Fishman Fluence Classics - 6 Month Review

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[@Brennosguitarsandgear]

Descriptions that only guitarists understand. To me that neck pickup sounds woody , but not woolly

[@LeonTodd]

THIS

[@TheKensusi]

Great Review, let me know if you would like to review more fishman products!

[@Tiger1016.]

How about a Leon Todd signature set! Bust seriously the Fishman line up is severely missing some additional options for humbuckers geared towards rock. Now that the Merrows have been discontinued, there is just the Classics, which are good for what they are, but there is a rock with more balls void that needs to be filled. The Will Adler bridge on Voice 2 seems to be in this wheelhouse, but it's a ceramic instead of Alnico V. I would pay 4x to 5x out if sheer need and want for something that had the Bare Knuckle Black Dogs on Voice 1 and Holy Diver in Voice 2 and then something close to the Greg Koch Voice 2 as the tone for the single coil, Voice 3 in this fantasy pickup wet dream. This would be a home run for the rock crowd.

[@NickScott86]

I love my three voice Fluence Classic pickups. I also have the Devin Townsend set in a guitar and the difference between the voices on those are much more apparent, but at the same time I don't find myself using the Modern voice on the DT set that much. Whereas with the Classic set, I feel like I'm squeezing everything I can out of all three voices and loving each of them. (Using voice 1/2/3 about 30%/50%/20%) I agree about the HF Tilt feature is pretty much useless. Currently I have my set up as a three-way blade for the pickup selector, a three-way mini toggle for the voices, and a volume pot with a push pull for the HF Tilt. I never use it. It just shaves off a tiny bit of treble that's barely noticeable. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd go five-way blade for the pickup selector, volume pot push pull for voice 1/2, a tone pot with a push pull for bypassing the tone pot entirely. Then positions 2 and 4 on the five-way blade would access voice 3. I'd lose the middle position voice for voice 3, but after about a year of having my guitar the other way, I'm wondering if this would have been better... Guess I'll need to build another guitar to find out! 😉

[@TheGuitarPit]

I have some Fishman Moderns that I haven't been getting along with recently. I used to love them but I've found myself playing more classic tones lately...I think these will be the replacement! Thanks :)

[@xmarifulx]

I replaced moderns with classics and couldn't be happier!!

[@TmanUtube]

Here I am 2 years later & just when I think I've watched all you brilliant content. Here's one I haven't seen yet. Thanks again mate! 🤘✌️❤

[@sin2Pi]

@Leon Todd Fishman did add a single coil voice (voice 3) for the classic open core edition that came out later. For the ones you have, you can still split the coils. There are tabs on the back that when grounded will only use one of the 2 coils, iirc, u can even choose the inner or outer coil. Results are not too single-coil-y, u get lower output, same response. IMHO best single coil voices are the ones in the Tosin or KSE sets, pure bliss!

[@Morte_Deus]

Great review...I have gone through a monumental amount of pickups including having dozens of seymour duncan custom shops. Here is what i have discovered. The best bridge pickups are SeymourDuncan BlackWinter is the best distortion/Metal pickup, the Gibson 57 classic + is the best Rock/Metal along with the SD 59, For the neck pickup the gibson 57 classic or the SD 59 sound great. I want to try Fishman modern in a guitar, i have played them in the store but the reason i haven't pulled the triger is those BlackWinters are just incredible. I had Sd custom shop make me a blend of the Blackwinter and the duncan distortion and it came out nice but still not as good as that blackwinter. I realize i sound like a seymour Duncan commercial so i will end with this, the best strat pickups i have ever used are the Dimarzio area 58 in the neck with a bare knuckle mothers milk in the middle and a dimarzio injector in the bridge.

[@bartonamon]

Would love to see you demo those Fishman Koch P90s…

[@LeonTodd]

Same! They look so darn cool

[@ChristopherOrth]

Thanks for doing such a great tone focused review of these pickups! Most people I see demo these just pick a baseline tone so biased towards brittle high end that you can't tell a damn thing about the pickups, other than how fast ear fatigue will set in.

