Fishman Fluence pickups

[RareBird0]

I may be the first to buy and install this system in a G&L ASAT Classic. It is fan-freaking-tastic. I got a deal on the ASAT which had a dud bridge pup. Between $350 for the guitar and $350 for the Fluence system, I got a $700 guitar that plays and and sounds well, again, fan-freaking-tastic. I didn't have to drill anything. It did require soldering and some extension of wire that was not long enough, but that was it. The neck pickup is especially classic sounding. No noise--just great sound that is much more like what I want out of a neck single coil than the custom shop "Fat 50's" I have on my 2015 Fender American Standard HSS Shawbucker Strat. I wouldn't even bother to buy these for my strat now because I have that "real" sound I have been after. The Shawbucker is of course noiseless and that almost sounds like a bridge position single coil when you keep it under 8 on the volume. The bridge position on the ASAT Fluence lets me cover a whole gamut from chicken pickin' to to ballsy "gristle". I was sold watching Greg Koch demoing the system and I'm glad I could make it work in a G&L--though I'm not sure if doing this voids the warranty. It is made for Fender Telecasters but what's a G&L ASAT with a traditional ash tray bridge but a Fender As Same AS Telecaster. It's a system--not a pickup. So one has to go all-in. But you only live once.

 

[Billy1959]

From the pictures I've seen, it appears that the selector switch and pots are more or less joined together in such a way that you can't replace any of them. So if a pot goes out, will I have to buy an entirely knew control plate with all the parts?! And I would hate to think that I couldn't use my own pots in it. (I have certain ones I really like.)

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[WriteNoob]

From the pictures I've seen, it appears that the selector switch and pots are more or less joined together in such a way that you can't replace any of them. So if a pot goes out, will I have to buy an entirely knew control plate with all the parts?! And I would hate to think that I couldn't use my own pots in it. (I have certain ones I really like.)

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When I put mine in, it seemed a bit more than a traditional setup, but not undoable. If you'd be comfortable soldering on your average circuit board, I'd think you could handle it. Maybe contact Fishman and see if you can get discreet parts. The pots are minnies.

Personally, I can't see a reason for a pot swap, though. What came in mine are excellent. Great sweep, smooth, and very low drag. I would think if they can stand up to Greg Koch, they must be seriously well made. Just my opinion, of course. No expert, either. But none of it looked scary. It's different, but not alien tech different. Had mine in for about a year. No crop circles, yet.

[emoji15]And if they've been any probes, I have no recollection[emoji15]

Hope this has been some help.

 

[Billy1959]

Thanks! I like using linear pots, and I like to take them apart to remove the dampening grease so they'll be easier to turn. I generally use CTS pots for this since they're easy to take apart. See here:

 

[Billy1959]

I just want to play a Tele in person w the pups.

No way I would fork over the $$ w/o some trial of them.
My understanding that w the T control cavity installation, it can be a pia.

I think if you tried Dimarzio Area T or Kinman pickups either one, you'd be quite satisfied with their noiseless Tele tone. No one would ever guess they had a dummy coil. They just sound like typical Tele pickups minus the noise.

Nothing against the Fishman pickups. I'm sure they sound fine too. But they sound like a bit of a hassle.

 

[Doug 54]

I think if you tried Dimarzio Area T or Kinman pickups either one, you'd be quite satisfied with their noiseless Tele tone. No one would ever guess they had a dummy coil. They just sound like typical Tele pickups minus the noise.

Nothing against the Fishman pickups. I'm sure they sound fine too. But they sound like a bit of a hassle.

Thank you Billy.

I am happy w the Fralin Split Blades in one T and older Fender Samarium Cobalts in another, both noiseless.

Just am very curious to try the Fluence pups out

.

 

[Insearchoftone]

I gave em a try. took em out and sold em foer a loss of 50 bucks. Hassel putting in and didn't do anything for me sound wise. Lucky I hung on to my Texas Specials. Put them back in and sounds like a real Telecaster again. Nothing against Fishman, good that companies try new ideas maybe someday something will come of it.

 

[ebb soul]

I may be missing something here, but I don't see the point in inventing a complicated system that mimics a existing system.

 

[LtKojak]

The biggest advantage of using active p'ups is that they're low-impedance, so you can use any length of cable and use the volume control to its full extent without ever affecting the tone.

