Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Different approaches.

The Fishman Fluence variations are switchable whereas the Clapton MBK is continuously variable from zero to +lots of dBs.

With the Fluence Classic Humbucker, the voice switching flips between sounds that a Gibson pickup might reasonably be expected to produce. A Clapton MBK-equiped Stratocaster begins in "Fenderesque" sonic territory and rapidly shifts beyond that.

At the time of this posting, I am test driving a pair of Fluence Classics in my LTD EC401W. This guitar has been through a succession of EMG, Duncan and EMG-X active pickups with varying degrees of success. Were it not for the fact that the Classics are the wrong finish, they would be staying in the guitar.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Don't be hyped. Go and try a set in a guitar shop. If possible, A/B against a guitar with the nearest equivalent traditional pickup.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Got a set of Classics this afternoon and loaded them up in my Les Paul. Mon Dieu! What a difference from the moderns. I have been playing and experimenting with them this afternoon and this evening and am so far really impressed with the voices Fishman has created for these pups. I will give them a go for a week or so including some head to head comparisions with Seths, 59s, Sh-2n, etc...and let you know what I think (as if anyone cares...but what the heck, it gives me something to do when my fingers start to hurt).

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Got a set of Classics this afternoon and loaded them up in my Les Paul. Mon Dieu! What a difference from the moderns. I have been playing and experimenting with them this afternoon and this evening and am so far really impressed with the voices Fishman has created for these pups. I will give them a go for a week or so including some head to head comparisions with Seths, 59s, Sh-2n, etc...and let you know what I think (as if anyone cares...but what the heck, it gives me something to do when my fingers start to hurt).

Great! Looking forward to hear your report. :wave:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Pepe. You are known for preferring articulate P.A.F. style humbuckers. You have done session work using an EMG-loaded Yamaha Pacifica. IMO, you would be within your comfort zone, recording with Fluence Classic humbuckers.

 

[stancaster]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

I am getting more and more convinced that Fishman Fluence are the right pickups for me. Everything I've read and heard has been positive. now it comes down to what set to buy. From reading all the descriptions I think the Devin Townsend set would be best for what I need:
Voice 1 - "My heavy metal voice." Pole pieces for more "sonic havoc" when compared to blade magnets.

Voice 2 - "A low-gain, single coil, passive, sweet-sounding tone which I prefer in the single coil mode" that hits amps and compressors "just so." Creating a both-pickups-on clean tone and overall volume drop that enhances the effect of switching from dirty to clean sounds.
a good mix of sounds multiplied by the swithc option thing. Problen is I cannot find any demos or reviews of these pickups. Does anyone here have any first hand experience with them or some links to reviews and demos. The other problem is that I cannot find them for sale on ebay or Amazon. It seems strange that Fishman isn't distributing these pickups I thout they had been out for a while or am I wrong have they just been released?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

The DT model is pretty recent. Things take a while to trickle down - especially here in Europe.

Greg Koch has been promoting his signature T style pickups for over a year. Yet to see any on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Yeah Devin's pickups are new from NAMM. We completed R&D just prior to the show. He had been playing Fluence and various prototypes for awhile, listed as a Fluence artist so it may have seemed longer. I think like a lot of artist pickups the first batch goes to Framus for his signature guitars, then the next batch goes to customers. The Devin's have the most variety between the 1st and 2nd voice. On the other models, V1 and V2 are still different and unrelated, but work within a broader demographic to one another.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

The DT model is pretty recent.

Last I was told, should be about another week or so until released. Hopefully.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Now I promise I will not bother you every day with updates on the Fishman Classics but I feel like a kid at Christmas and just have to do one more update before the week or so passes.

I spent today playing the pups through my 5F1 amp and 1X12 Celestion V30 speaker cabinet - I figure you can't get any more pure amplification set up than that. As an aside I obviously didn't get any of my Saturday chores done and the wife is totally pissed...I told her who to blame but that didn't work either,,,oh well, some sacrifices have to be made in the name of whatever this is I am doing(goofing off might be one interpretation).