[@brandonproctor3639]

I have Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers with the dual voicing push/pull on my ESP and it's also equipped with the EverTune bridge (which I absolutely love for recording purposes). I'm like you though, I really wish one of the voices on the pickups had a single coil sound. I've always been a little more partial to passive pickups anyway but these pups do sound pretty damn awesome. I love voice 2 on the neck pickup for my cleans, it sounds so large, wide, and just massive. But on the bridge position voice 1 sounds more passive and voice 2 has that controlled low end active thing but most of the time I'm in voice 1 but when I'm recording I'll use both when tracking guitars. The Fishman classics sound amazing in that PRS though.. I'd love to have a set of those too if I had a couple more guitars! Great video brother

[@jamesflack8624]

I was contemplating swapping out the stock pups on my DGT standard (no maple top) for the current gen Fishman classics, thanks for this video. Cheers 🍻

[@courtney2018]

The Fishman's are great. Still need to get some for a few of mine.

[@fiddlerthedrum4613]

Almost pulled trigger on Fluence Strat. What held me back: you either have to remove pickguard to change the battery (not happening) or buy the battery pack. The battery pack is cool but lithium ion batteries have a finite lifespan and who knows if I will be able to buy another backplate in 10 years or whatever. Opted for Zexcoil.

[@chucklefuck]

You can easily install a USB charging port.

[@riheg]

Yeah man I like when Leon does pickup talk. I can’t decide because so many great signature pups. I’ll probably go for a Willie Adler

[@InspiretoVictory]

Ha! I can't leave anything stock. 1994 Gibson Lucille - Bare knuckle Mules, Mojotone wiring harness and Big D Varitone switch 1991 Strat - Lindy Fralin Real 54 and wiring harness 2016 Epi Brent Hinds Flying V - Bare knuckle Warpigs and upgraded wiring Reverend Flatroc - TV Jones classics, wiring harness, all hardware and Warmoth neck Warmoth strat body and neck - Bare Knuckle Trilogy Suite with wiring harness, Callaham hardware My next project is going to be a Warmoth Tele with those Gristle Master tele pickups from Fishman. They sound amazing to me everytime I hear them. And no noise! How great is that?

[@n3rdg4m3r]

I'm actually in the process of converting my 5string bass and two guitars to fishman fluence pickups. The fluence bass pickups have everything from a vintage warm tone to a slap bass tone to a modern metal tone via a 3 position switch. For my 26.5" baritone I'm getting the Devin Townsend set. And for my lead guitar I go back and forth between choosing Classic fluence or the Killswitch Engage set.

[@JeffHendricks]

I can't compare those two sets, but I have the DT set in my Les Paul, and I'm quite satisfied.

[@halohat2286]

Have a set of Tosin Abasi Fishmans in my Bryant Custom Guitars Tele 7 string. They sound great and I love the optional USB charger.

[@AD1978leo]

Respect, 7 strings really aren't my thing but they do sound awesome in the right hands.

[@marka6414]

Thanks so much for doing the follow up video, getting an additional perspective 6 months later is incedibly useful. Also, there's a lot of excellent comments and thoughts in here to. I'm going to go for a set up the Open Core classic humbuckers which also have the 3rd single coil voicing. I'm really looking forward to hear how they sounds.

[@LeonTodd]

Single coil voicing would be an awesome addition IMO

[@Ghaos]

Leon, love your stuff... This is just my opinion, if you're looking more "single coil tones" I would pull your Classics and install a set of Fishman Open Core Classics. The single coil mode on those is PHENOMENAL. I just a put a set in my Carvin DC and it smokes. You'll probably have to re-wire for a "position two, push/pull selects bridge single or neck single" type of thing, but I promise you you won't be disappointed. Keep up the good work.

