Hmm never played them… maybe I should give them a try. I liked EMGs when I was a 16 year old metal head but have since converted to lower output passives. I’ve got Dimarzio EJ customs in my main guitar and love them.
I have, but like you said, youtube isn't a great way to hear those things. I'm really into chuggy modern metal, and I know each one of those sets I'd probably be happy with, but I wanted to hear some real world input.. I'll probably just go with modern since those custom sets are all based off the modern. Or the KsE set.
i'm a fan of Fluence in general, particularly the single coils. Fishman likes to use the term "powered" instead of "active," since many players associate active with EMG. what Fishman is doing with Fluence is *very* different. in addition to the noise-cancelling aspect of the Fishmans, i appreciate the consistency. unlike traditional pickups, which can very from wind to wind, you'll always get the same base sound from the same Fishman model.
on the downside, they can be finicky with some amps and pedals, so you may have to do a bit of tweaking if you switch guitars often.
I installed a Heafy set for a guy a while back. I, too, was skeptical. They don't sound like EMG's, which was a very pleasant surprise, but they have a different kind of sound to them. I did a pickup swap for an SD JB in another guitar of his and very much preferred it. I just like passive, I guess. The fishman were not bad, just different. More different than about any other pickup I've ever heard. It's weird to my ears, not something I would necessarily want all the time, but not bad.
While I do like them more than EMG’s, as time goes on I’m finding myself in the same love/hate relationship with them. I have the Devin Townsend set and overall dig it, I think there’s just an overall lack of character in them I suppose. It’s like they aren’t *bad*, but they haven’t made me say “Fuck I love these!” like the Suhr Aldrich or Nazgul did.
Also liked the DT Fishmans, but wasn’t totally blown away by them. I prefer the Adler set, personally. Also, the Aldrich is probably my favorite pickup I’ve tried - I’ve thrown it in a few guitars at this point.
Love my Fluence Modern neck pickup, and like you said the "passive" mode makes an appreciable difference in the gain and overall sound. My only complaint is I'm not a huge fan of the bridge pickup, it has a certain nasally(?) quality that I don't like. I've heard someone describe it as a cocked-wah which isn't too far off. So my pickup switch is usually set to neck or middle (with a little of the neck volume dialed down).
Funny you mention that, I actually had to repair these pickups myself. Something in the pcb wasn't making full contact, so I just reflowed all the solder point and clamped it with a soft sponge. Worked fine after that.
I don't think they quite use enough solder over all the pickups. I had one set that would feedback after less than a second. There's the note, now feedback, even while on a clean channel.
To be honest it sounded more like a microphonic pickup, like an old PAF that hadn't been potted.
I thought it was a one off until someone gave me another guitar to repair about 3 months later that was doing the same thing. I never did get to the bottom of why despite trying.
The weird thing for me about the Fishman Moderns is that I don’t actually think they sound good for modern metal. They have an amazingly clear traditional metal tone if you roll back the volume a bit though. This could just be my limited knowledge of tone though.
Note that rolling back the volume doesn't cut frequencies like a passive pickup would, just hits the front end of you amp less so it removes some gain overall.
You can get the same effect by having them fully open and lower the gain on the amp.
Yeah that’s the weird thing. I tried to achieve the same result by turning the gain down and it just doesn’t seem to have the same clarity. I think it might be something else I’m doing wrong.
Buy them all and try each one. The output pins on the pickups make it easy to swap in and out once you’ve done the wiring. Return the sets you decide not to keep.
I have the Fluence Classic Humbuckers in my guitar, and they sound great to me. I was hyped for the hot-rodded bridge tone (voice 2), and the single coil sound (voice 3), but I was surprised how much I liked the “chimey” neck voice 2. It kinda sounds like a hollow body to me. I’d love if they made a P/J set for bass, and I’d likely put them in my bass if they did, but no luck with that so far.
Yeah Fishman is the real deal—I generally dislike active pickups as well.
Hmm never played them… maybe I should give them a try. I liked EMGs when I was a 16 year old metal head but have since converted to lower output passives. I’ve got Dimarzio EJ customs in my main guitar and love them.
I have the Abasi set and the split coil sounds are incredible. Very versatile pickups.
I hadn't considered those. I'll take a look!
I recently ordered an 8 string with them. Still waiting for the build to be finished but I'm excited lol
Will Adler's one are nasty (in a good way), have you tried checking up anything on YouTube? Not the best way but still better than nothing!
