Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural II

Fishman Eclips, that works with the natural II, expensive piece of junk. Worthless, junk!

Guild D 28, after market add on. I needed it to work and it never would work. I had to remove it and look for something else, would never buy another guitar or anything from Fishman again. I needed a clean sounding guitar, and bought this cause I have another guitar that came with a Fishman, Prefix, pro-blend, that was the top of the line when i got it. Still I have to say, its is a good product that I have, and I have had good luck with it.

I am now using a great sound system, Yamaha Stagepas 300.
I would have like to have this work for me, part of it does, but the part i needed, never worked, who wants to hear the buzzing or humming sound as there working?

Acoustic Matrix Natural I have put it on a guitar, was sold new, and never worked, contacted the company, and never did they take the responceablitlty for the huming noise. They told me that it was improperly installed, BS. I have the photo images of what i have and i was very careful with installing it. I know what i did, there were no tears to the foil. It was a bad product, and Fishman doesn't stand behind there mistakes. So what do i have to do, buy another one, I am a musician, and just want it to work, I have another guitar that came with a fishman pickup system on it, it is great, but after the bad experince I have to say, I would not suggest anyone buying anything with the Fishman's name on it. I only wanted a quality, and what I got was excuses from the management at Fishman. My problem is with Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural II, I am telling anyone that would listen, not to buy anything from Fishman. I know it sounds like sour apples, well yes, that it is. I only wish that Fishman would hear this, and in the future, stand behind there products.
Bad, bad bad, don't buy, stay away, keep out, don't ever buy a fishman product!! NO Such thing as customer service with Fishman.

I added the Fishman VTB controls so it would have some flexibility on stage, and so I can turn it all the way down without the sound tech having to mute it, then forget to turn it back on!

An old Conn from the late 70's that looks a lot like a cross between a Gibson SJ200 for the lower bout, a OOO 14 fret Martin for the upper bout, and about the same size as a 0000 or J model. It needed some bridgework, and the older Fishman/Martin Gold just wasn't cutting it anymore, and its preamp jack was shot. But in spite of the laminate sides and back, the top is absolutely perfectly quartersawn with perfect regular grain and a lot of cross grain "silk," and the neck is the only acoustic neck that I've ever played in over 30 years that doesn't make my hand hurt. So it was worth it to me to keep it going. So I upgraded after doing a lot of surfing research, and reading reviews like the Epi review below this one. Cost/Performance/Value of guitar balance is exactly that: this is it. Make sure you do use it with a GraphTech Tusq compensated saddle as recommended to keep the tone even and consistent from string to string.

All the usual peizo stuff applies. I absolutely recommend the VTB, as I played for years without it and missed the control (I usually play electric). It is smoother than any other peizo I've played. It is also sensitive to string condition: when I first plugged it in after I picked it up with new strings, it sounded bright, and as the strings have settled in, it has rounded out fabulously. It's extremely sensitive to both pick attack and finger/fingernail attack and picking position on the string, so you can nuance your tone as you will. It will still quack when picked hard, and I tend to pick hard, so I have backed off to using Dunlop nylon .73 picks. I use this guitar for everything from Friday nights to Sunday mornings, personal stuff, club gigs, my son's cub scout pack leading songs, etc.; a real banger of a guitar. Here's the amazing part: at church, the first Sunday I played it after I got it back, we had this finger-picked first verse arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful. So everyone knows it, and you better play it right or everyone will know how you fouled it up. No hiding. After service, not only people who know me complimented me and especially the guitar, but guys who own Martins and Taylors complemented me, and people who don't even know how a guitar works complimented me on how great they said it sounded -- their words, not mine. So I'd give it a 10 except for the inherent design of all piezos having pick quack, which may say more about me than the pickup, but so be it.

At its Price/Performance/Value of guitar balance, it's the ticket. I guess you would say I would and did buy it again, since it did replace another Fishman that had done its yeoman service for too many years of abuse before it just gave out. Again, spend the extra bucks to have it installed correctly by a good tech who can tweak anything else your guitar needs at the same time. As with any contact pickup, it can only sound as good as the guitar you have it in. Spend a few more bucks for the VTB so you can tweak during playing as necessary. And keep a rubber sound hole plug with you when you're running through a board with hot monitors so you cut down on any chance of howl feedback; it's much more effective than trying to notch frequencies, and so doesn't ruin your tone.

If I had a multi-thousand dollar custom made fingerpicker, I wouldn't use it. But then I'd mike instead of pickup, as I do on my @1936 Gibson L00. But for a banger, it can't be beat (pun intended!).

One of these days I'll have to try it through one of the new Takamine tube preamps, but until then....

Pickup features: Under saddle pickup and endpin mounted preamp.
Impedence or other specs: Not known.