[@coreymineard]

The newer Fishman Classics have the 3rd voicing as well

[@ernestobenschop6087]

I think you are going to love the single coil sound of the tosin set !

[@ronaldbolen5685]

I just contacted Fishman because I have the old ones and I wanted to be able to coil split for the single coil and they sent me a diagram to do it. On the back of the coil you will see a brass spot that says CT. You have to solder a wire from that to another push-pull switch set up like voice 2 or a mini on-on toggle switch. The guy that emailed me is Derek. I just go this email yesterday. Email Fishman and they will send you a Diagram that says Fishman Fluence Coil Tapping! It shows using a Mini on-on Toggle, but he said you can wire it just like voice 2 with your push-pull switch.

[@lngsrp4612]

MOLLY HATCHET at 4:48!!!

[@guidedbyechoes]

That sounds like the right choice. I detest stock PRS pickups I've tried. I've owned a baritone and a 7string. Both sound much better after the pickups are replaced. It's like taking a blanket off of your tone.

[@robertj1303]

I do not like active pickups had too much trouble with them. Initially great sound, but there wears off unless battery at 90% charge. Yours sounds good. Those who comment who like active and EMGs etc that’s your preference. Like you like PRS I like Kiesel albeit I only have one Vader V6X which has Lithums, I have also put the Delos Berylliums in my Yamaha Pacific, I love both. My Waghorn I have Suhr SSV and V60LP. I have left my JB strat as is, Musicman Axis super sport as is. So I agree with you about that, except cheaper Gibson and Teles. My preference these days is HSS.

[@Dejoblue]

DEFINITELY check out the single coils. I love them! I have a Fishman single coil neck with a bridge humbucker in my 87 Kramer Stagemaster. Great single coil tone and it has a 3db pad/boost you can use to even out the volume difference between single and humbucker; or if using with all single coils, it provides a boost option. I have Duncans in my PRS (Custom Custom B/PRails N) and I really want to try Fishmans, but keep putting it off because I am too lazy to do the wiring >

[@LeonTodd]

That 3db feature is very clever, did not know that!

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Thank you Leon! Appreciate your efforts and insight! Well done Brother and thanks for sharing! Be Well All!

[@billcompeau4835]

Your playing reminds me of Ian Thornley of Big Wreck which is a very good thing!!!!

[@LeonTodd]

That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about my playing. Ian is incredible!

[@edrosenquist6541]

Thanks for this review Leon!!! I've built a 24 fret SG shape neck-thru, and seeing reviews on the Epiphone Prophecy those pickups sound almost glassy and chimey. Plus they can get super crunchy and driven but still clear, if thats possible? Paired with my FM9, I think I'll have gear playing way above my skill grade. Again, thanks for your review amigo.

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Cool vid.

[@rolandmarichal1250]

DAMN! That 245 sounds AMAZING

[@JustinBryantdotcom]

Love it! Just chatted w/Ken Susi - excites to check these out!

[@seventhsealhere]

The Fishmans sound good. Very versatile. Uhh oh, the Ceriatone is missing! Need some more hot rod on the channel!👍

[@LeonTodd]

Eagle eyed! It's being put to good use by a friend of the channel at the moment

[@cshades8026]

You should try some arcane pickups.

[@cortviva69]

Leon, great video!!! Did I hear Gator Country from Molly Hatchet shining through around 5min?

[@LeonTodd]

:D

[@cory-o-cookies95]

My charvel Tele has these , with the 3rd voicing for split coil. They are tasty

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Great logic. Great video. I've come to view the amp, guitar, pickups, pedals, etc, as a system. Those pickups are sick! That guitar is epic! Digging that riff. Oh, question for next Fridays q and a. What do you think of the bands that I call more obscure from the 80s like. Xyz ( love that lick in inside out ), or the band shotgun messiah, etc??? Great video sir. Melbourne is in my thoughts with the Covid stuff, and all the restrictions. Be safe buddy. Oh, btw. I am still drolling over the tone and looks of that Hamer special with p90s. Would love to see you do a whole video about why p90s rock and people are missing out on that midrange tone if they've never had a guitar with p90s. 🤟💖🤟🤙💖🤟

[@funfreq9282]

Definitely hear the classic tone with the Fishmans! I personally like the Suhr Thornbucker, probably splitting hairs but they work for me. Nice vid Leon!

