I'm all aboard the Fishman train

[madrigal77]

Specifically the Classics. I got this LTD about a year ago that came with Open Core Classics. Long story short I hated them at first, but found out they were wired wrong from the factory. Got them wired properly and they are glorious! Voice 1 is like a hotter, clearer PAF. Voice 2 is like a clearer JB with a tighter low end. Voice 3 is a good single coil. I've been an EMG guy for like 25 years, but these made me rip the 57/66 set from my Eclipse and put a set of Classics in. My MX-250 will keep the EMG Het Set just because.

[andvari7]

Long time Fluence guy here. Here’s what I don’t like about them:

1. The leads are a little thin, for my liking, and the plastic jacket should be Teflon.
2. I wish the coil taps were part of the plug.
3. I would like the rechargeable battery to be able to be wired in parallel (multiple packs, for longer run time) and have a USB-C plug.

Other than that, I’m a believer, and will continue to buy and use them.

[Guitarbilly]

Man I am on the opposite side of this, I just can't gel with the Fishman pickups. I think they have a lot of great option not to mention they look cool But there's something about their midrange that I just don't get along with.
I kind of feel the same about the active Duncan's. I grew up with EMGs and they're the benchmark for active tone for me.

[ninjaraf]

I don't have too much opinion on these. I liked them a lot with my Mark IVs, but when I got the EVH, they were not good at all, and I had to go through swapping them out of 5-6 guitars haha. NEVER AGAIN!! But I also am not a huge active fan in general. My cousin loved EMGs growing up, but I never really liked them. Don't really like Duncan actives either.

[madrigal77]

Man I am on the opposite side of this, I just can't gel with the Fishman pickups. I think they have a lot of great option not to mention they look cool But there's something about their midrange that I just don't get along with.
I kind of feel the same about the active Duncan's. I grew up with EMGs and they're the benchmark for active tone for me.

They do have a bit of a bump in the high mids, if that’s what you mean. But I dig that. There’s a HF tilt you ca enable to darken them up a bit if you don’t like it.

I’ve only tried the classics, but I’ve heard the moderns have a “cocked wah” thing going on. That’s why despite playing mostly metal, I got another set of classics rather than moderns for my Eclipse.

[madrigal77]

Long time Fluence guy here. Here’s what I don’t like about them:

1. The leads are a little thin, for my liking, and the plastic jacket should be Teflon.
2. I wish the coil taps were part of the plug.
3. I would like the rechargeable battery to be able to be wired in parallel (multiple packs, for longer run time) and have a USB-C plug.

Other than that, I’m a believer, and will continue to buy and use them.

Yeah I like the idea of the battery pack, but it’s a big skip for me until they make a usb c version. Who’s using micro usb in 2024?!?

[Zeegler]

Plastic trash with too many wires!

But yeah in all seriousness, the wires are thin and feel really flimsy. I'm not sure I trust the plastic lugs on the sides of the pickups either, but I guess EMGs are the same.

Really, I have no interest in "3 voicings", and other bullshit like that. Just give me a simple, solid humbucker that sounds great.

[madrigal77]

Plastic trash with too many wires!

But yeah in all seriousness, the wires are thin and feel really flimsy. I'm not sure I trust the plastic lugs on the sides of the pickups either, but I guess EMGs are the same.

Really, I have no interest in "3 voicings", and other bullshit like that. Just give me a simple, solid humbucker that sounds great.

The wiring EMG comes with these days is just as thin, if not more. As long as they work I don’t care.

[Zeegler]

Plastic trash with too many wires!

But yeah in all seriousness, the wires are thin and feel really flimsy. I'm not sure I trust the plastic lugs on the sides of the pickups either, but I guess EMGs are the same.

Really, I have no interest in "3 voicings", and other bullshit like that. Just give me a simple, solid humbucker that sounds great.

The wiring EMG comes with these days is just as thin, if not more. As long as they work I don’t care.

I really don't know. I haven't used EMGs in 20 years. I like old man pickups. I don't need no stinkin battery.

[Caulk Rocket]

Batteries are for dildos.