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone EJ200
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None.
Other pickups on guitar: None.
Artists using this pickup: See Fishman web site for details.
You musical style(s): Rock / blues. Acoustic work very influenced by Pete Townshend and Neil Young.
Reason for pickup change: I had long wanted a J200. A genuine Gibson was way beyond my price range and wholly unjustifiable in terms of my playing ability. Having tried a couple of Epi EJ200s at trade shows, I opted for a natural finish model which really delivered the acoustic sounds I expected. However, I needed to be able to compete with brutally thrashed electro-acoustics at various jams and wanted to introduce an acoustic element into my blues band's sets. Therefore fitting a pickup of some description was necessary.
I discussed my requirements with John Haire at Guitar Services. He gave me a stark choice; Fishman Matrix Natural II or nothing. This was based on he value of the original guitar and the work he would have to put into installing a pickup. Knowing John's reputation as both a superb tech and an exquisite player, I took his advice and went for the Fishman.

Perceived output level: Hard to judge the output. However it is comparable to an Ovation Celebrity driving a Marshall AS50 acoustic combo and causes no problem being DI'ed into a mixer desk. Suffice it say that the preamp produces a usable output level.
Tone: Overall the Matrix Natural has a balanced sound. The amplified characteristics of the EJ200 mirror the acoustic qualities pretty closely. The tops are bright but without being harsh, mids are well-balance and the bottom end is vibrant and deep without being boomy or indistinct. John Haire 'tunes' the response of the Fishman by changing the break angle of each string over the saddle. To my ears the Fishman produces an even, well-balanced output with no evident change in loudness across the strings. Whilst obviously not sounding like a condenser mic-ed acoustic guitar, the Fishman produces a very close facsimile of the intrinsic acoustic sound of the guitar - which is all we can reasonably ask.
Sonic evaluation: The EJ200 generally runs into a PA mixer, occasionally a Marshall AS50 acoustic combo. I will record direct using a compressor to compare with close mic-ed sounds.
So far I have been very pleased with the Matrix Natural. When I colleceted the guitar from John Haire he played a variety of styles on it to illustrate what it sounded like amplified. Would that I could emulate him. Acoustic assaults on Cinnamon Girl and Won't Get Fooled Again come out bright and vibrant. Each note is distinct and chord work is full. With further use I will no doubt discover nuances that can be enhanced or ameliorated by EQ-ing. At this stage I can only express my delight with the Fishman. I am looking forward to the acoustic on-stage option.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, bluesy-rock, Bernard Shakey and Bijou Drains stuff. The Fishman delivers. And, of course, the wholly acoustic sounds of the Epi remain unimpaired. Unplugged it sounds like a jumbo 6-string - the same cannot be said of round-back plastic fruit bowls masquerading as acoustic guitars [however good their electronics!].

Comments: I would certainly have another Matrix Natural. With the provisio that it was fitted by Guitar Services. I should mention that the cost of ?185 quoted above included the cost of the Fishman, its fitting, a new top nut, a fret polish and a new set of strings.
Maybe my Vega 845 will go down the same road later this year.
I am not bothered by the absence of knobs, sliders and all that stuff. Keeping it simple is the watchword.

Pickup features: transducer or something. built under bridge
Impedence or other specs: powerjack included

Model of guitar or bass: Jack and Danny Brothers DG-3S
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Dave Matthews, John Mayer...(i don't know them, see www.fishman.com)
You musical style(s): strumming, certainly not western, Eric Clapton and R.E.M.-stuff
Reason for pickup change: no change, first pick-up, I wanted to use my acoustic guitar in a band. (KoaN www.koanonline.tk)

Perceived output level: nice and loud, like my electric guitar's highest volume
Tone: good, but you can change that stuff on your amp (EQ)
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez Tone Blaster TB25R, it's not ment for acoustic amplification, but it does the job.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: it's just good, doesn't feedback really quickly

Comments: Finally I'm through all those annoying questions. Anyway...
The Matrix 2 system is just a pick-up, without EQ possibilities. It has a nice tone, can be set very warm, but also hard and rough with your amp. I really like it, except the fact you can't change your EQ-setting or your volume with it. I'm thinking about buying Fishman's new Ellipse Blend system, because it can adjust volume and it doesn't need a hole in your guitar, but I wish somebody had already reviewed it!!! I'm a newbie in acoustic guitar PU's, but I guess this one is pretty good for the price. As I have been told, Fishman is the best you can get for acoustic amplification.

Pickup features: undersaddle transducer
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin D-16 RGT
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: dmb
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: The output level is good. You can't adjust it from the guitar without an eq.
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen I would probably try B-Band just because. Nothing is wrong with the Fishman, but I want to try something else.
If your saddle is not completely flat, it will sound really bad. This happened to me, but I just sanded it down. The pamphlet it comes with says you shouldn't use it with a bone saddle, but I do and it doesn't sound any worse.
I got it because the luthier suggested this one over the B-Band that I was about to get. I didn't want to make any additional holes to my guitar so I chose the undersaddle.
I'm satisfied with this pick-up.

