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

[johnstone]

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

In that case, by default, a stock brand new Fender Am Std Telecaster will sound different straight out of the case.

Thank you I already know that and they don't sound as good except the ones with Texas Specials in them do sound pretty good but still pretty much the same that is why I am interested in the Fishmans or Seymour Duncan Hot Tele set.

 

[frankfalbo]

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

You know it just popped into my head to send you to Greg Koch's Facebook page. He's live right now (the videos remain after) but he just does live stream/hangouts and often times he's playing that Tele.

He's done a lot of work for Fender over the years, you can even ask him directly about differences between your Tele, new Teles, and his new pickups.

https://www.facebook.com/greg.koch.311/videos/10206521662701932/

https://www.facebook.com/infopimp/posts/10102327928334753

I'm not sure if either of these links will work, but you'll get the idea of where to find him if they don't.

 

[johnstone]

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

You know it just popped into my head to send you to Greg Koch's Facebook page. He's live right now (the videos remain after) but he just does live stream/hangouts and often times he's playing that Tele.

He's done a lot of work for Fender over the years, you can even ask him directly about differences between your Tele, new Teles, and his new pickups.

https://www.facebook.com/greg.koch.311/videos/10206521662701932/

https://www.facebook.com/infopimp/posts/10102327928334753

I'm not sure if either of these links will work, but you'll get the idea of where to find him if they don't.

Thankyou frankfalbo for the first link it had more real fun jamming guitar clips that were not just youtube crud from Pakistan or something I got several real good listens to what a Tele can do with various pickups but that guy Greg is so good its a little hard to separate the quality of the player from the quality of the pickups. Did find a Mexican Tele for $350 it is kinda beat up but I bought it anyhow while I'm trying to make achoice on pickups I can strip the Tele apart and get her cleaned up and replace anything that needs it. I have to say right now that I am leaning towards ordering a set of the Fishmans because it seems like the next generation of pickup and I would like to get in on it early for bragging right to my grandchildren if that ever happens although I hope they don't turn out like the Rotary engine Mazda that my dad thought was the way of the future. If anyone has a reason that I should not try the Fishmans let me know quick before I order them.

 

[darthphineas]

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

Greg is so good its a little hard to separate the quality of the player from the quality of the pickups.

Seems like several people have suggested that about Koch's playing.

 

[GilmourD]

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

Seems like several people have suggested that about Koch's playing.

Yeah, he's like Pete Thorn. Pete could fart in a carboard box and make it sound good.

 

[johnstone]

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

I ordered the Fishman Fluence Greg Koch Gristle Tone pickups should be getting them sometime late in June I figured it was time to poop or get off the pot I got the Telecaster for them and truth be told I have been spending more time playing it than fixing it up funny how a new guitar will sort of make you want to play more. Thank you to everyone here for their help telling about these pickups and showing me where I could lool to get mor information on them. Once I get them I'll drop back here and let you know what I think about them so so long for now. John

 

[darthphineas]

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

Yeah, he's like Pete Thorn. Pete could fart in a carboard box and make it sound good.

no doubt. that dude has me considering the Suhr Pickups Thornbucker set. there's also a Thornbucker + for the bridge, which looks cool! I also like that Shur uses those DiMarzio-like mounting feet, which can make it easy to swap around into some of those guitars that only allow room for them (i.e., certain EBMM models).

 

[Masta' C]

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

I ordered the Fishman Fluence Greg Koch Gristle Tone pickups should be getting them sometime late in June I figured it was time to poop or get off the pot ...

That's exciting, man! Can't wait to hear your impressions of them. Keep us updated!

 

[Nashvillebound]

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

Uh, interesting, got a sort of feel for how the Fisherman pickups sound but you didn't play very consistently from one setting to the next. That kinda makes it hard to really hear what the individual settings are supposed to sound like. In fact some of the settings sounded almost the same. As far as the other pickups go I don't see the point because they are in different guitars and of course they are going to sound different. Thanks for the attempt it is helpful for someone like me who never heard or in my case never even heard of Fisherman pickups. Just a little friendly advice, as they say, don't quit your day job.

 

[leevc5]

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

This old thread is winding down and so is my interest in it. When I stumbled across Fishman Fluence three months ago on a google search for “future pickups” I had no idea what they were. Searching further I came up with little so I started this thread to find out from people really in the know about pups (like Frankf, LtKojak, Doc… to name just a few) could tell me. And you did indeed tell me a lot and I have learned a lot more than just about Fluence pups.

In these three months I have been given the opportunity to play the Moderns, Classics and Greg Koch signature pickups. The Moderns I didn’t care for but that had more to do with personal preference than the pups themselves. The Classics I like and are still in my Les Paul today. The Greg Koch signatures I don’t like and again it has more to do with personal preference than the pups themselves.

In conclusion I like the Fluence concept and expect great things in the future from Mr. Fishman and company. IMO for now, I don’t like two out of three of the offerings I tried( due to my taste not that the pickups themselves have problems or inferior tones). The Classics are marginally better than the Seth Lovers, marginally in that they offer more tone options. The fact that a new technology product can sound as good as the well established SD pups is quite a feat. So, I wish all the best to Mr. Fishman and friends but for now Mr. Duncan is still the benchmark that all other pups are measured by.

 

[Hyperborea]

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

I've been planning on modding a Steinberger Synapse to be my "all-in-one-do-everything" guitar since I will be constrained on space for a while. My original plans were to use a set of 4 wire Seths that I have but the Classic Fluence humbuckers sound like a better solution. This is my thread on those plans. The current thinking is to wire up a super 5-way as neck, inside, both, outside, bridge and then use the tone pot to switch voices.

