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

[darthphineas]

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

If I can justify allocating some funds for guitar gear in the near future, I'll buy a fluence bridge pickup.

have you decided if you'll be going with the Classic that you were asking about, or the Modern that the OP asked about??

I ordered a set of modern humbuckers yesterday. $180 on ebay (with a 6" Fender guitar cord!). Just have been overwhelmed by the positive things that have been posted here about these pups. Thanks all, I hope they live up to your reviews.

if you bought the standard set with 1 alnico and 1 ceramic, be sure to consider trying them in both positions. the guy I deal with at Fishman confirmed that although it's common to put the ceramic in the bridge and the alnico in the neck, that many people are swapping them around with great results - plus the quick-connects make them a breeze to swap around. as I indicated in my comments on the Modern set, I bought a 2nd set (1 alnico and 1 ceramic) to go through all the options and found that an all-alnico configuration works great for my needs...while I can see the obvious benefits of players that would prefer an all-ceramic setup just as well as the blended set.

 

[leevc5]

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

have you decided if you'll be going with the Classic that you were asking about, or the Modern that the OP asked about??







if you bought the standard set with 1 alnico and 1 ceramic, be sure to consider trying them in both positions. the guy I deal with at Fishman confirmed that although it's common to put the ceramic in the bridge and the alnico in the neck, that many people are swapping them around with great results - plus the quick-connects make them a breeze to swap around. as I indicated in my comments on the Modern set, I bought a 2nd set (1 alnico and 1 ceramic) to go through all the options and found that an all-alnico configuration works great for my needs...while I can see the obvious benefits of players that would prefer an all-ceramic setup just as well as the blended set.

Interesting. I didn't consider a switch. It just seems natural to have the ceramic in the bridge for higher and brighter out put and the a5 in the neck for softer and mellower tone. I will definitely try switching and see what results. Thank you.

 

[B2D]

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

^^^^^^^^I love this guy!!

<3

Frank has that rare skill of being able to take very technically advanced concepts and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand them, while still getting the science and the important points across.

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

Greetings folks,
I been playing a '63 Stratocaster my uncle gave me for about 12 years. I jam in local clubs and am pretty hot from what people say. But I look around and see all the other players with modern pickups and pedal boards packed to over flowing and have to admit they do have better sound then my '63 Stratocaster. I love that guitar and wouldn't change it for anything. But I been thinking I'm going to by a Squire Stratocaster for about 50 bucks and put new hardware, pots, caps and pickups in it. I've been looking around for pickups and want something really radical. I saw these Fishman's and they look very interesting. Googling lead me here and it seems that this forum has mor information than the rest of the WEB combined. So to get to my point. There has been a lot here on the Humbuckers but nothing on the single coil Fishman's. I would sure like it if some of you experts would give me some info about the single coil variety. Thanks.

 

[darthphineas]

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

Greetings folks,
I been playing a '63 Stratocaster my uncle gave me for about 12 years. I jam in local clubs and am pretty hot from what people say. But I look around and see all the other players with modern pickups and pedal boards packed to over flowing and have to admit they do have better sound then my '63 Stratocaster. I love that guitar and wouldn't change it for anything. But I been thinking I'm going to by a Squire Stratocaster for about 50 bucks and put new hardware, pots, caps and pickups in it. I've been looking around for pickups and want something really radical. I saw these Fishman's and they look very interesting. Googling lead me here and it seems that this forum has mor information than the rest of the WEB combined. So to get to my point. There has been a lot here on the Humbuckers but nothing on the single coil Fishman's. I would sure like it if some of you experts would give me some info about the single coil variety. Thanks.

I have heard them live, but that is not the same as playing them. I'll be trying some out next weekend. Until then, I'm betting at least a few people have actually played them and can better respond.

 

[Funkfingers]

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

... other players with modern pickups and pedal boards ... have better sound then my '63 Stratocaster.

What amplification are you using?

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

What amplification are you using?

'65 Fender Bandmaster with at least one microphonic 6L6 at all times.

 

[tonaholic]

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

I was super excited about these. The feature set, methods behind them and everything seemed like this perfect solution to a pickup for me. I crave versatility and a no-compromise solution to noiseless so it was totally up my alley. I'm also a technophile and early adopter type.

When I saw this video and heard how much better the duncans sounded than either voice on the fluence, I completely lost interest.

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

I was super excited about these. The feature set, methods behind them and everything seemed like this perfect solution to a pickup for me. I crave versatility and a no-compromise solution to noiseless so it was totally up my alley. I'm also a technophile and early adopter type.

When I saw this video and heard how much better the duncans sounded than either voice on the fluence, I completely lost interest.

