Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural II
Submitted at: 7:46, 2/9/2005
Product Info
Pickup features: Under saddle pickup and endpin mounted preamp.
Impedence or other specs: Not known.
Price Paid: UK pounds 185
Purchased from: Guitar Services [John Haire], Peterborough, England
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone EJ200
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None.
Other pickups on guitar: None.
Artists using this pickup: See Fishman web site for details.
You musical style(s): Rock / blues. Acoustic work very influenced by Pete Townshend and Neil Young.
Reason for pickup change: I had long wanted a J200. A genuine Gibson was way beyond my price range and wholly unjustifiable in terms of my playing ability. Having tried a couple of Epi EJ200s at trade shows, I opted for a natural finish model which really delivered the acoustic sounds I expected. However, I needed to be able to compete with brutally thrashed electro-acoustics at various jams and wanted to introduce an acoustic element into my blues band's sets. Therefore fitting a pickup of some description was necessary.
I discussed my requirements with John Haire at Guitar Services. He gave me a stark choice; Fishman Matrix Natural II or nothing. This was based on he value of the original guitar and the work he would have to put into installing a pickup. Knowing John's reputation as both a superb tech and an exquisite player, I took his advice and went for the Fishman.
Sound
Perceived output level: Hard to judge the output. However it is comparable to an Ovation Celebrity driving a Marshall AS50 acoustic combo and causes no problem being DI'ed into a mixer desk. Suffice it say that the preamp produces a usable output level.
Tone: Overall the Matrix Natural has a balanced sound. The amplified characteristics of the EJ200 mirror the acoustic qualities pretty closely. The tops are bright but without being harsh, mids are well-balance and the bottom end is vibrant and deep without being boomy or indistinct. John Haire 'tunes' the response of the Fishman by changing the break angle of each string over the saddle. To my ears the Fishman produces an even, well-balanced output with no evident change in loudness across the strings. Whilst obviously not sounding like a condenser mic-ed acoustic guitar, the Fishman produces a very close facsimile of the intrinsic acoustic sound of the guitar - which is all we can reasonably ask.
Sonic evaluation: The EJ200 generally runs into a PA mixer, occasionally a Marshall AS50 acoustic combo. I will record direct using a compressor to compare with close mic-ed sounds.
So far I have been very pleased with the Matrix Natural. When I colleceted the guitar from John Haire he played a variety of styles on it to illustrate what it sounded like amplified. Would that I could emulate him. Acoustic assaults on Cinnamon Girl and Won't Get Fooled Again come out bright and vibrant. Each note is distinct and chord work is full. With further use I will no doubt discover nuances that can be enhanced or ameliorated by EQ-ing. At this stage I can only express my delight with the Fishman. I am looking forward to the acoustic on-stage option.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, bluesy-rock, Bernard Shakey and Bijou Drains stuff. The Fishman delivers. And, of course, the wholly acoustic sounds of the Epi remain unimpaired. Unplugged it sounds like a jumbo 6-string - the same cannot be said of round-back plastic fruit bowls masquerading as acoustic guitars [however good their electronics!].
Overall Rating
Comments: I would certainly have another Matrix Natural. With the provisio that it was fitted by Guitar Services. I should mention that the cost of £185 quoted above included the cost of the Fishman, its fitting, a new top nut, a fret polish and a new set of strings.
Maybe my Vega 845 will go down the same road later this year.
I am not bothered by the absence of knobs, sliders and all that stuff. Keeping it simple is the watchword.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: Richard Underwood
Submitted at: 11:43, 1/3/2005
Product Info
Pickup features: transducer or something. built under bridge
Impedence or other specs: powerjack included
Price Paid: euros 146 built-in
Purchased from: Jacky Claes Hasselt (belgium)
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Jack and Danny Brothers DG-3S
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Dave Matthews, John Mayer...(i don't know them, see www.fishman.com)
You musical style(s): strumming, certainly not western, Eric Clapton and R.E.M.-stuff
Reason for pickup change: no change, first pick-up, I wanted to use my acoustic guitar in a band. (KoaN www.koanonline.tk)
Sound
Perceived output level: nice and loud, like my electric guitar's highest volume
Tone: good, but you can change that stuff on your amp (EQ)
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez Tone Blaster TB25R, it's not ment for acoustic amplification, but it does the job.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: it's just good, doesn't feedback really quickly
Overall Rating
Comments: Finally I'm through all those annoying questions. Anyway...
The Matrix 2 system is just a pick-up, without EQ possibilities. It has a nice tone, can be set very warm, but also hard and rough with your amp. I really like it, except the fact you can't change your EQ-setting or your volume with it. I'm thinking about buying Fishman's new Ellipse Blend system, because it can adjust volume and it doesn't need a hole in your guitar, but I wish somebody had already reviewed it!!! I'm a newbie in acoustic guitar PU's, but I guess this one is pretty good for the price. As I have been told, Fishman is the best you can get for acoustic amplification.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 8
Submitted at: 21:36, 10/6/2004
Product Info
Pickup features: undersaddle transducer
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $109
Purchased from: http://www.shorelinemusic.com/
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-16 RGT
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: dmb
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: The output level is good. You can't adjust it from the guitar without an eq.
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
Overall Rating
Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen I would probably try B-Band just because. Nothing is wrong with the Fishman, but I want to try something else.
