Fishman Rare Earth Custom Blend

Submitted at: 13:25, 12/27/2003

Product Info

Pickup features: Active humbucking soundhole with internal or external electret mic.
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: US $314.00
Purchased from: Maury's Music

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: 1987 Martin D16M
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: Rare Earth Humbucking soundhole pickup
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Scott E. Moore (Hoboken N.J.) His guitar sound blew me away!
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle (folk). Original stuff.
Reason for pickup change: Straight Rare Earth humbucker sounded great but just a little bit too electric.

Sound

Perceived output level: Super!
Tone: Very balanced tone after just a few minutes of tweaking.
Sonic evaluation: Plugged into an ART V3 pre, Boss T2 tuner, DOD EQ, Aphex Acoustic Exciter, ART Tube Compressor and finally end with a Reverbamate analog reverb unit all plugged into a small Kustom PA (100 watt). With my new Custom Blend pickup, I'm finally hearing what I've been searching for all along. The sound is full, round and most importantly - airy. This new pickup sounds better than I ever imagined it would!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup sounds incredible fingerstyle or strummed.

Overall Rating

Comments: If lost or stolen I would replace it that same day! I've been playing fingerstyle for about 25 years and just hate bridge pickups. I love mics but can't hack the feedback hastles. I really have liked the soundhole magnetic pickup sound (through my pedal chain, of course) but always lacked the incredible "air" my new Blend gives me. I love this thing!

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value

Submitted by: Steve M. Courtois <sick_string69@hotmail.com>