Seymour Duncan Duncan Designed Detonator

16.8 Ohm resistance, high output, passive, 4 conductor, Humbucking pickup. Wired to coil split if desired. Looks hardcore.

Installed on an '06 Epi Les Paul Studio (Custom Shop), bridge position. Replaced Epi humbucker. Neck has standard Epi humbucker.Only other people using this are garage band thrashers. Musicians with money wouldn't buy a $40 pickup. Troy VanLeeuwen / Queens of the Stone Age (bridge), Mike Chlasciak / Halford (bridge), Whitey Kirst / Iggy Pop (bridge), Rick Jackett / finger eleven (bridge), Will Adler & Mark Morton / Lamb of God (bridge) play the big brother, the Invader.

I changed up pickups because the bridge on the Epi was not hot enough for me. I needed more growl and more power for playing metal and getting consistent pinch harmonics that didn't sound like crap.

Output is hot, but not super hot. If i upgrade, it'll be to a dimebucker.

The guitar is being run through a Morley Wah, Boss MT2, Boss GE7, 500W Peavey Renown.

if the guitar was stolen, i'd get an ibanez or Schecter... but if some retard ripped out that one pickup, i'd probably drop the cash for an invader or dimebucker. thats why they invented insurance, right?

I've been playing for about 10 years on various guitars. I've stuck with Gibson because i like the scale length, but Ibanez is a close second, with fender coming in a lame third. The Gibson is the newest guitar of my collection, hence why it hadn't been hot-rodded yet.

This pickup is OK. Better than stock... thats about it. You get what you pay for - $40 doesn't get you a whole hell of a lot. Its better than nothing, but not near as good as a real SD. I've played with the higher end Duncan products... compared to those, this is garbage. compared to what the guitar came with, this is gold if you're a hard rocker.

It would be better with adjustable pole pieces and larger magnets... but then it would cost $150.

It isn't what i'm looking for, but its closer than what I had before. worthy of $40 for a year before i ante up for a high dollar axe.

If you're looking for something to distort, this is not too bad. Great for the money.

Pickup features: Passive, black oxide pole pieces
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Warrior (WRXT)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Punk sounding music
Reason for pickup change: This is just an updated and more accurate rating of a past post. I wanna make sure buyers get proper description.

Perceived output level: High output. Fair pickup for general heavy music's simple rhythm parts.
Tone: Fat, thick, aggressive crunch. Punchy fiery crunch (palm muting defines this). Good for lower end tones, I think.
Sonic evaluation: Still using 65w Crate solidstate amp with MXR Super Compressor and Maxon 6 band Graphic EQ. My tone is bright live. When I record, I have to dial in bass at the board, which is good for more sonic control on a piercing tone. When I play the Warrior through this setup, the pickups don't have geat dynamic range. I feel they lack personality. If you play heavy rock and not alot of lead work, you'll get thick rhythmic tone, but as for lead guitar, I found the bridge and neck pickup to lack even good lead tone as they seem better suited for rhythm. If you tune down a whole step fom E to D, it probably would sound cool, but anything lower the pickups lack enough output.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play what you would percieve as punk with an '80's thrash metal tone. The pickup can work on simple power rhythms.

Comments: While the pickup is in the axe I'll deal with it because I can achieve a different pickup tone on my guitars tracks. It's always nice to have some kind of different tones to work with especially when you just use distortion like I do. Something as simple as a pickup can excite me--I even wrote a short track based around the pickup that contained lead guitar with neck and bride settings. It came out well, but the pickup sounds are limited. I've been grinding that axe for 10+ years and have pretty much been a (super)strat and amp fella (with a slight foray into rack eqipment...I think we know how that turned out). I own 3 Jackson Dx10d's with pickups that are harmonicly rich and a Morley wah I pull out sometimes. I hate the Detonator pickups 'lack of personality'--they just make me want to 'chug' along and that's all they inspire me to do. The axe the pickups are in plays very well for the low-mid price and I can see why the company matched this pickup choice with this guitar, but if you've been playing for a while and you've learned more than the basic barre/power chord, these pickups might make you crazy with boredom they're that undynamic.I already own my dream sound believe it or not (it's pretty generic), but the Detonator's do not add anything to the tone but a fat thickness I can do without. Try this pickup out in a store in whatever amp and e.q. settings you want and if you've been playing as long as I have, you will not be impressed, maybe, but largely no.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: DeArmond 75
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: 59 at neck
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): Rock, Punk. Pop
Reason for pickup change: I found the stock pickups to be muddy and just wanted to mess around with different pickups.

