EMG SAVX vs Maverick 5 vs Fishman Fluence

[PFDarkside]

Has anyone directly compared these three pickup sets? They seem like the most “vintage” style of the modern active pickups. I have experience with the traditional EMGs and some day I’ll install these Fluence Classics, but I’m planning a Strat and these have my interest.

I have plenty of guitars with classic, vintage style Strat pickups, and I’ve also got one with Injectors and one with Fender’s latest noise cancelling pickups. For this one I’m interested in the benefits of active (buffered out, consistent volume roll down, etc.) plus the tonal options that either the Fluence Voices or EMG SPC will provide.


SAVX - Alnico pole pieces, X preamp, highest resonant point of any EMG Strat pixkup

Maverick 5 - Alnico pole pieces, traditional wind, retroactive

Fluence single width - Alnico poles, Fluence circuit board wind, dual mode preamp


I know it’s a bit odd, for vintage tones get vintage pickups, but I’m thinking of it from the other direction. And active, versatile guitar that sounds more vintage than the SAs do (which is cool and I’ll probably end up putting the 89/SA/SA combo in a guitar for that 80’s studio tone anyway sometime soon too)

I’d love to just buy all three and do a shootout but budget restricts that.

 

[donaldr]

I like my 60/S/S combo and very interested in the Maverick 5.
I just received a Fat 55 set for my Ibanez and will install them next week.

 

[PFDarkside]

I like my 60/S/S combo and very interested in the Maverick 5.
I just received a Fat 55 set for my Ibanez and will install them next week.

You know, I just got a (LTD exclusive) 60TW from eBay. I had planned on pairing it was an 81TW, but putting it in the bridge with two S singles sounds interesting. How would you describe that set? I’ve only ever used a 60 in the neck and never have played an S.

 

[donaldr]

How would you describe that set? I’ve only ever used a 60 in the neck and never have played an S.

I have the EMG 60/S/S set in a Godin Exit 22 (single-cut mahogany body with 24.75" maple neck and maple fingerboard). This is my most versatile guitar, but she's mostly shine in a band context (a bit sterile when playing alone at home). I really like the 60 in the bridge, and it's my personal favorite for '80 style music. I have a 3-way blade switch as I don't like the 2 and 4 positions. The S in the neck is crystal clear but not very warm, the S in the middle is very-very good and sounds almost like a single-coil in the bridge position (maybe because of the shorter scale), and the 60 can handle the rest. So without touching the volume I can go from a bluesy low gain riff on the neck to a crunchier bluesy riff in the middle (still single-coil sound) to a beefier bluesy/rock in the bridge.
But this guitar can also handles ZZ Top to Toto to Dokken just by using the volume knob.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I'm back to EMG for my active pickup wants. Recently, I learned the guitar you're hearing in Back to the Future for the Johnny B Goode solo was an EMG single coil loaded superstrat. Sure sounds vintage there.

 

[PFDarkside]

I'm back to EMG for my active pickup wants. Recently, I learned the guitar you're hearing in Back to the Future for the Johnny B Goode solo was an EMG single coil loaded superstrat. Sure sounds vintage there.

Yes, true! I assume three SAs, like Gilmour had in the 80’s/90’s.

 

[krovatron]

I have.

I would rank for purely vintage tone/vibe/feel:

1. Fluence (hands down)
2. Mav
3. SAVX

Note on the Fluence: the three pickup set is a PITA to install. I am a huge HSS fan and you cannot use the three set and replace the bridge with a humbucker. The bridge fluence single coil 'shares' its preamp with the middle and neck (which are essentially passive/unpowered). I am in the process of getting two SSA Fluence singles (active with preamp) for HSS configs.

The EMGs are easy peasy. I use to rock a 89x/SLV/SLV which I am probably selling soon due to my preference for the Fluence. I currently run a Fluence Classic or Modern 3 voice humbucker with the SLVs until the SSAs arrive.

 

[jeremy]

I'm back to EMG for my active pickup wants. Recently, I learned the guitar you're hearing in Back to the Future for the Johnny B Goode solo was an EMG single coil loaded superstrat. Sure sounds vintage there.

i just re-listened to that, and it doesnt sound very vintage to me at all. the rest of the band does, but the guitar sounds pretty modern to me.

i got a pair of emg sv when they came out and they sounded more stratty to me than the sa. doesnt sound like a '62 fender strat pup, but it does sound really good.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I have.

I would rank for purely vintage tone/vibe/feel:

1. Fluence (hands down)
2. Mav
3. SAVX

Note on the Fluence: the three pickup set is a PITA to install. I am a huge HSS fan and you cannot use the three set and replace the bridge with a humbucker. The bridge fluence single coil 'shares' its preamp with the middle and neck (which are essentially passive/unpowered). I am in the process of getting two SSA Fluence singles (active with preamp) for HSS configs.

The EMGs are easy peasy. I use to rock a 89x/SLV/SLV which I am probably selling soon due to my preference for the Fluence. I currently run a Fluence Classic or Modern 3 voice humbucker with the SLVs until the SSAs arrive.

Hit me up if you ditch the EMGs. Sounds like a good setup for one of my Strats.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

i just re-listened to that, and it doesnt sound very vintage to me at all. the rest of the band does, but the guitar sounds pretty modern to me.

i got a pair of emg sv when they came out and they sounded more stratty to me than the sa. doesnt sound like a '62 fender strat pup, but it does sound really good.

In the context of the song, I think it sounds way more like a 335 with PAFs than a super strat with EMG singles.

 

[krovatron]

Hit me up if you ditch the EMGs. Sounds like a good setup for one of my Strats.

PM

 

[PFDarkside]

PM

Are the SLVs as hot and dark as they sound in online demos? Are the SAVX substantially brighter/chimier?

 

[krovatron]

Are the SLVs as hot and dark as they sound in online demos? Are the SAVX substantially brighter/chimier?

Have a demo you're referencing you could share? I wouldn't consider them 'dark' but to be honest, it has been awhile since I have played a S or SAV to compare. I almost exclusively a humbucker guy who dabbles with HSS and a Tele every now and then. So not sure I would be much help as single coils always sound bright to me. I just know the Fluence still 'feel' and sound chimey like true passive single coils.