Fishman Acoustic Blender System
Submitted at: 11:04, 11/16/99
Product Info
Pickup features: Outboard mixer, mini-mic and accessories for pickup/minimic system
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $429
Purchased from: Artichoke Music, Portland, OR
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Martin DC-1
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Adding to existing Highlander IP-2V undersaddle
Other pickups on guitar: Highlander IP-2V
Artists using this pickup: Harvey Reid, Steve Kaufman
You musical style(s): folk, folk/rock bluegrass, country, solo fingerstyle too
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more natural sound than undersaddle pickup allows
Sound
Perceived output level: As hot as you need it - plenty of poop out the XLR jacks
Tone: 3D!
Sonic evaluation: Martin DC-1 with Crown GLM-200 mic and Highlander pickup w/stereo cable -> Fishman Blender -> effects loop to Baggs Para-acoustic DI (EQ) and Alesis Microverb -> Trace Elliot Acoustic Cube for personal monitor augmentation -> to the board. Sounds great, finally have a believable acoustic sound!
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for anything that requires realistic acoustic sound at moderate volumes
Overall Rating
Comments: I have been pleasantly surprised at the volume levels I can achieve with this system. I have been using the Highlander alone for a year - it is a very good pickup but all undersaddle systems suffer from dry tone due to their placement. Adding the mini-mic and Blender allows me to add beaucoup "air" and "wood" to the signal with reasonable feedback rejection due to the individual EQ and phase controls for the mic and the pickup. It mounts right on a mic stand, very easy to use on stage. I am a happy camper.
Brags: Runs on AC adaptor or 9V battery. Very quiet. Phantom power for mini-mic right there, no brainer. Master Mute button very useful, no pops or clicks anywhere. Mini-mic mounts neatly on top brace of guitar.
Beefs: I wish it had at least one notch filter. I sometimes add my Baggs EQ in order to get some "boom" out of the system on certain stages.
I have been playing on stages for 20 years, done a lot of electric work and have been doing lots of acoustic work in the last 5 years. Been frustrated by differences between "real" sound of good acoustics and their amplified representations - makes electric guitar seem so easy! This type of system requires more thought and work, but thus far is the best I have heard (with the exception of a great external condensor mic, which will feedback too easily).
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted by: Brad Price <bprice@smartstuff.com>
Submitted at: 21:13, 7/5/99
Product Info
Pickup features: Pickup/mic active system, with 3-band parametric on pickup, notch filter and phase for mic.
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: Came with guitar
Purchased from: Authentic Guitars in N. N. Va
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: tayloy 614-ce, and custom 655-ce
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: no change
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Hard. I hit hard. I break a lot of strings.
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: not quite as hot as Takamine-type stuff, but you'll have no trouble getting signal in any scenario
Tone: pickup is a little pingy, but balanced, mic is tough to work with live(high end feedback, esp on b-string
Sonic evaluation: I use an SWR Strawberry Blond in band situations, and the mic is blendable. The amp produces awesome sounds. In the acoustic duo(Wax & Steel) format, I can't get any "ass" without high-end feedback when I use the mic. We use a Crown K-2, Allen & Heath 16:2, Dbx 166XL, and Dod SR231Q, run mono. The great deal about this system is it ROCKS going direct to tape. I plug it into the SWR, bypass the speaker and go direct out to the Tascam 424MKII, and the sound rivals what we get with that cool AKG two sided mic. (The attack of the Strawberry blond is remarkable.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It works for me. I just need to fogure out how to get the recorded sound on stage
Overall Rating
Comments: I wish it had E.Q.ing for the mic. It does the trick. It's really frustrating that I can't get that nice crispy sound live that I get onto tape. Other gear? Acoustic-wise, I'm a madman. I've got an Epiphone dreadnought with a bolt-on neck, a Yamaha Dreadnought with a broken neck, Taylor 412-ce, 914-ce(L.R. Baggs dual source, nice) a Guild thin, but large-bodied acoustic-electric, Alvarez YW-1-K(gorgeous, but pingy plugged in. Great unplugged.)
Electrically, Schbaybocaster X-1(Warmoth Strat with Fender "Custom Shop" board made by Steve Spirko in N.E. Pa.), Gibson Les Paul Studio, and a funky Heavy metal-style Fender Telecaster. Electric amps: 1961 Blond Fender Bassman, 4X12 Blond Half-open Mesa Boogie cab, 70's Twin reverb(silver face), 80's Bandmaster Reverb(silver face), 2X12 fender cab, Champ 112, Boogie V-twin(love this thing!!!), Ibanez TS-9, Boss Compressor/sustainer, Ibanez multi-effects floor pedal(for delay/flange/chorus). I have a huge wish list, and suffer from G.A.S.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted by: Jason Loiacono <loiacoja@truman.navy.mil or waxnsteel@juno.com>
Submitted at: 7:07, 4/26/99
Product Info
Pickup features: Condensor mic and blender system for use with a transducer.
Impedence or other specs: Must buy transducer separately with steroe jack. Electronics provided.
Price Paid: US $$499
Purchased from: Guitar Center, Springfield, NJ
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Martin 000-28EC (Clapton Model)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: Martin Thinline 332
Artists using this pickup: Many.
You musical style(s): Acoustic Rock, and some folk solo-stuff.
Reason for pickup change: No change... guitar bought without electronics.
Sound
Perceived output level: A stereo cable goes into an external preamp. Cant beat the life from the mic and trans.
Tone: Full control. Mic provides all thge warmth of the wood, tons of space here. The transducer gives you all the punch the guitar has.
Sonic evaluation: This guitar is subtle and soundslike a dream. Without making any destuctive cuts, a mic is positioned right in the soundhole. the blender has EQ and phase controls so I always can get this enormous acoustic sound from any PA... even a guitar amp. This is what my guitar sounds like... it captures every nuiance.
If you love your guitar, you MUST have a blander system
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock / hard strumming... roll back on the the mic and let Thinline take over. Fingerstyle... mic it up, sounds sooo sweet.
Overall Rating
Comments: YOU MUST LOOK AT THIS SYSTEM
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: Bart Zoni <bzoni@drew.edu>