Fishman Fluence Modern vs signature sets

[braintheory]

So I just got a set of fishman fluence moderns installed in my Bernie Rico jr 7 string and I really like them so far, but was also curious if any of you guys know how some of the artist signature models compare? I'm curious about the abasi, townsend, Adler, and kse models. Which one will have the tightest bottom end? I tried the carpenter model the other day too in an ltd guitar and it seemed more or less like these moderns in my Brj but I didn't hear them side by side. I also know those other models except the abasi aren't available in 7 string versions but I'm still curious about them and have some 6 string guitars I could put them in. Any info would be appreciated

 

[braintheory]

Anyone?

 

[sleewell2]

i also have the moderns and love them. want to try the devin set and also the KSE set. the fishman website could be better in explaining how each set differs though. but the moderns are really amazing pickups.

 

[ed_Sped2]

I've got the moderns as well and I'd love to hear a comparison.

 

[The Hoff]

I have been considering buying a set but can't decide on which. I'm leaning either to the modern or Townsend set. I'd love to hear some input as well.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Have the KSE set in a Horizon...dig em ok, but lacking some low end. I'm gonna chuck the 81 back in and throw em up FS.

 

[Hardvalve]

I want a modern bridge, I have the classic bridge, and I want more gain for sure. It's a good sounding pickup, but want this guitar for metal. The neck pickup, sounds good though, very clear, and perfect for leads. Anybody want to trade a Modern or other Fluence for a classic bridge?

 

[the4thlast1]

I have a KSE set on the way , should be here in a few days. BUT I do not have the regular moderns to compare. I can compare them to the EMG 81x that is in the guitar now . I actually like the 81x a good deal so if the KSE fluence pickup doesn't sound better to me then I will return them to MF.

 

[the4thlast1]

I wanted to report back since the KSE set has arrived and I got a chance to give them a whirl.

I should say that the guitar being used has a single bridge hum route NO neck pickup so I did not try the KSE neck. Also worth mentioning is that I did not try voice 2 or single coil mode on the bridge pickup. I just plugged in the EMG quick connect that was for the EMG 81x that was it in the guitar.

So this is apples to apples , bridge pickup for high gain application playing modern metal riffs. I played the guitar with the EMG 81x for 10 minutes, then swapped in the Fluence and played for 10 min... Then I put the EMG back in and repeated that process so I was sure of what I was hearing, by the time I put the Fluence back in for the second time I had a much better idea of what the differences were than the first time around.

My conclusion is that the KSE Fluence bridge shares some similarities in voicing with the 81x and the regular 81 since I have a lot of experience with that pickup as well. The tone and feel is familiar but what happens is with the Fluence design I got more of everything I would want out of the EMG. The KSE Fluence bridge is tighter, clearer and more powerful a bit more muscular a little thicker but not overbearing in any way. Once again its like increasing all the good qualities of the EMG while removing any of the bad. I actually didnt notice the EMG 81x had a little bit of muddiness in certain areas of the frequency band until I swapped in the Fluence.

So yeah Im happy with the results so far. Obviously I am not getting the most out of the set, I will be wiring in voice 2 to a switch so I can try that out but in this particular guitar which I use mostly for metal riffing Im ok with not using the neck and the single coil modes. I will probably try another set in a dual hum guitar with all the options wired sometime in the future. I have my eye on trying the Devin Townsend set since they have gotten great reviews.

Hopefully someone else will be able to give us there thoughts on the regular fluence modern set compared to the KSE set, Townsend or Will Adler set. By description on the website and interviews with Joel it seems the KSE set has a little less output and a bit tighter bass. I can def say that the KSE bridge is a little tighter on the lows than the 81x yet somehow its also a bit thicker, the response is very fast.

 

[Crunchtime]

I wanted to report back since the KSE set has arrived and I got a chance to give them a whirl.

I should say that the guitar being used has a single bridge hum route NO neck pickup so I did not try the KSE neck. Also worth mentioning is that I did not try voice 2 or single coil mode on the bridge pickup. I just plugged in the EMG quick connect that was for the EMG 81x that was it in the guitar.

So this is apples to apples , bridge pickup for high gain application playing modern metal riffs. I played the guitar with the EMG 81x for 10 minutes, then swapped in the Fluence and played for 10 min... Then I put the EMG back in and repeated that process so I was sure of what I was hearing, by the time I put the Fluence back in for the second time I had a much better idea of what the differences were than the first time around.