So, on to the point. The classics truly live up to their name in plural as they do have voices that clearly bring to mind many of the classic Les Paul pickup configurations. It's too early to name names, I have not gotten that far yet. But I have gotten far enough to say is that the Fishman Classics Humbuckers are a major league pickup they have a product to take on the big players. I know this sounds egotistical for an "amateur" (in the true definition of the word) making such a stilted statement but hey, it's a forum and there should be room for an egoist or two.

As always I have a postscript: I do miss the overdrive I could get out of the Ceramic bridge pup on the moderns.

 

[juka]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

...

As always I have a postscript: I do miss the overdrive I could get out of the Ceramic bridge pup on the moderns.

While you had the moderns installed, did you check out the modern alnico in the bridge, too?
Would be most interested in a comparison between the modern alnico as bridge and the classic.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Pepe. You are known for preferring articulate P.A.F. style humbuckers. You have done session work using an EMG-loaded Yamaha Pacifica. IMO, you would be within your comfort zone, recording with Fluence Classic humbuckers.

I'm looking a HB set that would offer me the same easiness to dial-in an usable sound as the EMGs on the single-coil side, specifically going direct-to-board and/or direct-to-sound-card to modeler software. Until now, all I've tried had a "plastic-y" quality that bothered me to no end.

Let's see if the Fluences will change that.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

While you had the moderns installed, did you check out the modern alnico in the bridge, too?
Would be most interested in a comparison between the modern alnico as bridge and the classic.

If you go back through the earlier posts, there are links to my reviews where I put the modern alnico in the bridge.

Maybe once the Townsend model ships, I'll look at doing an overall comparison between all 3 sets.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Let's see if the Fluences will change that.

Go for it.

Some of the British mail order retailers have started charging a sensible price for Fishman humbucker pairs. That is why I took the plunge. My local Fishman dealership still wants a non-refundable deposit against top whack price.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

While you had the moderns installed, did you check out the modern alnico in the bridge, too?
Would be most interested in a comparison between the modern alnico as bridge and the classic.

No, sorry I did not try that configuration. Too much of a traditionalist I guess, looking for bright bridge and mellow neck. I did put the 6db cut switch in the neck so the the bridge had more output than the neck.

 

[juka]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

If you go back through the earlier posts, there are links to my reviews where I put the modern alnico in the bridge.

Maybe once the Townsend model ships, I'll look at doing an overall comparison between all 3 sets.

Yes, please. Such a comparison would be highly welcome.

I've read your posts about the modern alnico in bridge position and they spurred my interest for a direct comparison between the modern alnico in the bridge and a classic.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Yes, please. Such a comparison would be highly welcome.

I've read your posts about the modern alnico in bridge position and they spurred my interest for a direct comparison between the modern alnico in the bridge and a classic.

I can speak of my personal preference for the type of stuff I play when I jam (playing beyond the realm of listen for test/review purposes)....which is that the hot rod V2 of the classic bridge would be something that I'd normally start with for my own personal bridge Humbucker goals. My own ideal for now might be the modern alnico V2 and the classic bridge V1 in a single Humbucker. Of course, that's only having heard those models. The modern ceramic V2 would work well for me with a bit of an EQ tweaking, as it's in that distortion-class range occupied with the likes of the Super D, 500T, etc.

 

[tonaholic]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

OK! Just ordered a Tele set for my Suhr antique. I was going to go with the Illitch + Lollars + Liberator for versatility and noise free performance while not losing the single coil magic. I'll record before/after when it's all set up and running. This will probably be late June/ early July as I've just gotten a new job, have 3 weeks to move then vacation before flying out of state for 1st week training before finishing moving in and finishing ramping up at the job. I say all that to let you guys know I do intend to share recordings but life is about to be crazy for me for ~2 months so please be patient. I know we all want more recordings of these bad boys. The HF tilt is very attractive.

 

[tonaholic]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

Also, the Sound on Sound review is a big selling point for me. It's non-youtube sound clips with methodological sound-comparisons. I really prefer the fishman tone against the BKP and feel it's a near draw/slight-win with the other set. The fact that they perform so well in this controlled setting is exciting.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar15/articles/fishman-fluence.htm

Direct link to sound clips

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar15/articles/fishman-fluence-media.htm

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker -any updates, it's been a couple of years

got an update today that the Devin Townsend set will be toward the end of the month.

in the mean time, I have a 6-string Stephen Carpenter set on the way.