Fishman Matrix natural
Submitted at: 8:02, 11/7/98
Product Info
Pickup features: Under Saddle Piezo
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: Canadian 149.00
Purchased from: Long & McQuaid
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-35
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: Picasso - I think
You musical style(s): Worship/Folk Finger-picking
Reason for pickup change: The seymour Duncan made my Martin sound like a Sears brand electric!
Sound
Perceived output level: Great output level. It needs no external preamp. In fact I think the sound guy turns the gain down on my guitar channel.
Tone: Tone is great. I also have the same one installed in my D-28 and they sound almost identical.
Sonic evaluation: I am running straight into the board with only a Boss CE-2 Chorus pedal in between. The only complaint I have is the lack of control over the volume.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I think this pickup would be a good match for just about any style. It will never give an accurate reproduction of a Martin with a mike at the sound hole, but it is the best amplified acoustic sound I have ever heard. It gets even better if you run the Fishman Pro EQ along with it. This also gives the much desire volume control.
Overall Rating
Comments: I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I really haven't heard any good reviews of other pickups comparable to the Fishman line up. I do have a Yamaha APX 4A as well. It is very comparable but - I think - only because it has the eq/volume controls built into the guitar.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9
Submitted by: <wricard@sympatico.ca>
Submitted at: 3/7/95
Product Info
Pickup features: Two models are made. One is for precise acoustic
sound, that is the natural. The other is for a hotter (more output)
sound, but sacrificing some of the intimacy of the natural.
Impedance or other specs: low
Price Paid: I paid $199 installed, but that included a set up. Whenever
you have an under the saddle pickup installed in an acoustic it is
always a good idea to get the guitar set up afterwards.
Purchased from: Brian Guitars, New Haven, CT
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Guitar
Position:
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: I believe Dan Crary uses one
Your musical style(s): folk, blues, jazz, rock, country, reggae
Reason for pickup change:
Sound
Perceived output level: The natural has a lot of power for an
acoustic pickup. I can plug straight into a board and have more
than enough output. I have tried several other acoustic pickups,
and I could not say that about any of them. I usually have to use
an active direct box and boost the output from that.
Tone: The natural sounds like an acoustic guitar only louder. I
don't have to mess with the EQ or anything.
Sonic evaluation: I am extremely happy with the Fishman Matrix.
It sounds like an acoustic guitar, and I don't mean a cheapo acoustic.
I have the pickup installed in my D-28, and I couldn't be happier.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Any acoustic style, including fingerstyle.
Overall Rating
Comments: Very much satisfied. It has to be the best sounding acoustic
pickup I've ever used.
On a scale of 1 to 11, I give this pickup a: 9, the only thing that I don't like about it is
that being an active pickup it requires a battery.