Plus, they allow the instrument to connect direct-to-desk in the studio, using amp modelers, fx plug-ins and what not, making the process of re-amping of the recorded parts a breeze.

@Billy1959: active p'ups use 25K audio pots, so no, you won't be able to use your favorite pots as they're not suitable for active p'ups. And considering the pots they use have been tested generating over a million turns without problems, the possibility of a pot failing on you in highly improbable.

HTH,

 

[Doug 54]

I may be missing something here, but I don't see the point in inventing a complicated system that mimics a existing system.

Lt. Kojak above nails it.

Even though my misic rm is grounded, the extraneous noises are obnob enuff I've gone total noiseless pups.

.
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[maxvintage]

These look interesting and the idea is clever. Printing instead of winding could be great unless you are convinced that the alleged magic of conventional pickups lies in the inconsistencies of wiring.

The price is not unreasonable considering that it's not just pickups, it's a control plate, battery, pots, electrosocket etc.

I like the traditional setup and I like innovation. I may order a set

 

[metalosophy]

I can't decide on these or not! Anyone else get them or play with them recently?

 

[Antigua Tele]

It really doesn't seem like. We need more heroes to volunteer to buy these things and tell us what they're all about.

 

[Insearchoftone]

Been a while now and though they didn't work out for me I have heard many people really do like them.

 

[stormin1155]

I installed a set of the humbuckers in a customer's Les Paul, and he is very happy with them. My limited experience of playing them while I had the guitar in the shop was positive too, though it's been a few months ago, and I don't recall exact details.

 

[WriteNoob]

I can't decide on these or not! Anyone else get them or play with them recently?

Top marks, from me. I've got the Tele's, strats, and classic HBs. The sound is articulate and vintage (IMO). The difference, to my ears is a bit more clarity and dynamic range. Also, they seem to put out the same level between the HBs and singles. This took just a little getting used to. It's nice if you change guitars/pickup types, say, during a gig. It doesn't mess with your amp settings, to do so. I'm just one opinion, of course, and as you can tell, I'm a bit enamored with them.

 

[RareBird0]

I think if you tried Dimarzio Area T or Kinman pickups either one, you'd be quite satisfied with their noiseless Tele tone. No one would ever guess they had a dummy coil. They just sound like typical Tele pickups minus the noise.

Nothing against the Fishman pickups. I'm sure they sound fine too. But they sound like a bit of a hassle.

No hassle whatsoever. The battery is part of the system so there is no need for a separate battery pack as is true for a Strat. Just put this in, charge every 200 hours through USB. Pots are smooth. There is no variation as you turn volume or tone. And there are two "voicings"--one is called the "black guard" sound which is the black pickquard '52 sound and the other is the "white guard" sound. I'm not sure what year they intend that to replicate but they get what they are after.

 

[RareBird0]

I may be missing something here, but I don't see the point in inventing a complicated system that mimics a existing system.

It's a new technology that "perfects" a more primitive technology. If you're OK with noise and other idiosyncrasies that show up in the luck of the draw, then don't get them. I've heard Teles that are keepers and others that are problematic. These pups are never a gamble. They hit the mark they shoot for every set.

 

[Antigua Tele]

It's a new technology that "perfects" a more primitive technology. If you're OK with noise and other idiosyncrasies that show up in the luck of the draw, then don't get them. I've heard Teles that are keepers and others that are problematic. These pups are never a gamble. They hit the mark they shoot for every set.

Your entire brief post history relates to Fishman Fluence pickups. Do you have a business relationship with Fishman?

 

[Steve_U1S]

A few months back I had the strange experience of test-driving a Fender Partscaster fitted with the Greg Koch pickup set - while Greg was standing there observing.
Yikes =]
He was doing a signing visit, but I didn't realize he was also demonstrating at a Fishman display at the event (alongside various other companies) - I happened to find that a person who'd formerly worked at that music store where the event was taking place now works for Fishman, and was there representing and such. He invited me in to try their wares, ultimately handing me that Tele, his personal partscaster, with the Gristle pickup set... next thing I know, the towering 6'-7" man himself trundled up and commenced observing and offering encouragement to carry on when I tried to give him back the spot to carry on demonstrating.

They sounded and responded great - I especially liked and preferred the 'Blackguard' mode. Bold and mid-strident.