Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

[flyinryan11]

Anybody have experience with both sets? Cant seem to find out much info comparing the two. Going to try one of the sets in one of my les pauls but cant decide what to get...

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

I've got the EMG's in my seven string. Great pickups for an all around set. I've yet to try the Fishmans.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

I had the chance to directly A/B these very two sets in a showroom of an EMG dealer, in similar guitars. The difference was quite a bit, and the EMG dealers were converted. They were blown away, really.

You probably know what I think of them personally, I'm just trying to relay the third party reactions for you. Everyone else felt the EMG's were flat and dull by comparison. The 57/66 are much nicer sounding/feeling than other EMG's, I'm not knocking them and if you go with those, you will have a nice sounding guitar. With Fluence you'll have 2 voices, the ability to coil split if desired...

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

I had the chance to directly A/B these very two sets in a showroom of an EMG dealer, in similar guitars. The difference was quite a bit, and the EMG dealers were converted. They were blown away, really.

You probably know what I think of them personally, I'm just trying to relay the third party reactions for you. Everyone else felt the EMG's were flat and dull by comparison. The 57/66 are much nicer sounding/feeling than other EMG's, I'm not knocking them and if you go with those, you will have a nice sounding guitar. With Fluence you'll have 2 voices, the ability to coil split if desired...

And I've heard fantastic things about these pickups Frank. Honestly, with how much you talk about them, I'd love to pick up a set and drop them into my SG. Maybe next year or something. I agree that the 57/66 set is a great pickup from EMG. They really outdid themselves on those.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

I don't have experience with any Fishman pickups, but I have spent some time trying the 57/66 set in the Ibanez RG that seems to be a Guitar Center exclusive.

It does sound nice and more organic than the usual 81/85 or 81/60, but I was taken aback by how hot/loud it was. If it's PAF-inspired, it would be the hottest PAF set ever made. EMG specs seem to indicate that the output is on par with the 81, which I'd agree with. If you're comfortable with that level of output and/or active pickups in general, then you should be OK. If you're coming from a passive pickups background, be prepared to change your rig settings.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Fishman Fluence Classic or EMG 57/66

I don't have experience with any Fishman pickups, but I have spent some time trying the 57/66 set in the Ibanez RG that seems to be a Guitar Center exclusive.

It does sound nice and more organic than the usual 81/85 or 81/60, but I was taken aback by how hot/loud it was. If it's PAF-inspired, it would be the hottest PAF set ever made. EMG specs seem to indicate that the output is on par with the 81, which I'd agree with. If you're comfortable with that level of output and/or active pickups in general, then you should be OK. If you're coming from a passive pickups background, be prepared to change your rig settings.

It's not so much PAF copied as it is PAF inspired, meaning that EQ'ing and such is more like a PAF than something like the 81. I still think they're fantastic pickups all things considered.