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

Is there any reason why, after the Voice switching, the signal from Fishman Fluence pickups could not be run through an onboard signal booster such as the EMG-PA2 or -SPC?

I am aware that the Voice switching is precisely that, a switch. On/off. Yes/no.

The Tilt switch appears to engage a high frequency roll-off filter. It would be useful if this could be tweaked with a trim pot. Perhaps, it already can, provided that the end user wires one into circuit?

 

[leevc5]

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

Wow! I am overwhelmed by the last three posts. The Moderns that I spent a lot of time with gave me eight distinctly different voices on my Les Paul. If I would have tried coil tapping, which Fishman provides the wires for, I could have probably doubled that. Although the Moderns were not my cup of tea they certainly were excellent pickups providing more than adequate voices for the genre they were designed for. I can't see why anyone would want to tweek them any further.
Hopefully I will be trying out the Classics in the next couple of weeks and expect to find them to cover the full spectrum of vintage humbucker voices based on my experience with the Moderns.
If anything I would think Fishman would be looking at going to the next level and introduce a set of "Heavies". Maybe covering something like SD: Custom; P Rails; JB; Distortion Blackouts and Black Winter.
I think with this Classics, Moderns and "Heavies" lineup they would pretty much have the entire field covered with 24 voices not including coil tapping. Maybe Devin Townsend Set will be the "Heavies" I have mentioned, haven't heard much about them.

 

[frankfalbo]

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

For some users of the Classic Humbucker, F-spacing of the polepieces on the bridge/Treble position pickup would be advantageous.

The Classics are already 49/52.6 spaced neck and bridge.

You can use any booster/mid boost you want, though something like The Redeemer (a clean buffer) is not necessary because Fluence have a 2k output impedance and can make any cable run. I believe the HFT can be routed through a pot, but I'll find out for certain.

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Wow! I am overwhelmed by the last three posts.

Why? This is a pickup (ab)users' forum. There are all sorts of sickos and tweakers, trying all sorts of practical and thought experiments.

Speaking of which, we are overdue for hearing what JOLLY has to say about his Fluence 'buckers.

Also, it is fun to put questions to Frank Falbo, knowing that he has to skirt the boundaries of product confidentiality when providing his replies.

 

[frankfalbo]

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

That's the thing we always have to remember is on a forum like this, we talk about things that 90% of guitarists (literally) do not have on their radar. For example, we swap magnets in Humbuckers, 99% of guitarists will never swap a magnet. But a huge percentage value having 2 distinct voices on tap in real time. Coil splits are great. But since EMG launched in the 1970's, almost all EMG Humbuckers ever sold (and all Blackouts) do not have coil splits. They are 1-voice pickups.

So I might be proud of the fact that you can coil split Fluence, but I know that only super-nerds like us will wire them up. It's great that you can have the "no cable loss" tone on Fluence as well as the HFT "cable warming" tone as well. Some will wire it up, but super-nerds like us are not only wiring it, but asking if it can be varied with a trim pot!

Of course super-nerds like us are awesome. That goes without saying. But it's worth it, when dealing in product development, to understand what happens in the vast majority of guitar collections worldwide. That's not to say you don't push the envelope. My history in this business includes venturing into uncharted territory, and coming back with things that haven't existed before, but still gain mainstream acceptance. It's a tough thing to do; to govern yourself during the design process. Many product developers end up with "weird for the sake of weird" and are relegated to a limited number of customers, or beta testers and focus groups watering the whole thing down to a bland product that excites no one.

 

[stancaster]

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

Interesting, with the Fishman Fluence Humbuckers in my guitar I could go to a gig and have essentially 3 guitars. That is pretty cool, I guess 3 guitars would actually have 9 different sounds but 8 is close enough. I'm going to ask the guys at the music stores around if they can get some of these pickups in so I can give them a try. It's sort of hard to believe that you can get that much out of 2 pickups I'm going to have to hear it for myself. How about the rest of you with these Fishman pickups do you agree with this 8 sound statement?

 

[GilmourD]

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

Interesting, with the Fishman Fluence Humbuckers in my guitar I could go to a gig and have essentially 3 guitars. That is pretty cool, I guess 3 guitars would actually have 9 different sounds but 8 is close enough. I'm going to ask the guys at the music stores around if they can get some of these pickups in so I can give them a try. It's sort of hard to believe that you can get that much out of 2 pickups I'm going to have to hear it for myself. How about the rest of you with these Fishman pickups do you agree with this 8 sound statement?

Logically it works, even without having played them.

That said, I would LOVE to get my hands on a set of Classics.

 

[Funkfingers]

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

super-nerds like us are not only wiring it, but asking if it can be varied with a trim pot!

To which the answer is ... ? :scratchch

 

[LtKojak]

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

To which the answer is ... ? :scratchch

Definitely maybe?

 

[leevc5]

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

Definitely maybe?

Define "maybe?"