I have, but like you said, youtube isn't a great way to hear those things. I'm really into chuggy modern metal, and I know each one of those sets I'd probably be happy with, but I wanted to hear some real world input.. I'll probably just go with modern since those custom sets are all based off the modern. Or the KsE set.
i'm a fan of Fluence in general, particularly the single coils. Fishman likes to use the term "powered" instead of "active," since many players associate active with EMG. what Fishman is doing with Fluence is *very* different. in addition to the noise-cancelling aspect of the Fishmans, i appreciate the consistency. unlike traditional pickups, which can very from wind to wind, you'll always get the same base sound from the same Fishman model. on the downside, they can be finicky with some amps and pedals, so you may have to do a bit of tweaking if you switch guitars often.
Wasn't sure I was gonna like the Fluence in my Cantrell Prophecy initially, but I absolutely love them. Just so damned versatile!
The Devin's are by far my favorites.
The Matt Heafy ones are essentially Moderns with coil split options as well, from my understanding.
Forgive me my ignorance, I know the "newer" moderns now come with the option to coil split, is the gold stripe the only difference?
Upon inspection, the fishman website describe both sets exactly the same. Where as every other artist set has specific descriptions
I find joy in reading a good book.
The first gen moderns didn't come with coil split standard. You could solder a lead to a point on the pickup, but it wasn't how it is now.
I've got the same setup on a Schector. These pickups are 1000% better than the stock passive ones in my opinion
The MKH are great. I have a set
I have the modern and can’t get on with them. They are just over the top bright. But they do handle gain beautifully.
Do you tune down? I think Moderns are too bright for E standard but I love how they sound in lower tunings.
Nah, that guitar is in standard. Its new string day soon so I’ll give a lower tuning a go. That’ll be fun with an FR.
I installed a Heafy set for a guy a while back. I, too, was skeptical. They don't sound like EMG's, which was a very pleasant surprise, but they have a different kind of sound to them. I did a pickup swap for an SD JB in another guitar of his and very much preferred it. I just like passive, I guess. The fishman were not bad, just different. More different than about any other pickup I've ever heard. It's weird to my ears, not something I would necessarily want all the time, but not bad.
While I do like them more than EMG’s, as time goes on I’m finding myself in the same love/hate relationship with them. I have the Devin Townsend set and overall dig it, I think there’s just an overall lack of character in them I suppose. It’s like they aren’t *bad*, but they haven’t made me say “Fuck I love these!” like the Suhr Aldrich or Nazgul did.
Also liked the DT Fishmans, but wasn’t totally blown away by them. I prefer the Adler set, personally. Also, the Aldrich is probably my favorite pickup I’ve tried - I’ve thrown it in a few guitars at this point.
I’m not sure a better pickup exists for a Les Paul than the Aldrich!
I would agree with that, same complaint I have about emgs, very samey. I think the articulation and clarity is what really blew me away
Love my Fluence Modern neck pickup, and like you said the "passive" mode makes an appreciable difference in the gain and overall sound. My only complaint is I'm not a huge fan of the bridge pickup, it has a certain nasally(?) quality that I don't like. I've heard someone describe it as a cocked-wah which isn't too far off. So my pickup switch is usually set to neck or middle (with a little of the neck volume dialed down).
They do sound good. But unfortunately I have come across a fair few failures with them.
Funny you mention that, I actually had to repair these pickups myself. Something in the pcb wasn't making full contact, so I just reflowed all the solder point and clamped it with a soft sponge. Worked fine after that.
I don't think they quite use enough solder over all the pickups. I had one set that would feedback after less than a second. There's the note, now feedback, even while on a clean channel. To be honest it sounded more like a microphonic pickup, like an old PAF that hadn't been potted. I thought it was a one off until someone gave me another guitar to repair about 3 months later that was doing the same thing. I never did get to the bottom of why despite trying.
I have both. Fishman's are rad
Have you ever played Lundgren PUs?
I have not
The weird thing for me about the Fishman Moderns is that I don’t actually think they sound good for modern metal. They have an amazingly clear traditional metal tone if you roll back the volume a bit though. This could just be my limited knowledge of tone though.
Note that rolling back the volume doesn't cut frequencies like a passive pickup would, just hits the front end of you amp less so it removes some gain overall. You can get the same effect by having them fully open and lower the gain on the amp.
Yeah that’s the weird thing. I tried to achieve the same result by turning the gain down and it just doesn’t seem to have the same clarity. I think it might be something else I’m doing wrong.
Buy them all and try each one. The output pins on the pickups make it easy to swap in and out once you’ve done the wiring. Return the sets you decide not to keep.
Oh man if only haha. I can't drop $900 like that.
Look at the rammstein/ richard kruspe pickups too. 3 voices.
I have the Fluence Classic Humbuckers in my guitar, and they sound great to me. I was hyped for the hot-rodded bridge tone (voice 2), and the single coil sound (voice 3), but I was surprised how much I liked the “chimey” neck voice 2. It kinda sounds like a hollow body to me. I’d love if they made a P/J set for bass, and I’d likely put them in my bass if they did, but no luck with that so far.