Perceived output level: Lots more than the goldtones
Tone: trebly with crunch
Sonic evaluation: I use a flextone III plus mainly. Sometimes I use my friends 50 watt sun head and cab. I also have some diffent amps setting around. It has a lot of treble which works for this chambered guitar. The mix of the 59 and this pickup give a somewhat unexpected sound. It has all the crunch and treble and also the warmness of the 59. The sound is great for rock. The pick up by it self is good distorted and can give some good sounds clean. That is if you want a very punchy harsh clean sound.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: punk, I guess.

Comments: If it were stolen I would think it was strange that someone stold a pickup out of a guitar and left the guitar. That would be alot of work. Umm, I might try the invader if I lost it but I am no hurry for a change. I like the sound. It is different from almost all guitars you will hear. Oh yeah, I have been playing for over 8 years.

Pickup features: Humbucker, passive, big, black oxide screws (it looks dangerous)
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Warrior (WRXT)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Raw modern rock (but don't think anything on the radio)
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Pretty high output. It basically sets recording tracks on fire. Modern destruction tones.
Tone: A fiery grinding tone. Abrasive. Muddy-ish on clean settings (duh).
Sonic evaluation: The Warrior played through my Crate MX65R amp. I once seriously thought to change pup's 2 months ago because of the lack of the pup's lack of definition, but I've sworn off ultra technical playing in favor of simple concise songs. The pup's give my simple tunes a fiery edge I can use for my simple tone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play raw modern rock. Any piece of gear can work for you with the right forethought.

Comments: Possibly I'd purchase the pickup again. Been playing at least a decade. I own other low-end Jackson's. I love it's abrasive tone (and in my mind, my Dean Markley Fretblasters strings seem to enhance it).
I chose the guitar 'cause I liked it. The pup's you adjust to them ,or not (nice guitar though). I wish the pup focused on frequencies I guess, if you don't like the pickup...just move on.
The pickup's actually help me to channel a different mindset when thinking about tone. They help me in creating more grinding noisy heavy music, whereas I was just thinking in general hard rock tones.
If you want fiery grind to your three chord rock- buy an axe eqipped with the Detonator pickup.

Pickup features: Passive Hummer
Impedence or other specs: Dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Warrior XT
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: N/A (came with these)
Other pickups on guitar: Detonator
Artists using this pickup: Hopefully, nobody
You musical style(s): '70s-'80s Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: Nobody'll ever have one :o)

Perceived output level: Too hot for my liking
Tone: Muddy, completely unbalanced (mids scooped out almost completely)
Sonic evaluation: My rig consists of a V-Amp going either direct into PA or into a VOX 30W amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is unsuitable anywhere near electric guitars.

Comments: This hummer model is simply a hunk of junk. Completely unbalanced - strumming a G chord results in MUD and arpeggiating it results in some bass, almost no mids and way too much highs. On distrotion it sounds .. well, distorted, but completely dull, no tone at all.
Not to mention that it easily overdrives the amp/effects pedal - no thanks, I've got an amp to get the drive, don't need that from the pup.
By the way, this is a review of the pup installed in the bridge position. I could not find *any* use for the one installed in the neck pos - simply unusable.
My advice: run for cover!

Pickup features: Humbucker passive yea
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Squier StageMaster standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: more stock
Artists using this pickup: uhh dunno
You musical style(s): i like classic rock grunge and metal
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to try to expirement with my sound

Perceived output level: Really high pitched, def. hot
Tone: bassy and trebly, real good for grunge
Sonic evaluation: squier stagemaster into a boss ds1 into a peavey rage 108

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play grunge and metal, not good enough for classic rock yet :) i like it for that sound

Comments: If it were destroyed, well i wouldnt miss it, but thats only because i just got it today, id take it back and get a new one. I have been playing for around 2-2.5 years. I like its sound, do far, but i dont like how open it is, the tape could be on it a little better. I didnt really compare it to other products, just looked sawthat it looked cool and bought it. I wish it came with a few hookers but yea, thats asking too much huh? Not sure if im really satisfied yet, i may buy more just to try them out. I like it so far, if you have a little money and some soldering skills, why not try it? and if you dont like it put it in a cheap guitar and sellt it on ebay, custom guitars are coll haha.

Pickup features: PassiveHumbucking pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Squier Tom Delonge Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: None, it's a one pickup guitar
Artists using this pickup: Tom Delonge, not anymore
You musical style(s): Rock, Punk
Reason for pickup change: No reason, was stock

Perceived output level: Really really hot, it's almost the same as the invader
Tone: it is mixed with a muddy, beefy sound on distortion and a nice creamy sound on clean
Sonic evaluation: It is stock on the fender squier tom delonge strat. i tried it with a marshall mgd30dfx and it is perfect! the sound is so blink 182 punk.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It is for the bridge and maybe the neck im not sure, but what im sure of is this is definatley a choice for punk rock!