[@LeonTodd]

I have Suhr ML's in my old Strat - LOVE them

[@funfreq9282]

@@LeonTodd I have been working on a custom build (parts caster type of thing) It's going to be a hum/single. I have two different pups that were given to me, one is a Suhr V70 and the other is a DiMarzio DP415 that I plan on using for the neck can't decide which one yet. I haven't decided on which bridge pup to use yet. The Fulence series might be a good fit though! Thoughts?

[@Eventual420]

Man, I am the wrong person to ask about this... because I don’t trust my own ears nor opinions. Guitar manufacturers building thousands of guitars seem to know the right pickup to put into the right guitar, as though they’ve had the time to test this combination through 100 different amps to conclude ‘this+that=better’. But what if it had a small capacitor wired into this pot? See, now they’re doing things I couldn’t hope to understand, so it’s at a very fundamental level that I appreciate specific guitars. When I first heard the Ibanez Universe, I was hugely asking myself WTF? But over the years understood better. Since I started on Strats, I thought 3 pickups was the way to go. Until I could afford a Gibson, I had no idea what their approach was, but then it blew me away how flexible they are. If you’re a connoisseur of gain, they have a tremendous pallet of options. I play Pete’s guitar all the time, because I love the way it’s voiced. But none of them jangle like the Rickenbacker, nothing sounds like Ricks. I trust the manufacturers, they know what they’re doing. Me? Deactivating the brain, following instincts is my only hope.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Solar Guitar Studio simp

[@Eventual420]

Mended Cheese, invaluable opinions from others, for me it’s a bassist friend of mine who really guided me away from EMG and high gain. He also kept insisting that I buy a Gibson guitar, which I didn’t understand. He also insisted I leave the ADA MP1 behind and get a real amp. $4,300 later he was satisfied. ;)

[@tonya4157]

I hear you. I do like these but that SC blew me away. But, like you said, that's the point of having different guitars isn't it? One other thing, I know it isn't something you'd use a lot but I really liked the the high cut neck tone.

[@dver4624]

I have some Fluence single coils in a Strat-style Fret King guitar. Unfortunately, I'm shit at guitar maintenance/mods and tried to replace the switch with a super switch and now it doesn't work - I'm yet to figure out why. Still, they're great pickups when left unmolested. They're very clear and dynamic, and I'd argue that the two voices are more distinct than the humbuckers. I also recently got a Charvel with some Open Core Classics, which have the coil-split option. Great guitar, though weirdly the coil splits introduce some noise. I figured that the active circuit would be silent, but I was wrong. The splits sound great though! I also have a Fret King tele-style with Fluence pickups and they sound GREAT. Fishman really created something wonderful with this concept.

[@Glensully]

I have a PRS SE i want to put the classics in. Do you still like them?

[@dver4624]

@@Glensully I love them. They sound fantastic. I would recommend them!

[@Glensully]

@@dver4624 cheers - i think the open core and the covered would sound the same

[@guillermorodriguez26]

I tried them on my custom 24 and they are going to eBay as they are too sterile. I am trying a set of emg hot 70’s and they seem to be the best match for any PRS users who use mostly modelers instead of tube amps. They really give you a warm sound

[@LeonTodd]

Keep me posted with how you like the emg's!

[@PedalScience]

This was super helpful, thanks!

[@mrGood-84]

I’ve started to klick on thumbs up the moment video starts to load :)

[@LeonTodd]

You're the best!

[@Tiger1016.]

Love the Fleunce Classics and Keith Merrow. However, Voice 2 on the neck pickup just does not work well for me. Way too much blanket over the sound kind of thing IMO. Not a problem if you can either 1) install separate voicing switches or 2) just disable voice 2 on the neck.

