Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

[B2D]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

Haha yeah it's true. But a lot of people have been more open to it with the rechargeable packs. When the warning light goes on you still have about 5 hours left. If you have a 5 hour gig you're either rich enough to afford techs and multiple guitars, or you need to write some new songs.

And the battery packs work for anything that uses 9v. So people are using them with Blackouts and EMG's, Clapton Mid Boost circuits, Redeemer buffers, etc.

Yep. I think it's not the battery packs people don't like - it's the sound of the pickups that have been traditionally associated with them AND having to open up the guitar to change them.

Frank - ever considered making a Fluence battery pack with the Apple Lightning connector on it for a charge? Their Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpack and Magic Mouse 2 use integrated batteries with Lightning ports so you can use an iPhone charger on them. I think your current pack uses MicroUSB ?

 

[dominus]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

I wouldn't.

Everything they make is based off of the Sensor design that got popular in the 80's and was invented in 1979.

The Alumitones came out in 2007 and those are a rework of the Transensor stuff that's even older than that.

It's different, yes. There are advantages to their design. But it's not new, and it hasn't been innovative in 30 years.

The point was that they weren't based on technology that basically hasn't progressed since the 50s. Didn't you work for Lace?

 

[shred4Him]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

So, for a basic comparison, the Modern set is like an 81/85 set with the addition of a unique voice (maybe JB/59-ish). For the Classic set, would it be fair to say they are somewhat analogous to vintage PAFs with the second voice 57/66-ish?

 

[Archer250]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

Personally, I just hate battery. Yes, it's rechargeable, and I can just recharge after every string change, but I hate having to change or recharge already.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

 

[B2D]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

The point was that they weren't based on technology that basically hasn't progressed since the 50s. Didn't you work for Lace?

Ah I see your point.

I would say that the basic idea was similar but the components were rearranged. It does work nicely, though when it's set up right.

And yes, I worked for Lace for about 10 months. 12/2014-9/2015

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

Fluence is cool stuff and Fishman is definitely carving out a niche of their own with this technology. Before the Devin Townsend endorsement, even I was on the fence about them. Now, I intend to give them a shot.

I naturally expect Frank and the like to up-sell their products' superiority, but even he's not suggesting that the time-proven, old-school designs aren't adequate or without their advantages (i.e. no batteries).

Still, it's funny to think most of us stick our smart phones on the charger every night and recharge our laptops and ipads every few hours, but find having to replace a 9V battery every few months irritating...

Truly first-world problems, am I right?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

Fluence is cool stuff and Fishman is definitely carving out a niche of their own with this technology. Before the Devin Townsend endorsement, even I was on the fence about them. Now, I intend to give them a shot.

I naturally expect Frank and the like to up-sell their products' superiority, but even he's not suggesting that the time-proven, old-school designs aren't adequate or without their advantages (i.e. no batteries).

Still, it's funny to think most of us stick our smart phones on the charger every night and recharge our laptops and ipads every few hours, but find having to replace a 9V battery every few months irritating...

Truly first-world problems, am I right?

/\/\/\ These two quotes belong together.

Personally, I just hate battery. Yes, it's rechargeable, and I can just recharge after every string change, but I hate having to change or recharge already.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

So, for a basic comparison, the Modern set is like an 81/85 set with the addition of a unique voice (maybe JB/59-ish). For the Classic set, would it be fair to say they are somewhat analogous to vintage PAFs with the second voice 57/66-ish?

I've played the strat set and the classic set. They were both just stupid good. I specifically went into it thinking it was going to be like a coil split or coil add, whatever. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were radically different tonal fingerprints FWIW the neck is like a Seth Lover/59 lovechild or a super T-Top and the bridge is like a 59/PG or a JB. I don't men a NEW JB either. I'm talking about an old double creme butyrate bobbin rough cast magnet 70s or early 80s JB that people go wild for because it's THE hot Alnico sound.

As to the topic of the thread....I don't think Duncan can answer. I'm not sure what's the deal over there but when SD got that Ibanez contract in 07 (I think) they should have finally put Larry D out of business in 2-3yrs but they somehow bungled that one up and that was during their golden era when they still had Seymour as a regular fixture, and they had Evan and shortly after Frank talking to gigging guitarist and trying to build a better mousetrap. At least Dimarzio is trying some different stuff trying to get the "active sound" in passives I'm not a fan of Larry D, but a few years ago they got their heads back in the game and have put out some really cool pickups. Compared to SD which in '14 Duncan's idea of new and exciting was to put out the Dimebag SET. What's exciting there? A reverse zebra 59?