Comments: If it was destroyed or stolen, id probably not buy it again and the reason is that it is a knock off of the invader which is the best punk pickup for me. it's still good

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez S470 DXQM
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell
Artists using this pickup: Don't care.
You musical style(s): Steve Vai and Joe Satriani style
Reason for pickup change: stock pups wheren't that great, but now the stock bridge is highly wanted back.

Perceived output level: Less than the Invader, average for a passive pickup
Tone: The kind you'd expect from a low-end-beginners Yamaha.
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez - VOX Wah - Rat - SM7 - Spider 212

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pup would be good for distorted white noise metal, maybe not even for that...it's pretty much a worthless pup

Comments: Piece of crap. I've been playing for 8 years and this is the worst pickup I've played through. Some will like this pickup, but if you have an even slightly more mature taste in music and sound than punk rock, you will not like this pickup at all. It sounds like the pickup is drowning in a water trough in the middle of a large field. First time I played it I thought I had my amp tuned to flange...I didn't, the pickup was making the fluctuation. This pup has NO tone. The sound is just plane FLAT (not flat as in sharp vs. flat, flat as in boring with no distinction); no good for cutting through the mix, only good for adding to it. I'm never taking Guitar Center's advice again. If you want your guitar to have some distinction, some flavor, and some tone, DO NOT BUY THIS PICKUP. I'm going and out buying an Evolution, FRED or Tone Zone as soon as I can.

Pickup features: Humbucking, ceramic magnet, black oxide screw caps
Impedence or other specs: Import version of the SH8 Invader

Model of guitar or bass: Oscar Schmidt OE30B Semi Hollow Body (ES-335 style)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Washburn 423
Other pickups on guitar: Guild/DeArmond M-Series Humbucker
Artists using this pickup: Lots of people use the real Invader, like Tom Delonge, The Guy from Filter, etc
You musical style(s): Punk of all kinds
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups weren't my cup of tea, I have a real SH8 Invader in my solid body, and I liked the sound, but couldn't justify spending $75 on a pickup for a $150 guitar.

Perceived output level: Fairly hot, very "dangerous" sound, definetly not for those seeking vintage tones. If you know what the Invader sounds like, this one sounds just like it, except it's output IS lower when I compared them.
Tone: Pretty balanced with a good amount of bass, and just enough mids to give it good definition.
Sonic evaluation: Well, my Marshall is being borrowed, so I had to try them out on my Vox mini amp. The Detonator sounds pretty much just like the Invader, with a little less output. With the Invader I can't get a clean tone to save my life, with the Detonator, I can. Which may or may not be a bad thing. Distortion is where this pickup excels, and really shines.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play punk of all kind, even though I'm a bass player by trade. I do own 2 guitars on which I write songs for my band, and just play around on. This pickup is a great match for any kind of heavier rock. Definetly not a vintage type sound however.

Comments: I have similar setups in both my guitars, my solid body is a DeArmond M65-C, with an SH8 Invader at the bridge, and a DeArmond Gold Tone at the neck, combined it gives the perfect match of vintage, warm distortion and a modern heavy & thick distortion. My hollow body gets a sweet tone now, with both the pickups replaced. For $30, I don't think you can find a much better pickup, after all, these are designed my Seymour Duncan. (FYI, the "Duncan Performer" series, which is for sale exclusively at Guitar Center stores are the same pickups installed OEM on any guitar with "Duncan Designed" pickups. The Performer series are meant to upgrade entry level and mid level instruments where spending upwards of $50 may be ridiculous or unfeasible for the player)
While I like the Detonator, I can't give it a full 10 when compared to the real McCoy. But it is an outstanding value if you're looking to pump new life into your Epi, Mexi Fender/Squier, etc.

Pickup features: Passive high output humbucker
Impedence or other specs: i dont know

Model of guitar or bass: One pickup B.C. Rich Bronze Warlock (bought it for $99!!!)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: shitty stock pickup
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: me, (tom delonge from blink 182 uses the invader, the detonator is based on this)
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: needed to make that guitar sound like more than the 100 bucks i paid for it, also wanted to prove that it is NOT only a punk rock pickup(based on the invader)

Perceived output level: Way more bass than stock, fatter, and a hell of a lot more powerful
Tone: Bassy (which i like) and fat treble
Sonic evaluation: Warlock-----DigiTech Rp100------Peavey TransTube 112 100W combo with my band Paradygm
www.paradygm.tk we kick ass!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play melodic hardcore/nu metal, and the pickup is also good clean but it is not good for much else, too fat

Comments: If it were stolen/destroyed...etc, i would be disappointed. But i would save up the extra cash to but the same guitar (i mean that) and yet again take out the shitty stock and put in another detonator. this pickup shows that you dont have to have a million bucks for a good pickup. By the way do NOT put it in a les paul, it will sound like ass. Because of that i almost took it back, but it sounds so good in the warlock that i am glad i did not. Put it in a bright sounding guitar and riff away!