If your saddle is not completely flat, it will sound really bad. This happened to me, but I just sanded it down. The pamphlet it comes with says you shouldn't use it with a bone saddle, but I do and it doesn't sound any worse.
I got it because the luthier suggested this one over the B-Band that I was about to get. I didn't want to make any additional holes to my guitar so I chose the undersaddle.
I'm satisfied with this pick-up.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 8
Submitted at: 14:09, 5/13/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: See previous
Impedence or other specs: See previous
Price Paid: N/A
Purchased from: See previus
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: see previous
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: See previous
Other pickups on guitar: See previous
Artists using this pickup: See previous
You musical style(s): See previous
Reason for pickup change: See previous
Sound
Perceived output level: See previous
Tone: See previous
Sonic evaluation: See previous
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: See previous
Overall Rating
Comments: Sorry, this is the rest of the review form the previous one. I hit a wrong key and it submitted it by accidnet. And now, the rest of the story: I had a Fishman Matrix II in the guitar previously. Running it straight ito the PA it was quite harsh. I purchased a Zoom 504II acoustic effects box and that made a world of difference. Don't use much effects but the compressor/limiter on it really made the Fishman sound more natural. A while latter I had read rave reviews on the K&K and Baggs ibeam. I installed a K&K and took out the Fishman. The K&K was a little more natural sounding, not as much piezo quack, but it also lacked the definition of indivdual notes and was more boomy than the Fishman. It also picked up a lot oh handling noise (buttons brushing against the guitar, string squeek, etc) It still didn't sound great run straight into the board. It did sound more natural than the fishman for recording, but I use a condensor mic for that. The main problem w/ the K&K came when I started gigging more and playing open mics. I don't care what they claim, it had a much lower feedback threshold than the Fishman. I bought a Baggs para acoustic DI so I could have phase reversal and a notch filter, but I still had to roll off a lot of bass to keep it from feeding back. I had another guitar that still had Fishman in it and I A/B'd the 2 side by side and concluded that the Fisman w/ the Baggs DI and the Zoom in the effects loop was a better solution than the K&K. For finger picking, the individula notes were much clearer than the K&K. You do not want to run the Fishman straight into the board, as one guy said "platic attack, man"
but with a Baggs para dI (or ravens lab, or sans amp), you can get a pretty resonable sound without the feedback problems of a contact pickup like the K&K. I concluded that there is a reason that alot of name players use the Fishman and you don't hear of many (any?) promoting the K&K. In conclusion, if you want to use a pickup strictly for recording, the K&K will sound better. If you need a pickup for trouble free live gigging in venues other than your den, go with a Fishman or Baggs RT system.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 8
Submitted by: mike grimes <mdgrimes@swcp.com>
Submitted at: 13:48, 5/5/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: Active Under Saddle Piezo
Impedence or other specs: Hi (does this really matter?)
Price Paid: US $109.00
Purchased from: Grandma's Music & Sound (Alb)
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Alvarez/Yairi DY90 Jacaranda Dreadnought
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: K&K Sounds Pure Western
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: read the website (100's)
You musical style(s): acoustic rock/pop/folk
Reason for pickup change: K&K, while more natural & microphonic was much more prone to feedback in any venue other than my den.
Sound
Perceived output level: with the built in pre-amp it is as hot as any other under saddle piezo
Tone: a bit middy. You really need a pre-amp/EQ like the Baggs para acoustic DI or Fishman pro-eq platinum to get the most out of this thing.
Sonic evaluation: I use the above guitat with the Fishman into a Baggs para acoustic DI with a Zoom 504II efects box in the loop. I run that into a Carvin 200watt PA. Sometimnes I also use a AKG C1000 condensor mic to supplement the fishman (although I more often am finding that the extra hassel doesn't give THAT much better sound and am foregoing the external mic thing)
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock / pop/ folk. Mostly strumming but alot of flat picking and some fingerpicking. This pickup can be a little harsh if you dont' use a preamp DI (and expecillly compression)
Overall Rating
Comments:
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: No Opinion
Submitted at: 18:33, 3/27/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: Under-Saddle Transducer
Price Paid: US $100
Purchased from: www.youreq.com
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Seagull M6 Spruce
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: no pickup being replaced.....its my first pickup in an acoustic
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Sheryl Crow
You musical style(s): Dave Matthews style.....alternative rock i suppose
Reason for pickup change: It isnt a pickup change...its just a brand new installation. I wanted a pickup because i wanted a louder sound but still keep the acoustic tone. I also wanted to be able to play with an effects pedal or delay pedal. Obviously, you need a pickup in order to do this.
Sound
Perceived output level: normal
Tone: very balanced....great tone
Sonic evaluation: I am using a vox pathfinder 10 watt amp. It sounds great with the pickup. Very clear, bright, and warm sound all at the same time.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Perfect for playing dave and timmy songs because the pickup is what they play
Overall Rating
Comments: I love this pickup already....i just got it installed 3 days ago and already i am in love with it. I love the fact that it combines a warm and bright sound at the same time. I would definately replace this pickup with the exact same model if it were damaged. This is the only pick up i own and the only acoustic guitar that i play. I've heard that the L.R. Baggs I Beam is very good product, too. However, i do not see how anything can sound better than the Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural. I would just like to add that i highly recommend this pickup....AWESOME sound!!!
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: David Rice <longmoose34@hotmail.com>