.00 $2.00 · All time low

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£139.00

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Average Price: $110

Standard/Professional

$99

$200+

Price Tier

In the Electric Guitar Pickups category, Seymour Duncan Invader SH-8 is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

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

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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.

Videos

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Science of Loud

Seymour Duncan Invader: Sound Samples

Science of Loud

Seymour Duncan - SH-8 - Invader - SH8

Dennis Kayzer

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

Gergo Hajer

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

Mike Stamper

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

Mike Stamper

Reviews

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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

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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.
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Rolling off the volume slightly helps maintain clean tones, as this pickup tends to push amps to breakup easily when played clean.
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Lowering bass and minimizing gain can make the Invader suitable for playing Grateful Dead-style music, despite its aggressive nature.
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Features and functionality

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

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Some owners recommend using 1 meg pots and SD Double Shot harnesses to enable series/parallel splitting for more tonal versatility with the Invader.
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Parallel wiring is recommended for better tonal quality, providing an unexpectedly good sound for such a high-output pickup.
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Comparisons

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The Seymour Duncan JB is noted as a cleaner alternative, offering better clarity and versatility for those seeking a less aggressive tone.
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Some users find the Invader less fizzy and more versatile than the EMG pickups they have experienced.
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Users find the Invader less suited for blues compared to models like Dirty Fingers, but some appreciate its crunch for non-traditional applications.
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Use cases and applications

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The Invader excels in high-gain, metal, and punk applications but may lack the nuance needed for clean tones, unless specifically modded or adjusted.
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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.
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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.
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The Invader can adapt to emo and high-gain metal genres, though amp choice significantly affects tonal outcome for blues and emo styles.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 35 Ratings

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ben_ferguson

381

over 8 years ago

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.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Blues Funk / Soul Metal

kiwi13

134

over 5 years ago

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

342

about 5 years ago

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:

Singer Guitarist

Genres:

Rock