FWIW I'm not a fan of batteries, but I'll have Fluence Classics in my next guitar.

Luke

 

[saqib09]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

Not stupid to me, I never have to worry about my Fat 50s, Pearly Gates, Phat Cats, Screamin Demons, JBs, Liquifires, Bill Lawrences, etc. going dead from lack of a battery.

I have yet to hear a battery powered pickup that sounds good to my ears and responds well to my playing.

To me its like the Chevy Volt, why would I plug in a car for 40 miles of electricity when a Prius averages 40-50mpg without being plugged in and is cheaper?

My Fat 50s are the best sounding pickups to my ears and they are cheaper than the battery powered Fluence set...not so stupid.

Well, not you in particular or personally. But the general guitar crowd seem to have an aversion to new stuff. That is not smart.

About battery, it's really a matter of attitude. The fluence rechargeable battery lasts for 200 goddamn hours man. You just need to remember to charge it for 1 hour in every 3 months or something.

But that's just the technicality aspect. If I really think and believe that the battery powered system delivers better noiseless output and that's what I want then the rest is just something I have to do to.

I accept that if you like your traditional coil magnet pickups there is no argument against that. That's what you like.

Unless I try it myself I can't be certain, but as of now it seems that the fishman pups are able to deliver everything traditional pickups do and then more. And all of that without noise.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

The problem is the average guitar players forma mentis.

It would flat out reject a p'up like the Fluence because of the battery argument, yet will acquire any pedal somebody said somewhere about having "that" sound, using it with, you've guessed, batteries, just because EJ allegedly said it sounded "better", whatever that would mean. Which, is the same battery he could use with the Fluence.

Your Honor, I rest my case! :smack:

 

[saqib09]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

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

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.

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.

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.

The line 6 comparison works both ways. They are pretty big now aren't they?

Also look at Fender Mustang. The amp can actually sound like the Deluxe Reverb and other tube fender amp. No, they may not sound Identical. But they sound pretty darn similar and they don't sound like mimic.

Better example, Peavey. Peavey's modelling amp is just un freaking believable. And Peavey is doing really great.

The lust for everything vintage/trad will always be there, I accept. And I also fully believe in "don't fix wat aint broke' philosophy. There's certain truth to that understanding. But there is a formula to success for a product. If something truly works, truly delivers results, and relatively easy to use it will stay in the market. And if it is better than other products in some aspects that really matter, it might very well beat the competitors. So, yes, I think there Is a threat for SD. Not imminent, we can agree.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

The problem is the average guitar players forma mentis.

It would flat out reject a p'up like the Fluence because of the battery argument, yet will acquire any pedal somebody said somewhere about having "that" sound, using it with, you've guessed, batteries, just because EJ allegedly said it sounded "better", whatever that would mean. Which, is the same battery he could use with the Fluence.
:

I feel so relieved to be consistent. I never use batteries with my pedals because, you guess it: laziness.

But I agree. The guitar crowd is full of charlatans, the deluded, and the fools. The crowd will insist that this certain component makes a world's difference, even when logically there shouldn't. They will obstinately follow the footsteps of their heroes, down to using the same outdated equipments, shunning new advances despite the fact that their heroes probably used the best tools available to them... and they become so obsessed with sounding like their heroes, they completely forget to play music -- which is why they picked up the guitar in the first place. Quite tragic, really.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Fluence Fishman - how SD is going to meet the challenge?

As I've already said, I really need to try a set before I say anything further about them. They could be awesome for all I know.

Batteries are a big turn off to me–I use pedals and not a single one has a battery in it. Battery powered pickups are superbly noiseless and quiet–I think that is what rubs me wrong...they feel very sterile, on both my acoustics and electrics. I seriously wanted to love EMGs in my 6 strings, gave several sets consideration and couldn't find one that felt nor sounded right with me. I love EMGs in my Spector Bass but just can't jive with any battery powered pickups (not just EMGs) in my 6 string electrics and acoustics. And its funny because my dad, who taught me guitar, loves battery powered EMGs–raves about them. Just not my cup of tea.

I truly love my Line 6 and V-Amp processors–they get awesome sounds and effects that are perfect for situations where my tube amps are completely out of the question...but my go-to-tone is from my tube amp and pedals, not the processors.

I am not against new things by any means, I love a Strat but prefer the modern two point tremolo to the vintage 6 and the modern 9.5 radius over the vintage 7.25. My tube amps are modern Fenders, my pedals are modern pedals, etc.

Going from vintage output to high output would appeal to quite a few players and is a cool feature, just not something that appeals to me.