Pickup features: See previous
Impedence or other specs: See previous

Model of guitar or bass: see previous
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: See previous
Other pickups on guitar: See previous
Artists using this pickup: See previous
You musical style(s): See previous
Reason for pickup change: See previous

Perceived output level: See previous
Tone: See previous
Sonic evaluation: See previous

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: See previous

Comments: Sorry, this is the rest of the review form the previous one. I hit a wrong key and it submitted it by accidnet. And now, the rest of the story: I had a Fishman Matrix II in the guitar previously. Running it straight ito the PA it was quite harsh. I purchased a Zoom 504II acoustic effects box and that made a world of difference. Don't use much effects but the compressor/limiter on it really made the Fishman sound more natural. A while latter I had read rave reviews on the K&K and Baggs ibeam. I installed a K&K and took out the Fishman. The K&K was a little more natural sounding, not as much piezo quack, but it also lacked the definition of indivdual notes and was more boomy than the Fishman. It also picked up a lot oh handling noise (buttons brushing against the guitar, string squeek, etc) It still didn't sound great run straight into the board. It did sound more natural than the fishman for recording, but I use a condensor mic for that. The main problem w/ the K&K came when I started gigging more and playing open mics. I don't care what they claim, it had a much lower feedback threshold than the Fishman. I bought a Baggs para acoustic DI so I could have phase reversal and a notch filter, but I still had to roll off a lot of bass to keep it from feeding back. I had another guitar that still had Fishman in it and I A/B'd the 2 side by side and concluded that the Fisman w/ the Baggs DI and the Zoom in the effects loop was a better solution than the K&K. For finger picking, the individula notes were much clearer than the K&K. You do not want to run the Fishman straight into the board, as one guy said "platic attack, man"
but with a Baggs para dI (or ravens lab, or sans amp), you can get a pretty resonable sound without the feedback problems of a contact pickup like the K&K. I concluded that there is a reason that alot of name players use the Fishman and you don't hear of many (any?) promoting the K&K. In conclusion, if you want to use a pickup strictly for recording, the K&K will sound better. If you need a pickup for trouble free live gigging in venues other than your den, go with a Fishman or Baggs RT system.

Pickup features: Active Under Saddle Piezo
Impedence or other specs: Hi (does this really matter?)

Model of guitar or bass: Alvarez/Yairi DY90 Jacaranda Dreadnought
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: K&K Sounds Pure Western
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: read the website (100's)
You musical style(s): acoustic rock/pop/folk
Reason for pickup change: K&K, while more natural & microphonic was much more prone to feedback in any venue other than my den.

Perceived output level: with the built in pre-amp it is as hot as any other under saddle piezo
Tone: a bit middy. You really need a pre-amp/EQ like the Baggs para acoustic DI or Fishman pro-eq platinum to get the most out of this thing.
Sonic evaluation: I use the above guitat with the Fishman into a Baggs para acoustic DI with a Zoom 504II efects box in the loop. I run that into a Carvin 200watt PA. Sometimnes I also use a AKG C1000 condensor mic to supplement the fishman (although I more often am finding that the extra hassel doesn't give THAT much better sound and am foregoing the external mic thing)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock / pop/ folk. Mostly strumming but alot of flat picking and some fingerpicking. This pickup can be a little harsh if you dont' use a preamp DI (and expecillly compression)

Comments:

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: Under-Saddle Transducer

Model of guitar or bass: Seagull M6 Spruce
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: no pickup being replaced.....its my first pickup in an acoustic
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Sheryl Crow
You musical style(s): Dave Matthews style.....alternative rock i suppose
Reason for pickup change: It isnt a pickup change...its just a brand new installation. I wanted a pickup because i wanted a louder sound but still keep the acoustic tone. I also wanted to be able to play with an effects pedal or delay pedal. Obviously, you need a pickup in order to do this.

Perceived output level: normal
Tone: very balanced....great tone
Sonic evaluation: I am using a vox pathfinder 10 watt amp. It sounds great with the pickup. Very clear, bright, and warm sound all at the same time.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Perfect for playing dave and timmy songs because the pickup is what they play

Comments: I love this pickup already....i just got it installed 3 days ago and already i am in love with it. I love the fact that it combines a warm and bright sound at the same time. I would definately replace this pickup with the exact same model if it were damaged. This is the only pick up i own and the only acoustic guitar that i play. I've heard that the L.R. Baggs I Beam is very good product, too. However, i do not see how anything can sound better than the Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural. I would just like to add that i highly recommend this pickup....AWESOME sound!!!