I've been looking at fishman fluence pickups for my 8 string and I find the diagrams they provide very confusing. Specifically; after reading the "connection functions" document (https://www.fishman.com/wp-content/u..._Functions.pdf), looking at the diagrams/descriptions for the Javier Reyes set (https://www.fishman.com/wp-content/u...luence-WEB.pdf), and factoring in my understanding of how to wire regular humbuckers, I just don't understand the pins/pads on the pickups actually do. I'll probably end up using one of the given schematics anyway so I don't really NEED to understand, but it's kind of irritating that I'm not able to anyway. I'm wondering if anyone else has the same experience, or has been better able to understand the docs/diagrams.
As an example, the Javier Reyes set have the 3-pad "Single Coil Mode Select" where you connect the middle pad to either side to select which coil is on when using single coil mode. In the "Artist Preferred Wiring" diagram the descriptions say the neck pickup is in single coil mode with the inner (bridge) coil in position 2, and single coil mode with the outer (neck) coil in position 4. Looking at the diagram, in position 4 the wiring coming from the middle pad is connected to the neck-side pad which makes sense, but in position 2 the middle pad is connected to ground instead of to the bridge side pad. Beyond that, the middle pad is also connected to ground in positions 1 and 3, and to the neck side pad in position 5 when single coil mode isn't even active. Given that the default is to use a solder bridge it's obviously okay for it be connected when not using single coil mode, but why make the extra connections?
Thinking about the way regular humbuckers are wired I start to assume that the 3 pads correspond to pickup wires where the middle pad is the series connection between the 2 coils, the bridge side pad is the other wire of the neck coil, and the neck side pad is the other wire of the bridge coil. This SEEMS to fit with the description of how the pads work; assuming the neck coil's start wire is grounded (bridge side pad), the neck finish and bridge finish are connected (middle pad), and the bridge start is hot (neck side pad) then connecting the middle pad to the bridge side pad would ground both ends of the neck coil and turn the bridge coil on. Similarly, connecting the middle pad to the neck side pad would make both ends of the bridge coil common to hot and turn the neck coil on. These assumptions would also explain why grounding the middle pad works in the "Artist Preferred Wiring" diagram.
If this is true though, why not label the pads accordingly? IIRC there actually were fluence pickups that used 2 pads called "SC" and "H" and you selected one coil or the other by either grounding "SC" or connecting it to "H", which makes it seem reasonable to assume that the 3 pads are just those 2 with an extra ground pad for convenience, but given that that would be useful information, the fact that they don't tell you that makes me question whether that's actually how it works.
Another strange thing in the docs is that they tell you explicitly that the HFT pad carries the audio signal, and that the "Voice 2 Select" pin does not, but then they don't tell you whether or not the other pins/pads do (with the exception of SCO, which has "output" right in the name).
Finally, there is a note that says "these instructions are not comprehensive. A skilled electronics technician can simply interpret this overview to create a wide range of custom wiring options." which makes me think they DO expect people to make these kinds of assumptions; so maybe I'm just not sufficiently "skilled" to be confident in making them?
Sorry for the some what unfocused question, just looking for some discussion really.
Thanks
As an example, the Javier Reyes set have the 3-pad "Single Coil Mode Select" where you connect the middle pad to either side to select which coil is on when using single coil mode. In the "Artist Preferred Wiring" diagram the descriptions say the neck pickup is in single coil mode with the inner (bridge) coil in position 2, and single coil mode with the outer (neck) coil in position 4. Looking at the diagram, in position 4 the wiring coming from the middle pad is connected to the neck-side pad which makes sense, but in position 2 the middle pad is connected to ground instead of to the bridge side pad. Beyond that, the middle pad is also connected to ground in positions 1 and 3, and to the neck side pad in position 5 when single coil mode isn't even active. Given that the default is to use a solder bridge it's obviously okay for it be connected when not using single coil mode, but why make the extra connections?
Thinking about the way regular humbuckers are wired I start to assume that the 3 pads correspond to pickup wires where the middle pad is the series connection between the 2 coils, the bridge side pad is the other wire of the neck coil, and the neck side pad is the other wire of the bridge coil. This SEEMS to fit with the description of how the pads work; assuming the neck coil's start wire is grounded (bridge side pad), the neck finish and bridge finish are connected (middle pad), and the bridge start is hot (neck side pad) then connecting the middle pad to the bridge side pad would ground both ends of the neck coil and turn the bridge coil on. Similarly, connecting the middle pad to the neck side pad would make both ends of the bridge coil common to hot and turn the neck coil on. These assumptions would also explain why grounding the middle pad works in the "Artist Preferred Wiring" diagram.
If this is true though, why not label the pads accordingly? IIRC there actually were fluence pickups that used 2 pads called "SC" and "H" and you selected one coil or the other by either grounding "SC" or connecting it to "H", which makes it seem reasonable to assume that the 3 pads are just those 2 with an extra ground pad for convenience, but given that that would be useful information, the fact that they don't tell you that makes me question whether that's actually how it works.
Another strange thing in the docs is that they tell you explicitly that the HFT pad carries the audio signal, and that the "Voice 2 Select" pin does not, but then they don't tell you whether or not the other pins/pads do (with the exception of SCO, which has "output" right in the name).
Finally, there is a note that says "these instructions are not comprehensive. A skilled electronics technician can simply interpret this overview to create a wide range of custom wiring options." which makes me think they DO expect people to make these kinds of assumptions; so maybe I'm just not sufficiently "skilled" to be confident in making them?
Sorry for the some what unfocused question, just looking for some discussion really.
Thanks
Comment