How well do the Fluence humbuckers split? Is there any problem using the push-pull provided in the kit for the volume - the taper is the same as the non-push-pull? The guitar is a single V & T so if I want to do the hi-fi tilt then I would need to use the volume pot for that.

If you mix inside and outside "coils" there is no need to flip the magnet like on traditional pickups, right? Also, is it possible to swap the covers? Having the plain black plastic cover on the Classic would leave the look of the guitar as it and would mix with the current black hardware the best but that's not a standard option - if not then I guess it's probably the black chrome covers.

 

[leevc5]

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

I've been planning on modding a Steinberger Synapse to be my "all-in-one-do-everything" guitar since I will be constrained on space for a while. My original plans were to use a set of 4 wire Seths that I have but the Classic Fluence humbuckers sound like a better solution. This is my thread on those plans. The current thinking is to wire up a super 5-way as neck, inside, both, outside, bridge and then use the tone pot to switch voices.

How well do the Fluence humbuckers split? Is there any problem using the push-pull provided in the kit for the volume - the taper is the same as the non-push-pull? The guitar is a single V & T so if I want to do the hi-fi tilt then I would need to use the volume pot for that.

If you mix inside and outside "coils" there is no need to flip the magnet like on traditional pickups, right? Also, is it possible to swap the covers? Having the plain black plastic cover on the Classic would leave the look of the guitar as it and would mix with the current black hardware the best but that's not a standard option - if not then I guess it's probably the black chrome covers.

The Humbucker split no problem. I have the outer coils "tapped on my Les Paul and they sound great.
http://fluence.fishman.com/files/fluence_humbucker_coil_tapping.pdf

No problems with the push pull pots provided except they provide short shaft pots. If you need long shaft you should ask Fishman to provide them or be prepared to do a little woodworking to make the short shafts work.

I no nothing about the covers, you might want to ask Fishman support. They respond quickly and with thorough answers to our questions.

http://fluence.fishman.com/files/fluence_modern_humbucker_install_guide.pdf

 

[Hyperborea]

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

Well, I asked the Fishman support folks about my questions and I got a reply today.

With the Fluence Humbuckers, they retain humbucking when paired and coil split according to the diagram. If both CT contacts are connected to ground, you get the inner coils and hum cancelling. To get the outer coils, connect CT to H on each pickup. There is no need to flip a magnet (besides the pickups are potted in epoxy and can't be disassembled).

Coil splitting and voice selection are independent functions. The preamp determines the resonant frequencies of each voice. When coil splitting, you get a reduction in level and the tone changes from the magnetic view of the string being one side only. The resonant frequency however will remain constant.

Another wiring possibility with a 5-way super switch and a pair of Fluence humbuckers is to wire the voice switching to the five positions. For example, the first two positions could be bridge voice-1 and bridge voice-2., etc.

Unfortunately, the Classic pickups are not available in black plastic. We just have the Black nickel.The covers cannot be changed out. The pots are all 25K and you can use the push/pull pots for both volume and tone. If you need further help, let me know.
​

I bolded the part above for emphasis. So, it appears that splitting with the Fluence is mostly a waste of time.

I'm going to go ahead with my original plans of using a pair of Seths and running a sort of PRS wiring - neck, inside, both, outside, bridge - with maybe a half out of phase on the tone. I've already got a set of 4 wire Seths lying around from another project that didn't happen so I can try that first. If it doesn't work out then maybe I'll consider the Fluence.

 

[Mincer]

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

I think you'll love the Seths. Beautiful pickups, there.

 

[leevc5]

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

Well, I asked the Fishman support folks about my questions and I got a reply today.

With the Fluence Humbuckers, they retain humbucking when paired and coil split according to the diagram. If both CT contacts are connected to ground, you get the inner coils and hum cancelling. To get the outer coils, connect CT to H on each pickup. There is no need to flip a magnet (besides the pickups are potted in epoxy and can't be disassembled).

Coil splitting and voice selection are independent functions. The preamp determines the resonant frequencies of each voice. When coil splitting, you get a reduction in level and the tone changes from the magnetic view of the string being one side only. The resonant frequency however will remain constant.

Another wiring possibility with a 5-way super switch and a pair of Fluence humbuckers is to wire the voice switching to the five positions. For example, the first two positions could be bridge voice-1 and bridge voice-2., etc.

Unfortunately, the Classic pickups are not available in black plastic. We just have the Black nickel.The covers cannot be changed out. The pots are all 25K and you can use the push/pull pots for both volume and tone. If you need further help, let me know.
​

I bolded the part above for emphasis. So, it appears that splitting with the Fluence is mostly a waste of time.

I'm going to go ahead with my original plans of using a pair of Seths and running a sort of PRS wiring - neck, inside, both, outside, bridge - with maybe a half out of phase on the tone. I've already got a set of 4 wire Seths lying around from another project that didn't happen so I can try that first. If it doesn't work out then maybe I'll consider the Fluence.

When I was checking out the Fluence (and I spent many hours comparing them to other pups) I found that the Seths and the Fluence V1 voice were almost indistinguishable. I had Seths in my Les Paul and was very happy with them. I think they are the best Humbuckers going for the Les Paul classic tone. I'm sure you will be happy with the Seths. But: "If achieving a true single coil voice is important, the Fluence Devin Townsend humbuckers have an electronically controlled coil tap feature that also shapes the tone to provide an accurate single coil sound. It's like going from a guitar with active pickups voiced for heavy metal, to a telecaster at the flick of a switch."