Ever play your beautiful acoustic guitar, only to have it sound thin and weak when you plug it into an amplifier? That frustrating, thin sound is a common problem for acoustic players. You want your guitar’s natural warmth and volume to shine through on stage or during practice, but many pickups just don’t deliver the true tone.
Choosing the perfect Fishman pickup can feel overwhelming. Fishman is a huge name, offering everything from under-saddle transducers to soundhole magnetic pickups. Which one fits your playing style and your specific guitar best? Getting this choice wrong means sacrificing your sound quality, leading to more headaches than music.
This guide cuts through the noise. We will explore the best Fishman options available today, explaining exactly what each one does so you can match the right gear to your needs. By the end, you will feel confident choosing the pickup that finally makes your acoustic sound as rich plugged in as it does unplugged.
Top Fishman Pickup For Acoustic Guitar 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
- Premium Quality: Our acoustic guitar pickup system is meticulously crafted with a focus on high quality, ensuring reliability and durability for all your musical needs
- Voice Control Support: Experience the convenience of hands- free control with our innovative acoustic guitar pickup system. With voice control capabilities, you can effortlessly adjust settings and achieve a seamless playing experience
- Universal Compatibility: Designed to be compatible with a wide range of guitars available on the market, our EQ equalizer guitar preamp is versatile and can fit various guitar models. Whether you are a professional musician or a beginner, installation is a breeze, allowing you to start enjoying its benefits quickly
- Enhanced Sound Customization: Fine- tune your sound with our EQ equalizer guitar preamp, which offers bass, middle, and treble control knobs for ultimate sound customization. Create the perfect tone that suits your music style effortlessly
- Sonic Possibilities: Unlock new sonic possibilities with the phase switch feature of our acoustic guitar pickup system. By simply flicking a switch, you can add depth and dimension to your sound, exploring a whole new realm of musical creativity
- 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 Piezo Crystal Passive Under-saddle Pickup - Narrow Fmat
- Fishman’s piezo crystal passive undersaddle guitar pickup
- Available in a variety of widths and string
- Available in a variety of widths and string spacing's
- Acoustic Pickup with Multi-position Cardioid Condenser Capsule Soundhole-mounted Controls - Narrow Saddle
The Essential Buying Guide for Fishman Acoustic Guitar Pickups
Choosing the right Fishman pickup makes your acoustic guitar sound amazing when plugged in. Fishman is a top name. This guide helps you pick the best one for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When buying a Fishman pickup, look closely at these features. They decide how well your guitar sounds amplified.
1. Pickup Type: Sound Capture
- Undersaddle Transducers (UST): These fit under the bridge saddle. They give a very clear, balanced sound. They are good for strumming.
- Soundboard Transducers (SBT): These stick to the underside of the guitar top. They capture the wood’s natural vibration. They sound very “woody” and natural.
- Soundhole Pickups: These sit right in the soundhole. They are easy to install and often use magnetic coils. They are great for a punchy, direct sound.
2. Onboard Preamp and Controls
A preamp boosts the signal so it sounds strong through an amp or PA system. Good preamps have useful controls:
- Volume Control: Lets you adjust loudness easily.
- EQ (Equalizer): Usually offers Bass, Mid, and Treble adjustments. This helps you shape your tone.
- Phase Switch: This reverses the signal’s polarity. It fixes feedback problems, especially on stage.
3. Installation Ease
Some pickups require drilling holes in your guitar (like endpin jacks). Others, like soundhole units, clip right in. Think about if you want permanent changes to your instrument.
Important Materials Matter
The materials used affect durability and sound quality.
Housing and Construction
Most Fishman electronics use durable plastic housings for the preamp, which protects the sensitive parts. The actual sensor (like the UST strip) is usually made of high-quality polymer or ceramic material. Better materials resist wear and tear from constant vibration.
Wiring Quality
Look for shielded wiring. Shielding stops outside noise, like electrical hum, from getting into your signal. Good wiring ensures a clean signal path.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes one Fishman better than another?
Signal Clarity (Improves Quality)
A high-quality pickup produces a clear, uncolored sound. Fishman’s higher-end models, like those using Aura technology, use digital modeling. This technology mimics the sound of a professionally miked guitar. This greatly improves the amplified tone.
Feedback Resistance (Improves Quality)
When playing loud, feedback (a high-pitched squeal) happens. Pickups with good anti-feedback features, like a built-in phase switch or specialized internal microphones, keep your sound clean on stage.
Installation Errors (Reduces Quality)
If an undersaddle pickup is installed crooked or unevenly, the sound will be unbalanced. The bass strings might sound too loud or too quiet compared to the treble strings. Professional installation is key here.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you play. This guides your choice.
For Solo Performers (Singer-Songwriters)
You need reliable, all-around tone. An undersaddle pickup paired with a preamp that has good EQ (like the Fishman Matrix series) works well. It handles both gentle fingerpicking and hard strumming.
For Band Settings (Loud Stages)
Feedback control is vital. Look for models designed specifically for high-volume stages, often those that integrate a soundhole magnetic pickup with a separate microphone blend. This gives you power and acoustic flavor.
For Recording at Home
If you record quietly, you want the most natural sound possible. A soundboard transducer or a soundhole pickup that blends well with an external microphone gives the truest acoustic reproduction.
Fishman Pickup Buying Guide FAQ
Q: Which Fishman pickup is easiest to install?
A: Soundhole pickups are usually the easiest. They simply clip into the soundhole. They often do not require drilling any holes in your guitar body.
Q: Do I need batteries for a Fishman pickup?
A: Yes, almost all Fishman systems with preamps need batteries (usually 9-volt) to power the electronics and boost the signal.
Q: What is the difference between a UST and an SBT?
A: UST (Undersaddle) captures string vibration directly under the bridge. SBT (Soundboard) captures the vibration of the guitar top wood itself, sounding more natural.
Q: How do I stop feedback when using my Fishman pickup?
A: Use the phase switch on your preamp. Also, try reducing the bass frequencies using the EQ, as low frequencies often cause feedback.
Q: Is the more expensive Fishman always better?
A: Not always, but higher-end Fishman systems often include advanced features like Aura modeling, which significantly improves the amplified sound quality.
Q: Can I use a Fishman pickup on any acoustic guitar?
A: Most work on standard steel-string acoustics. However, some specialized pickups are made just for nylon-string (classical) guitars.
Q: What does a “Phase Switch” do?
A: It flips the electrical signal 180 degrees. This helps cancel out standing sound waves that cause annoying squeals (feedback) on stage.
Q: How long do the batteries usually last?
A: With average playing time (a few hours a week), a 9-volt battery often lasts several months. Always turn your guitar off or unplug it when you are done playing.
Q: Should I choose a magnetic pickup or a transducer?
A: Magnetic pickups (often soundhole types) are great for loud band settings. Transducers (UST/SBT) give a more authentic, natural acoustic tone for quieter settings.
Q: What is Fishman Aura technology?
A: Aura uses digital sound images. It digitally blends the pickup sound with a perfect studio microphone recording of the same guitar. This makes the plugged-in sound much closer to the real acoustic sound.