My conclusion is that the KSE Fluence bridge shares some similarities in voicing with the 81x and the regular 81 since I have a lot of experience with that pickup as well. The tone and feel is familiar but what happens is with the Fluence design I got more of everything I would want out of the EMG. The KSE Fluence bridge is tighter, clearer and more powerful a bit more muscular a little thicker but not overbearing in any way. Once again its like increasing all the good qualities of the EMG while removing any of the bad. I actually didnt notice the EMG 81x had a little bit of muddiness in certain areas of the frequency band until I swapped in the Fluence.

So yeah Im happy with the results so far. Obviously I am not getting the most out of the set, I will be wiring in voice 2 to a switch so I can try that out but in this particular guitar which I use mostly for metal riffing Im ok with not using the neck and the single coil modes. I will probably try another set in a dual hum guitar with all the options wired sometime in the future. I have my eye on trying the Devin Townsend set since they have gotten great reviews.

Hopefully someone else will be able to give us there thoughts on the regular fluence modern set compared to the KSE set, Townsend or Will Adler set. By description on the website and interviews with Joel it seems the KSE set has a little less output and a bit tighter bass. I can def say that the KSE bridge is a little tighter on the lows than the 81x yet somehow its also a bit thicker, the response is very fast.

I was unaware the Fishman had an EMG compatible quick connect.

 

[the4thlast1]

Yes same connector...only thing is if you want to access the 2nd voice and whatever else the particular fishman model offers you would need to connect another set of wires which has a separate quick connect harness .If you use a standard EMG three wire quick connect you can only utilize voice one.

 

[In&OutBurger]

I actually have a KSE set and a DT set. Both installed in different guitars. I like both but they have completely different mid ranges.

Honestly they still feel like active pickups to me. Which I don't care for. Never liked EMGs either. I'm keeping both sets in the guitars (mainly because they were such a pain in the ass to install).

Definitely cool though.

 

[ed_Sped2]

mainly because they were such a pain in the ass to install

Truth. I got one of those prewired harnesses but it came with short shaft pots, so I had to unsolder everything and resolder to long shafts. Pain in my ass.

 

[braintheory]

I actually have a KSE set and a DT set. Both installed in different guitars. I like both but they have completely different mid ranges.

Honestly they still feel like active pickups to me. Which I don't care for. Never liked EMGs either. I'm keeping both sets in the guitars (mainly because they were such a pain in the ass to install).

Definitely cool though.

Which one is tigher in the bottom end? I've heard some guys say the DT is like the regular Moderns, but a bit darker sounding. If that's the case, I'm not sure if that would be my thing, but the KSE sounds cool since they're described as being so tight

 

[braintheory]

Anyone else?

 

[the4thlast1]

I actually have a KSE set and a DT set. Both installed in different guitars. I like both but they have completely different mid ranges.

Honestly they still feel like active pickups to me. Which I don't care for. Never liked EMGs either. I'm keeping both sets in the guitars (mainly because they were such a pain in the ass to install).

Definitely cool though.

Yes can you tell us more about the differences ...Which one is darker ? Is the lowend on the DT as tight as the KSE model ? Clarity about the same ?

 

[braintheory]

Anyone else have experience with these?

 

[NinjaRaf]

I have Moderns in all my guitars, now, and my cousin just got the Abasi set for his 7. Nice, clear, and tight low end, but maybe not quite as aggressive as the moderns. I dunno. I have been interested in the KSE and Adler sets, but both seem like they would have less low end than the Moderns. The Moderns seem to sit perfectly in the balance between tight and massive low end for me, so I really don't want to take the risk and feel like the pickups don't have enough. With my Mark IV, the Moderns are absolutely perfect.

 

[braintheory]

I have Moderns in all my guitars, now, and my cousin just got the Abasi set for his 7. Nice, clear, and tight low end, but maybe not quite as aggressive as the moderns. I dunno. I have been interested in the KSE and Adler sets, but both seem like they would have less low end than the Moderns. The Moderns seem to sit perfectly in the balance between tight and massive low end for me, so I really don't want to take the risk and feel like the pickups don't have enough. With my Mark IV, the Moderns are absolutely perfect.

Yes I think I read somewhere someone saying the abasi is smoother than the modern. How would the modern and abasi compare in tightness? Are they about the same? I'm curious hoe the kse or Adler would compare in tightness and aggression