Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?
Ok, so, Fishman HB and SC are emerging as the future of pickups.
They are? :scratchch I really don't like Fishman for acoustics, prefer a SD Woody over any Fishman I've used and my favorite acoustic pickup is a Bill Lawrence A300.
I looked them up
here
"Fishman Fluence pickups for electric guitars are the first real advancement in pickup system design in over 80 years. A new, analog, system-wide approach delivers great idealized guitar sounds that are also quiet and free from hum and other artifacts that affect pickups from the past."
I would say that is a highly exaggerated statement...Sustainiacs to the Synth pickups just to name a few advancements that are literal advancements in those 80 years (not to mention different designs that are loved by more people than Fishman has sold to.)
Some followers of Modeling effects and amps thought stuff like Line 6 and all would be the end of Fenders, Marshalls, Mesas etc tube amps...but guess what, we still buy our tube amps
"Another example of the fresh thinking applied to Fluence is the way their power supply is stored and managed. Can you use a standard 9V battery? Yes. But where do you put it if your guitar doesnt have a compartment? The optional Fluence battery packs require no modification and screw on to your guitar in place of the control or spring cover. They offer 200+ hours of playing time and fully charge in a few hours using a standard USB charger."
You mean I have to get a battery for these things or charge them up? My current pickups don't need a battery nor require a charger. Not the biggest headache in the world but after having a battery go dead in a performance I have not used battery powered pickups ever since.
"VOICE 1
Vintage Single-Coil
Vintage tone, clear and present, seamlessly fused with a sweet warmth.
Voice 1 Peak Frequency: 4kHz
VOICE 2
Hot Texas Single-Coil
Muscular, beefy, overwound tone without losing the highs or the strattiness we all love
Voice 2 Peak Frequency: 3kHz
Magnetic Material: Alnico IV
Magnetic Circuit: Rod magnets
Typical Gauss Strength at String: 260 Gauss
Pole Spacing: 52.2mm
Output Impedance: 2k
Current Draw: 2.4mA
Battery: 9-volt / FBP100"
So I don't see where my favorite single coil sound of bell like tone is advertised (Fender Fat 50s)...is it implied with the vintage clear warm tone? I dunno, Fat 50s are overwound from Vintage and get great harmonics which is not even mentioned in the description.
...just my impression, these are the "Line 6"s of pickups.
How do they actually stack up against the stacked SD pickups? Has anyone tested?
The way I see it, SD has one thing on it's side, the general rigidity of guitar players and the reluctance to try something new.
Other than that (and aggressive marketing like they do) SD will have to come up with completely noiseless pickups with multiple voicing. The prail was a step in the right direction. I don't know how quiet those are though.
So, what everyone else think?
Seymour Duncan isn't threatened here, SD makes great pickups that sound awesome and garner a great following (ever been to the DMZ forum?...not knocking DMZ, just saying they don't have the following SD does.)
SD does offer the Zephyr line which is new and while very expensive right now, definitely exploring new possibilities.
Again, these Fishman electrics just seem to be trying to mimic other pickups...all in one packages have mixed results, like there is still a HUGE market for pedals even though Boss and Digitech and others make multi-effects unit.
My two cents, I don't see Fishman Electric Pickups being a threat to SD nor do I see the need for SD to have to try and compete.