Question on Martin/Fishman Aura system

[surfaday]

I just put money down on a Martin OMC Aura. I was looking at acoustic only Martins, and you know how they say to try a lot of guitars till one picks you? Well, I had no intention of buying an OM/000 body for one thing, (I was looking at D-28's, HD-28's, D-35's etc). I had no desire to get so much bling on my guitar, but when I tried this one, wow, everything about it sounded and felt right!

Anyway, as I researched this model Martin and the Aura system, it appears that there are 2 different systems in guitars of the same name. One is a fancy sounding system with an equalizer, different voicings, and is quite large. The other, (and this is the one my guitar is equipped with), appears to be a simple display for the tuner and two integrated button/knobs.

Can anyone tell me what the simpler looking system does? I didn't plug in to try it out, I play acoustic is all and the sound system is a bonus. I can't imagine it does all the different plugged in voicings, but if it did, that's another bonus.

Thanks!

Walter

[MaurysMusic]

The Fishman F1 Aura gives you microphone images, volume, EQ, compression, phase reverse, tuner and volume.

The less expensive F1 Analog give you volume, an EQ curve (turn the wheel left for a flat response, turn it right for a mid-scoop (smiley face EQ), and phase reverse.

Both are good-sounding systems with an accurate tuner, but the F1 Aura sounds FAR better IMHO.

[Doubleneck]

The Martin F1 Aura is state of the art. I just got a instrument with a onboard Aura Pro preamp. Tremedous power and flexiblity. The F1 makes it more steath and adds compression. I hate barndoors, knobs in guitars. But after using this for a week, I think it changed my opinion. A F1 Aura should serve you well, and few will see its there.

[SupremeDalek]

The Fishman Analog system is a tuner, volume control, tone control, and basically a phase controller. What it doesn't do is something fancy. It is a very, very basic control over the instrument's output (and a tuner, which is cool) so that you can adjust your tone. For example, I was playing one night in a new place and I was getting some ugly noises from my amp. One press to that button (the left one) and all was better. I know some people look down on it because of its lack of features, but for the average player/performer, it works like a dream.

[surfaday]

Thanks for the replies. For my purposes, the simplicity on the Aura that I got will suit me just fine. Its good to understand what it is.

Walter

[JSK983]

I see this is a bit old but I was just playing the omc yesterday trying to figure this out. The two button system on the omc has all of the bells and whistles as the older larger pre amp. You use the buttons the navigate through the different voicings. look up the aura on youtube and there are tutorials on how to navigate through it. I found the "guitar specialists" at Sam Ash and Guitar Center to be less than helpful. If we played the same guitar it definitely has the high end aura in it. If you don't check it out you are missing out on a lot of different tones. They all sound natural and unique. I found the key is to get down the blend level between the pickup and the imaging. Make sure you learn how to change the blending. If you have it 100% pickup you won't even hear the blend. 100 % aura doesn't sound natural.

[Johnny Alien]

Yeah, if it's the blingy OMC Aura that you have the Aura plus system with all the bells and whistles.

[mchalebk]

If you don't have the manual, it explains in details all the features and how to use them:

http://www.martinguitar.com/catalogs...cs/F1_Aura.pdf