Ever played your beautiful acoustic guitar only to have the sound get lost when you plug it in? That amazing, woody tone you hear unplugged often vanishes through the speakers. It’s a common frustration for acoustic players: finding a pickup that truly captures the instrument’s soul.
Fishman is a huge name in acoustic amplification, but wading through their lineup—from Matrix to Neo-D to Aura—can feel overwhelming. Which system delivers the warmth you need? Which one fits your playing style without complicated installation? Choosing the wrong pickup means settling for thin, unnatural sound night after night.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will break down the best Fishman pickup options available today, explaining exactly what each one does best. By the end, you will know precisely which Fishman system will make your plugged-in sound as rich and authentic as your unplugged playing. Let’s dive in and find the perfect voice for your guitar!
Top Fishman Acoustic Guitar Pickups Recommendations
- Passive Single-coil Magnetic Soundhole Pickup - Dark Brown
- Excellent string-to-string balance and acoustic clarity
- Low profile, high-impedance design needs no battery
- Easy installation with no alteration, plug and play right out of the box
- Passive Humbucking Magnetic Acoustic Soundhole Pickup with Low-profile Design
- Easy Installation
- This value-priced cousin of the award winning Rare Earth pickup shares the same neodymium magnet structure for exceptional string balance and sparkling acoustic clarity
- The Neo-D’s low-profile, high-impedance design needs no battery
- Acoustic Pickup with Soundhole-mounted Controls - Narrow Saddle
- Soundhole-mounted rotary controls for Volume and Tone
- Offers clear, transparent tone, dynamic string response, and ease of installation
- Features the world’s best-selling undersaddle pickup, the Acoustic Matrix
- Acoustic Pickup with Soundhole-mounted Controls - Wide Saddle
- Fishman is dedicated to helping musicians achieve the truest sound possible whenever they plug in
- Sound hole-mounted Volume and Tone rotary controls allow the player to make easily accessible adjustments
- The Matrix Infinity pickup and preamp system, the newest version of our flagship Matrix Series, offers clear, transparent tone, dynamic string response and ease of installation
- Easy Access Battery Compartment, Solder-free Installation
- Volume, Bass, Midrange and Treble, Brilliance Control, Notch Filter, Phase Switch
- With this preamp, you spend less time tweaking controls and more time playing
- Model: Fishman ACCMANNPU
- Polar Pattern: Unidirectional
- Weight: 0.02 kilograms
- Dimensions: 1 cm (width) x 5 cm (length) x 0.1 cm (height)
- Connectivity Technology: XLR
Choosing Your Sound: The Fishman Acoustic Guitar Pickup Buying Guide
Picking the right Fishman pickup changes how your acoustic guitar sounds when plugged into an amp or PA system. Fishman makes some of the best pickups around. This guide helps you choose the perfect one for your needs.
1. Key Features to Look For
When shopping for a Fishman pickup, you need to check a few important features. These features decide the pickup’s sound quality and how easy it is to use.
Sound Accuracy and Tone
- Undersaddle Transducers (UST): These sit under the bridge saddle. They give a clear, strong signal. They are great for cutting through a band mix.
- Soundboard Transducers (SBT): Sometimes called “contact mics,” these stick to the top wood of the guitar. They capture the wood’s natural vibration, offering a very “woody” and authentic acoustic sound.
- Soundhole Pickups: These sit inside the soundhole. They are easy to install and often include built-in controls like volume and tone.
- Dual Source Systems: The best systems often combine two types (like a UST and an SBT). This mix gives you the best of both worlds—clarity and warmth.
Built-in Electronics (Preamp)
A good preamp is crucial. It boosts the signal and lets you shape the sound. Look for controls like Volume, Bass, Treble, and sometimes Notch filters (to fight feedback).
Ease of Installation
Some pickups are easy to install yourself (like soundhole models). Others, especially sophisticated dual-source systems, need professional installation to avoid damaging your guitar.
2. Important Materials
The materials used affect durability and sound transfer.
- Piezo Material: Most USTs use a ceramic or film-based piezo material. Good quality piezo material resists “quack” (a harsh, unnatural sound).
- Housing/Body: For soundhole pickups, durable ABS plastic or even wood housing helps protect the electronics and contributes slightly to the captured tone.
- Wiring: High-quality shielding in the wires prevents unwanted noise and hum from entering your sound.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes a Fishman pickup sound great, and what makes it sound bad?
Improving Quality:
- Feedback Suppression: Features like built-in phase switches or adjustable notch filters greatly improve live performance quality by stopping loud squeals.
- Battery Life: Longer battery life means less worrying during long gigs.
- Low Profile Design: Pickups that sit flush with the guitar body look better and don’t interfere with playing.
Reducing Quality:
- Poor Saddle Contact: If a UST doesn’t sit perfectly flat under the saddle, you will get uneven volume across the strings.
- Cheap Preamps: Low-quality preamps introduce hiss or muddy sound when you boost the bass or treble too much.
- Improper Grounding: Bad installation or cheap wiring causes buzzing noises when you plug in.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you play. This shapes your perfect choice.
- Solo Fingerstyle Players: You need maximum natural tone. Look at SBTs or dual-source systems like the Fishman Matrix Natural II. They capture the nuances of string vibration.
- Strummers in a Band: You need volume and consistency. A powerful UST system like the Fishman Matrix Infinity is reliable for loud stages.
- Stage Performers: Feedback control is your number one concern. Choose models with advanced EQ and phase switches.
- Casual Players/Home Recording: Easy installation is key. A simple, plug-and-play soundhole pickup works well without permanent guitar modifications.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Fishman Pickups
Q: Which Fishman pickup is best for a bright sound?
A: Undersaddle Transducers (USTs) generally produce a brighter, more direct sound compared to soundboard pickups.
Q: Do Fishman pickups require a special guitar preamp?
A: Most Fishman pickups come with their own preamp built into the endpin jack or control block. You usually plug directly into an amplifier or PA system.
Q: Are Fishman pickups hard to install myself?
A: Soundhole pickups are usually simple plug-and-play. UST systems require removing the bridge saddle and potentially drilling a hole for the endpin jack, which needs care.
Q: What is “quack” and how do I avoid it?
A: “Quack” is a harsh, unnatural clicking sound when you pick hard. It happens when the UST picks up too much impact noise. Better quality piezo materials and using a dual-source system help reduce it.
Q: Do Fishman pickups need batteries?
A: Yes, most active Fishman systems use standard 9-volt batteries to power the preamp and boost the signal.
Q: Can I use a Fishman pickup in a nylon-string guitar?
A: Yes, Fishman makes specific nylon-string versions, like the Classic 4 Nylon, designed for the lower string tension and different bridge structure.
Q: What is the purpose of the “Phase Switch”?
A: The phase switch reverses the electrical signal polarity. This helps eliminate feedback or cancel out weird sounds when you use the pickup alongside a microphone.
Q: Which Fishman line is the most professional or highest quality?
A: The Aura and Matrix Blend series are often considered the top-tier because they use advanced modeling or blend multiple pickup sources for the most realistic sound.
Q: Will installing a Fishman pickup damage my acoustic guitar?
A: Professional installation prevents damage. Poor drilling or forcing components can certainly harm the instrument’s finish or structure.
Q: How often should I change the battery?
A: Change the battery every few gigs or whenever you notice the volume dropping or the sound becoming weak. Always change it before a big performance!