[@xBergade]

Thanks for that comment, I have exactly the same impression. I can't figure out that voice 2 neck, it's like a tone was dropped half way or something... How is that useful? Would be good if Keith explained how/when he uses it, to me the voice 1 neck (or even the split neck) is so much better in every way. Considering installing a second voicing switch for that neck as I can't see myself ever using voice 2.

[@pastorkev777]

I would love to hear these pickups compared to EMG 89x and 89xr.

[@riccovrea841]

I’m a McCarty guy through and through. I’ve owned several singlecuts and always go back to McCartys. I recently acquired a McCarty trem with Seymour Duncan’s. Which was not my thing. so I put in PRS 7s and couldn’t be more happier! But since Watching all your videos, really makes me think I need to get a SC245. ✌🏻 I do have a question though how is the 24 3/4 scale on the SC245 to the McCarty 25 scale do you notice a difference.

[@johnbaab7728]

I really like the sound of your Single cut. what pickups are in it.

[@fiddlerthedrum4613]

Have you tried these out with germanium or silicon fuzz outside of Axe Fx? If so, how did they react? Did they clean up when rolling down the volume?

[@ReddenDoom]

I find the classics make everything distort super fast, I find it really hard to get an edge of breakup tone even rolling volume off. They also roll off highs a bit earlier than I like so they can't match the definition I get out of something like a Gibson 490. Sound awesome with anything above medium gain though. I find they are super compressed in an odd way too, they react in sound to picking dynamic but not really in volume.

[@teokiatuan2]

Are your pickups too high?

[@ReddenDoom]

@@teokiatuan2 So......what eventually fixed my issues with these was super weird - it's on a Charvel with a trem (direct mount pups). Basically the last guy partially unscrewed the trem springs from the body to get the bridge to lay flat in a drop tuning, they also moved the middle spring to the low side, unbalancing the tension. This combo effectively killed the guitars resonance and made it behave in all sorts of weird ways. Screwing the spring holder back to where it should have been and moving the odd spring back to middle made the guitar suddenly come alive! No issues since and its one of my favorites to play!

[@coalfacechris1336]

Great Demo Leon. Is it possible to do the Ibanez Vai-style HSH wiring with a combo of two HB's with the SC-available voice, and a single in the middle?

[@Dejoblue]

Hold old are these pickups,lol? I got the new version with 3 voicings a year ago. It has the best single coil bridge tone I have ever had and I love the humbucking tone.

[@joshbarron1380]

Where are the original pickups for that McCarty? mine has LT 58's they are spiltable and decent on the single coil sound

[@LeonTodd]

This one from 2006 had the stock "McCarty" pickups.

[@VaderLaw]

Which one match for power metal and shredding?fishman Modern or Classics ?thx

[@gonza.shreds]

I'm considering to get a Modern set. But I saw many people complaining about battery life... How long does a 9V last with these?

[@jmar482]

Leon, what pickups are in your PRS SC? I’ve got a PRS 245 with EMGs in it that I’m looking to replace, either with the PRS 57/08s or the Fishman classics, I really like the 3 different voices you can pull off with them.

[@TruD0G]

Do all the new classics have the 3 voicings? I know the open core had 3 voicings which are stated on the fishman website but for the classics they just say multiple voicings. I want the 3 voicings but i dont want to get open core for my guitar. Having the gold cover would fit perfect for the upgrading i want to do for my guitar. So if i get classics im for sure getting 3 voicings? anyone know

[@leeshobbyheaven3307]

I have the fishman fluence modern . Love the neck and split tone but on bridge not quite doing it for me. Does any one know you I could have modern in neck front and a classic at bridge. Would it be weird of sound good ?

[@caca_spaniel_1239]

That would be a modern sounding neck pup w/ active voice in combination with a pack-of-three classic bridge sounds. You can only pair the neck passive voicing with the overturned PAF bridge, other than that it should be fine

[@pgman5416]

They don't really sound "classic" imho. BUT they sound great.