 

[darthphineas]

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

Interesting, with the Fishman Fluence Humbuckers in my guitar I could go to a gig and have essentially 3 guitars. That is pretty cool, I guess 3 guitars would actually have 9 different sounds but 8 is close enough. I'm going to ask the guys at the music stores around if they can get some of these pickups in so I can give them a try. It's sort of hard to believe that you can get that much out of 2 pickups I'm going to have to hear it for myself. How about the rest of you with these Fishman pickups do you agree with this 8 sound statement?

someone might have to figure out the final math on it, but each humbucker has 2 voices. then each voice can use an on-on switch (or push/pull) to be split... so that's 4 per humbucker. for the set it would 8, when you factor in 2 humbuckers. and then you get into the middle position and all the different variations that can go between the options with each pickup. the HF Tilt can be a little subtle, so I'm not even putting that into the mix... or how you can use and on-off-on switch to get more coil split options per pickup.

still, on a regular garden variety humbucker, you can wire it up for series/split/parallel for 3 characteristics - albeit not different voicing. people have been able to get multiple voicings out of a humbucker for decades (look at some of the Page wiring, for example). some might suggest that getting a lot of different sounds out of a set of humbuckers is totally normal. the 2 voices of the Fluence is the big variable.

Logically it works, even without having played them.

That said, I would LOVE to get my hands on a set of Classics.

I mentioned somewhere else, but I'd be up to moving my Classic set. please sent a PM if interested.

 

[frankfalbo]

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

To which the answer is ... ? :scratchch

The answer is the HF tilt is integrated into the circuit and the blue (or yellow) wires are not carrying signal. You touch those to ground, and it triggers a switch to engage the HF tilt inside the circuit. So on a trim pot, it would just stay off until you turned it down enough to engage.

HOWEVER! You can duplicate it by putting something like a .047, .033, or .022 capacitor to ground, and then of course you could wire that up to a trim pot. First decide which capacitor value you like, then you could set the trim value. You could even measure the trim pot and then replace with a resistor, or just leave it.

 

[leevc5]

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

The answer is the HF tilt is integrated into the circuit and the blue (or yellow) wires are not carrying signal. You touch those to ground, and it triggers a switch to engage the HF tilt inside the circuit. So on a trim pot, it would just stay off until you turned it down enough to engage.

HOWEVER! You can duplicate it by putting something like a .047, .033, or .022 capacitor to ground, and then of course you could wire that up to a trim pot. First decide which capacitor value you like, then you could set the trim value. You could even measure the trim pot and then replace with a resistor, or just leave it.

I am missing the point, What does HF Tilt accomplish that the tone controls on your guitar and amp don't already accomplish?

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Non-technical explanation. The Tilt removes some of that crystalline high end that Frank Falbo and Greg Koch enjoy but that this old get finds irritating.

In passive circuitry, the nearest equivalent would be the "sweet" switch found on early PRS guitars.

HOWEVER!

Mucho obrigado! :notworthy

 

[stancaster]

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

someone might have to figure out the final math on it, but each humbucker has 2 voices. then each voice can use an on-on switch (or push/pull) to be split... so that's 4 per humbucker. for the set it would 8, when you factor in 2 humbuckers. and then you get into the middle position and all the different variations that can go between the options with each pickup. the HF Tilt can be a little subtle, so I'm not even putting that into the mix... or how you can use and on-off-on switch to get more coil split options per pickup.

still, on a regular garden variety humbucker, you can wire it up for series/split/parallel for 3 characteristics - albeit not different voicing. people have been able to get multiple voicings out of a humbucker for decades (look at some of the Page wiring, for example). some might suggest that getting a lot of different sounds out of a set of humbuckers is totally normal. the 2 voices of the Fluence is the big variable.








I mentioned somewhere else, but I'd be up to moving my Classic set. please sent a PM if interested.

Thant sounds awful complicated. Isn't it just arithmetic 2 Bridge + 4 Middle + 2 neck = 8?

 

[santellan]

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

John Suhr did the MK mod using a resistor and cap in series to cut the bass and output level on a EMG pickup so is the HF Tilt the same concept?
On the tone control what value capacitors do these pickups prefer to see hanging off a 25K pot?

 

[darthphineas]

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

Thant sounds awful complicated. Isn't it just arithmetic 2 Bridge + 4 Middle + 2 neck = 8?

Nope

That doesn't appear to factor in both voices and how each voice can coil split to one coil. That's already 4 for one pickup.

And that's only with the most basic coil split option.

 

[darthphineas]

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

I am missing the point, What does HF Tilt accomplish that the tone controls on your guitar and amp don't already accomplish?

The difference between using a long cable and a short cable.

The HF Tilt is Fishman's way of addressing that.

 

[Luke Duke]

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

My Falbo doesn't split but I have:
Neck: V1,V2 Without Tilt...V1, V2, with Tilt
Bridge: V1, V2, Without Tilt...V1, V2, with Tilt

Middle position
Neck: V1, or V2, Without Tilt
Bridge: V1, V2, with Tilt

Then reverse!

That's a LOT of stock voices!

 

[stancaster]

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

Jammed with a buddy last night who had a Clapton mid Boost installed in his Strat. That Strat has more sounds than I could keep count of with this clapton boost thing. what is the difference between what these Fishman pickups do and what this Clapton boost does?