Which duncans and in what way did they sound better?

 

[tonaholic]

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

They're antiquities. It doesn't say which. All I know is that the duncan loaded strat has the juice, soul and dynamics of a strat as I hear it in my head. The fluence loaded strat isn't bad but to me it's lacking something. Maybe it's too clear? I guess maybe I prefer a slightly aged /degaussed sound?

 

[Masta' C]

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

Which duncans and in what way did they sound better?

The video explained it all. The blue guitar with the aged pickguard is a Fender American Vintage Series Strat with Seymour Duncan Antiquity single coils.

I agree with Tonaholic on this one...in the context of that specific comparison, the sound of the Antiquities blew the Fluence singles away in terms of authenticity, depth and dynamics.

I did like the sound of the Fluence humbuckers, though.

 

[Masta' C]

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

Oh, and DARTH, nice to see you back around these parts! :friday:

Back on topic...

FRANK, any chance you can you break down the attributes of the Modern Alnico compared to the Classic?

Also, is the Townsend bridge model's "heavy metal" voice at all similar to either voicing on the regular Modern Ceramic?

Thx

 

[tonaholic]

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

Yes, I like the humbuckers as well here. I wonder how they would hold up in a shoot out with Lollar Imperials, Duncan Bonamassas, WCR American Steels, BKP Mule/Riff-Raff or Fralin's Pure Paf.

I'll tell you what though, I'm extremely open minded. I do use an AXEFX and sold all my tube/analog signal chain. I was looking into the variax and these. I'd love that versatilty. Lucky for me, I use a duncan liberator and have a few guitars to play around with in terms of configuring different options and swapping with minimal effort.

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Earlier today, I was viewing Fluence pickup demonstrations featuring Mr. Gregory Koch. As usual, Greg tears up and down the fingerboard but neither the Stratocaster nor Telecaster pickups do him justice. Overdriven, the Classic humbuckers sound nice. Clean, they seem thin and sterile. Same goes for Frank Falbo's pre-NAMM 2014 sneak peak video clips of his hollowbody design. (Sorry, Frank.)

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

I was super excited about these. The feature set, methods behind them and everything seemed like this perfect solution to a pickup for me. I crave versatility and a no-compromise solution to noiseless so it was totally up my alley. I'm also a technophile and early adopter type.

When I saw this video and heard how much better the duncans sounded than either voice on the fluence, I completely lost interest.

After a few listens What I'm hear but not really trusting because it's not like live is:
1. Humbuckers in both settings sounded best - bright clear sounding with a lot of definition and with the push pull up some nice drive
2. Fishman Stratocaster with Push Pull up next best
3. duncans - much better than my '63 Stratocaster's pickups but I expected more because of the Duncan reputation
4. Fishmans with push pull down sounded wimpy.

 

[B2D]

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

For what it's worth, I got to try out both Fluence humbuckers (in Frank's hollowbody, no less) and singles in a CS Strat. with Frank, the year they debuted.

Both pickups sounded fantastic. Very clean, articulate, and very fast response. Very even, clear, and full tones all around no matter what voicing it was on. And it was quiet. If anything they were better under gain - any amount of it.

They're not for everyone. But they had a lot of advantages to the design. I know they're hard to get a hold of in stores, but you really need to play these things live to hear - and feel - the difference. You're not going to get that over a YouTube video.

 

[darthphineas]

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

Oh, and DARTH, nice to see you back around these parts! :friday:

Back on topic...

FRANK, any chance you can you break down the attributes of the Modern Alnico compared to the Classic?

Also, is the Townsend bridge model's "heavy metal" voice at all similar to either voicing on the regular Modern Ceramic?

Thx

Thanks, wild man. Groovy to see you still hangin' out.

I deliberately went with every possible variation of alnico and ceramic when I got them for my testing purposes. All I could do was describe how they sounded to my ears. Señor Falbo would be way more likely to get into the very specifics of what went in to the voicings.

What I can say is I took them over to a local artist, known to be a very particular sort with gear. I believe the comment was to the effect of "I can see where a lot of players would like this".

If Frank could also help out with more specifics on the Townsend set, that'd be way cool.

 

[Demanic]

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

Thanks for the bad case of G.A.S.S.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

Darth man, you seem to be real connected with the Fishman products. Do you have any links to demos of the single coils you could share with me. I can't seem to find much in my searches.

 

[callmestormymonday]

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

Frank you are the tech ultimate tech man. Tell me, why in the demo they have posted here do the Fishman Humbuckers sound so good and the single coil sound only marginally better than standard coil pickups?