Schatten HFN Artist Plus 2 and Shure SM-81 Comparison, 2016 Martin D-18

[amsmarle]

Hi there,
I have a Fishman Rare Earth Mic blend going through my Fishman Aura Spectrum. I'm wondering if anyone has tried the HFN through a Fishman Aura Spectrum. I have been pleased with the RE MB, there are so may positive posts re the HFN that I would consider trying it out in place of the RE Mic blend...?

Alan

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by amsmarle

Hi there,
I have a Fishman Rare Earth Mic blend going through my Fishman Aura Spectrum. I'm wondering if anyone has tried the HFN through a Fishman Aura Spectrum. I have been pleased with the RE MB, there are so may positive posts re the HFN that I would consider trying it out in place of the RE Mic blend...?

Alan

I tried the passive HFN with the Fishman Ellipse Aura onboard preamp system, with the HFN wired into where the UST would go and it worked really well. I would imagine this would translate to the external Aura Spectrum as well since it's the same technology. I just found blending more than 50% of the image gave the typical "too digital" type of sound. All 4 images with the right amount of blend sounded really good to my ears.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

I tried the passive HFN with the Fishman Ellipse Aura onboard preamp system, with the HFN wired into where the UST would go and it worked really well. I would imagine this would translate to the external Aura Spectrum as well since it's the same technology. I just found blending more than 50% of the image gave the typical "too digital" type of sound. All 4 images with the right amount of blend sounded really good to my ears.

I would expect the results to be similar to what I experienced with the K&K into the Aura system. Above 50% image, and the tone falls apart. Under 50% image and it can actually be quite pleasing.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by amsmarle

Hi there,
I have a Fishman Rare Earth Mic blend going through my Fishman Aura Spectrum. I'm wondering if anyone has tried the HFN through a Fishman Aura Spectrum. I have been pleased with the RE MB, there are so may positive posts re the HFN that I would consider trying it out in place of the RE Mic blend...?

Alan

It's neat that a magnetic pickup works well with the aura spectrum! The first time I tried the HFN, I ran it through the session DI and the aura spectrum. I remember feeling as though I had found the holy grail tone. I didn't blend in a lot of the aura (maybe 20-30%) but it removed just enough of the piezo tone of the HFN to make it sound even more mic-like. I remember quickly abandoning this set up as the Session/aura set up was not pairing all that well. I am not sure why I completely stopped using the aura but I think it's because I started to notice a string balance issue with the HFN and started to focus on it.

My goal right now is to get the best sounding HFN install that I can and then start playing around with the aura/tonedexter. I still really want to try the HFN with a UST and then go out mono to something like the aura but I am not 100% sold on that yet. But yes, the aura will work well with the HFN.

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

I would expect the results to be similar to what I experienced with the K&K into the Aura system. Above 50% image, and the tone falls apart. Under 50% image and it can actually be quite pleasing.

Yeah I agree and I would've bought an Aura Spectrum DI if it wasn't for Tonedexter coming out when it did.

[SpruceTop]

After a week or so away from plugging-in my Martin D-18/Schatten HFN Artist Plus 2 combination, and doing so today, it's readily apparent that the HFN pickup needs some Bass-frequency supplementation to get a nice full amplified tone. My installation was made with the 3M VHB tape and is as perfect an on-location pickup installation as I've ever done. My intention is to order a Schatten LP-15 Insider and wire it to the second channel of my Artist Plus 2 preamp. Locating this pickup properly, through trial and error, should yield a more pleasing Bass response from the whole system.