[@philsmith9666]

Hey Leon would this work for a super strat style guitar for 80s metal? Getting a Kramer Barretta soon and I'm between these and something like a JB. If these can do the same kind of 80s metal thing I think this pickup would be my choice as it's more versatile with different voices.

[@LeonTodd]

To me these almost sound like an active JB

[@NiqScott]

Flicking past the videos. and totally read that as "Fishman Flatulence"

[@cironicholas526]

That happens when the battery starts to run out

[@monsterk7603]

I had a schecter with FF Moderns in it. I loved them at first because they were a little different. But I grew to not like the mid range on them. It sounds.....plasticky (?)... like fake or something. I can't unhear it now. Lol. I've always been a fan of EMGs, so it's not the active aspect. Weird, but as you say, brotha. To each his own.

[@cshades8026]

Would these sound good on a 24 fret guitar? Or are they built around that “classic” 22 fret style?

[@LeonTodd]

I'm sure they'd sound great

[@sanchezlabro3177]

That single cut bro!!! It blew your number 2 out of the water. What a guitar

[@LeonTodd]

Scary good isn't it? Too be fair, that patch is dialed in to suit that guitar and I'd make a few tweaks for the McCarty. But the fundamental tones are definitely different!

[@sanchezlabro3177]

@@LeonToddfor sure mate. It has that deep growl that only seems to come from the PRS single cuts. Keep up the good work mate. Love the channel and the content!

[@ronniecoffey9945]

Hey Leon, i have an Ibanez with Fishman Modern"s , trying to get a really Pristine clean tone, any suggestions, i'm still playing with my AX8, it seems like everything i try sounds very "electronicy" & muddy, plz help, and dude, You sound amazing !!!

[@LeonTodd]

Do you have the ability to access a single coil voicing on there? Otherwise I did a vid on simulating single coils recently using PEQ

[@ronniecoffey9945]

Yes Sir, I flip the small silver toggle up for single coil, And use neck Pickup to try to mimic your Awesome LT MK Pristine, your Early & late 80's clean, but I really love your Methamphetamine clean, your Worship patch is awesome too, with my Strat, any vids on this ?? Thx Leon 😎

[@TheHexeract]

Does anyone use these for real guitar tones or only for souless metal crunch?

[@LeonTodd]

I'm also adept at souless blues and rock with these

[@JRFarmercom]

How many ADA MP-1s do you own now? Looks like 3 of them back to back to back in your rack.

[@LeonTodd]

Yep, three. I have my original and i scored two recently - going to 3TM at least one. For, you know, science.

[@mariogarza1563]

Hey Leon, you now your model has 3 voices, 1=Classic, 2=Hot Roded, 3=Single coils, and there is even a coil tap mode soldering some points bellow the pickups, customer service and support sucks for Fishman (I know because they never help or explain their products correctly, I have called them a couple of times and they never answer, if anything contact Ken Susi, he would most likely will help you since he is an artist rep). Check their official website on the support tabs for the pdfs explaining the installation. Here I will leave you a link to the function explanation (Check page 5): www.fishman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Fluence-Universal-User-Guide.pdf

[@mariogarza1563]

And BTW I love my fishmans!!!

[@LeonTodd]

I've got an okay set that lacks the SC voice - the new ones definitely have it though!

[@mariogarza1563]

Leon Todd maaaaannnn that sucks 😢!! I think Ken Susi should send you some sets to try!! You definitely qualify to get some!! 😜

[@tacoconch7678]

Is that a bone nut on a PRS? How dare you!?

[@LeonTodd]

Heresy, I know

[@keokiheller4351]

What a great review! Man….I think u just made me $500 poor-er haha😭

[@Ramo_Baramia]

when you star play from 3min mark it remind me pink panther i dont know why ::)))))

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Meh

[@stephenchow5161]

first