Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I posted a thread recently asking about these pickups... but I just got them in! I actually had to take my guitar in to have them professionally installed because I utterly failed at installing them with all the push pulls and four knob configuration of my Les Paul... so yeah, LOL.
But I just got them in, and I really like them! This is my fourth different Fishman set I've tried, and I gotta say, I'm more and more impressed with these pickups the more I try them.
The bridge pickup in Voice 1 is sorta like a Modern's Voice 1 (kinda like a tighter, clearer EMG 81), except even tighter! It doesn't have a lot of low-end, really, but I find that is really usable when tuning to Drop C with 12's on a fat-sounding Les Paul. It really balances out, and it makes the guitar sound TIGHT! This is by far the tightest-sounding pickup I've tried. I know it will not be for everyone, especially people who find the 81 too thin, but this pickup makes the 81 sound like a bloated mess. It's almost the exact opposite direction Duncan Blackouts take. It also has a really nice bump in the upper mids that really brings out the pick attack and aggression. I dig it! My only gripe... well, not really gripe, but the thing that caught me off guard is that it's actually not super high output. The 500T it replaced was MUCH hotter. Even the Quarter Pound in my Esquire is a little bit hotter, LOL. But that's an easy fix. Just gotta raise the gain, and this pickup takes gain like a champ.
Voice 2 on the bridge pickup is good. It's not my favorite, TBH. It's kinda fat and smooth. I know this is supposed to be going after a PRS pickup KSE have, and... well, it's alright, I suppose. It's not the star of the show, for me. But it's nice to have in there. I actually find it kinda cool that there is more difference between V1 and 2 in the KSE bridge pickup that there is in the Modern's V1 and 2. I think that's a nice change. It's medium output for sure. Not super hot.
The neck pickup in Voice 1... FINALLY! A neck pickup that I actually like! I suppose this is based off the Modern Alnico V1, which is sorta like a more balanced EMG 85. It's pretty smooth without being dark or overly fat. It's also hot, so it doesn't have any trouble keeping up with the bridge pickup (which, like I said, is not that hot). Cleans sound cool, but leads... that's where it's at for me! Really smoooooooooth and creamy without being overly fat. I've always really liked how active neck pickups take gain.
Voice 2 on the neck... cool! Like a balanced, not overly weak passive. Has a really cool clean tone that's not overly scooped or chirpy like some low-wind passives can be, or that it's too stiff and lifeless like some hotter passives are. I didn't really spend much time on it, but I definetly see it's potential.
Voice 3 on both pickups... single coil goodness. I really like single coil modes on all the Fishmans I've had. Not just a standard coil split, but rather, a pickup that's actually voiced like a single coil. It's very nice. It's chimey on the neck, and punchy in the bridge. My Les Paul actually pulls off the Tele sound better than my Esquire which now has a Quarter Pound, LOL.
So all in all... really dig them! I love all Fishman sets I've tried so far. Really recommend them!
But I just got them in, and I really like them! This is my fourth different Fishman set I've tried, and I gotta say, I'm more and more impressed with these pickups the more I try them.
The bridge pickup in Voice 1 is sorta like a Modern's Voice 1 (kinda like a tighter, clearer EMG 81), except even tighter! It doesn't have a lot of low-end, really, but I find that is really usable when tuning to Drop C with 12's on a fat-sounding Les Paul. It really balances out, and it makes the guitar sound TIGHT! This is by far the tightest-sounding pickup I've tried. I know it will not be for everyone, especially people who find the 81 too thin, but this pickup makes the 81 sound like a bloated mess. It's almost the exact opposite direction Duncan Blackouts take. It also has a really nice bump in the upper mids that really brings out the pick attack and aggression. I dig it! My only gripe... well, not really gripe, but the thing that caught me off guard is that it's actually not super high output. The 500T it replaced was MUCH hotter. Even the Quarter Pound in my Esquire is a little bit hotter, LOL. But that's an easy fix. Just gotta raise the gain, and this pickup takes gain like a champ.
Voice 2 on the bridge pickup is good. It's not my favorite, TBH. It's kinda fat and smooth. I know this is supposed to be going after a PRS pickup KSE have, and... well, it's alright, I suppose. It's not the star of the show, for me. But it's nice to have in there. I actually find it kinda cool that there is more difference between V1 and 2 in the KSE bridge pickup that there is in the Modern's V1 and 2. I think that's a nice change. It's medium output for sure. Not super hot.
The neck pickup in Voice 1... FINALLY! A neck pickup that I actually like! I suppose this is based off the Modern Alnico V1, which is sorta like a more balanced EMG 85. It's pretty smooth without being dark or overly fat. It's also hot, so it doesn't have any trouble keeping up with the bridge pickup (which, like I said, is not that hot). Cleans sound cool, but leads... that's where it's at for me! Really smoooooooooth and creamy without being overly fat. I've always really liked how active neck pickups take gain.
Voice 2 on the neck... cool! Like a balanced, not overly weak passive. Has a really cool clean tone that's not overly scooped or chirpy like some low-wind passives can be, or that it's too stiff and lifeless like some hotter passives are. I didn't really spend much time on it, but I definetly see it's potential.
Voice 3 on both pickups... single coil goodness. I really like single coil modes on all the Fishmans I've had. Not just a standard coil split, but rather, a pickup that's actually voiced like a single coil. It's very nice. It's chimey on the neck, and punchy in the bridge. My Les Paul actually pulls off the Tele sound better than my Esquire which now has a Quarter Pound, LOL.
So all in all... really dig them! I love all Fishman sets I've tried so far. Really recommend them!
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