#1
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Fishman Sonitone
I just bought an Eastman guitar. Amazing deal. An E1SS. Just incredible value guitar. Any rate, it comes with a Fishman Sonitone Preamp and undersaddle piezo; their sonicore pickup. The thing has sound-hole V & T controls. And it sounds very good amplified straight into a house system. Very simple to operate and get a great sound. Plus the ToneDexter site lists the Sonicore pickup as approved (or preferred or whatever they call it). I haven't made a wavemap yet. That will come later in the week. But I've played the guitar out once already (and again tomorrow) plugged straight into a house system and so far it's quite nice naked.
Then I decided I'd like to get another pickup for a second guitar. I surfed around. You can't buy them in the US yet. They are only listed as OEM pickups. But I found them for sale on ebay from China. . . . , For fourteen bucks free shipping. My goodness. What's this world coming to? So I ordered another one. There's an installation pdf from Fishman available. Looks like the work is within my wheelhouse, so I'll try it. The Sonicore pickup is a flexible unit, sort of like the old Highlander. You used to have to route out the slot and saddle bottom round for the Highlander. Supposedly now with the sonicore (which is also round) you just stick it in the slot and trim the saddle flat. That I can do. We shall see when it comes. But I'm very happy with the guitar and pickup, and AMAZED at how inexpensive the pickup is. More later when I make a wave map.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#2
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Some of the branded product from China is gray market and real, some is counterfeit and still acceptably good, and some is counterfeit and trash. ToneDexter might be just the tool to take even that last category and make it sound good.
50% gross margin is not a ridiculous starting point for a first world factory. So if the guitar manufacturer upcharges $150 list for a pickup, that translates to maybe $75 to the dealer, which means it cost them $37.50 to install at the factory with labor. Maybe they paid $25 for the pickup and the pickup manufacturer had it made in China for $12.50. Anything that can run on a 9v battery has generally (not always) got to be pretty cheap to make.
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jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator .wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE My duo's website and my email... [email protected] Jon Fields Last edited by jonfields45; 06-24-2019 at 12:51 PM. |
#3
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Those are Chinese knock off's. I know because I bought one. Nowhere on the pickup does it say Fishman as it shows in the picture. I contacted the seller and they admitted it wasn't a Fishman brand but an imitation.
Hopefully you're happy with it and if not, you're not out much. I didn't like mine so I didn't use it.
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Larrivee OM-03 Seagull SWS Maritime Mini Jumbo Alvarez AP70SB Parlor Alvarez AF60SHB Seagull Concert Hall Mahogany Harmony H1215. 1953 An 80 year old Kay (approx) Epiphone ES-339 Epiphone Les Paul 50's Standard 3 home built Strat's |
#4
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Quote:
OOH. Hhhmmm. I don't know how to get a hold of a real one. We'll see.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#5
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There are some guys in the US that are selling them on ebay. They show "FISHMAN" labels on the pictures. They're only a couple bucks more. Still free shipping. Maybe I'll get one of those too. And compare.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#6
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I don't know your budget but you can get a JJB Prestige 330 for $50.00 or for a little more, Schatten HFN passive. Much better sounding than a Sonitone. Then there is always K&K also.
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Larrivee OM-03 Seagull SWS Maritime Mini Jumbo Alvarez AP70SB Parlor Alvarez AF60SHB Seagull Concert Hall Mahogany Harmony H1215. 1953 An 80 year old Kay (approx) Epiphone ES-339 Epiphone Les Paul 50's Standard 3 home built Strat's |
#7
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I know about all of those. I've been a Schatten HFN fan for several years. But I still wan't totally happy. I play in lots of different environments. Bars; nice venues; solo; with a band; etc. And nothing satisfied all those environments. I was looking for something more bulletproof. By accident someone on another forum posted about his new Eastman slopped dread. I checked them out. Found a different model at an incredible price point. And I found a local dealer with one on the wall. Drive down and was thoroughly happy with the guitar. Bought it on the spot. And the factory pickup is the Fishman Sonitone. I was amazed by it too. And pretty bulletproof. No feedback problems. On board V&T controls. It sound fine by itself for quick plug and play in a bar. And it's approved for use with ToneDexter for modeling (for formal gigs).
I really like it a lot. So, I thought I'd do an install myself in another guitar; to have 2 with similar setup. I've had feedback and harsh sound problems with the other pickups in certain environments. Had to use soundhole plugs etc. And I really like having some Vol & Tone Controls on the guitar. (So that means cutting a hole in the rubber plug.) Just cumbersome. I'm hoping this will work better for me.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#8
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Sonitone sounds good for a UST pickup and cleans up nicely with ToneDexter. I ordered one of the grey market "Fishman" Sonitone systems to try in a guitar. It wasn't Fishman and sounded OK. I was very surprised at how much I liked the sound through the Fishman Loudbox product line when I tested the new Martin Road series guitars. It seems to pair well.
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"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday." |
#9
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Where's the guy who always says, "You should have gotten a K&K"?
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#10
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[QUOTE=Marshall;609538 I'm hoping this will work better for me.[/QUOTE]
It may all work out for you. To me there was some distortion and the string balance was off but apparently string imbalance is common with a UST installation. There are ways to remedy but I wasn't about to take the time to mess with it. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
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Larrivee OM-03 Seagull SWS Maritime Mini Jumbo Alvarez AP70SB Parlor Alvarez AF60SHB Seagull Concert Hall Mahogany Harmony H1215. 1953 An 80 year old Kay (approx) Epiphone ES-339 Epiphone Les Paul 50's Standard 3 home built Strat's |
#11
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Sonitone Removal
Well I just picked up a Martin D12X1AE with the Fishman Sonitone preinstalled.
I really like the guitar, however I’m not impressed with the Sonitone. I would like to remove the preamp portion from the guitar so that I could add a sound hole pickup. My question is, is it easy to remove the preamp control with volume and tone from the guitar? TIA, Lee
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Hello Kitty Acoustic “Chance favors the prepared mind “ - Louis Pasteur |
#12
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I think it's pretty easy...check youtube for videos
I agree that the Sonitone doesn't sound good at all. I have one in my Martin DCRSG and am looking to replace it with a Anthem. I don't care for the soundhole pickups. It's a mental thing, but I don't care for the look. Quote:
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Gear: PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Martin HPL 000, PRS Angelus A60E, Martin 000-15M |
#13
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The Sonitone didn't do too well in a bar last night. Though no acoustic pickup did. The soundsystem was harsh.
I made a ToneDexter wave map with it this morning. Sounds nice in my amp. But that's not the same as I encounter in the real world. But I have a gig on Sunday @ a place with mediocre sound. We'll see how the Soni & TD do there this weekend.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#14
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No new trials yet. But the ebay Sonitone from the US came today. Looks good. But there's no Fishman label on the control unit, like the one pre-installed in the Eastman guitar. Looks the same. And it comes with Fishman labeled documentation. Blank box.
I'll do the install in the second guitar in a couple of days.
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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#15
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Got a China unit a few months ago and it was bad out of the box. I've had a few good experiences too. If you have the time to play around with it, get in there and router away.
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KEEP SEARCHING! McPherson Sable, McPherson Touring, CA Cargo (X4), Emerald Acoustic (X2), Rainsong WS1000N2, Every mini travel guitar ever made, Fender Custom Shop Mustang Bass, Frankinstein Custom Shop Electric, and lots of pedals and amps. |