Fishman Fluence Modern or Killswitch Engage?

[Rex Rocker]

I want to try Fishman Fluences. I'm a huge fan of the EMG 81, but I like the idea of having an 81-ish voicing along with a passive voicing for when the mood strikes.

How does the active voicing on each of these pickups sound compared to the 81? Are they hotter? More or less the same output? How about the BMT curve? How do they compare? I wouldn't mind an "81 with some tweaks" sound, but I don't want it to be something like the Duncan Blackouts either, which I'm not a fan of.

What does the passive voicing on both compare to? I like the Duncan Distortion and the Black Winter. Is it anything like that?

Also, what are the neck pickups like? I prefer the EMG 60 over the 85 by a long shot. Is the neck pickup on both more 85-like than 60-like with the alnico magnet?

Thanks!

 

[braintheory]

The KSE is tighter, a bit lower output and has more upper mids than the modern, which sounds a bit beefier. Those are my 2 favorite sets of Fluences. The Abasi sounds almost identical to the Modern, but just a bit more upper mids, maybe just a hair less tight, and a bit nicer cleans

They all sound better than EMG’s to me. None of them sound like the Blackouts thankfully

I honestly don’t care for the passive voicings on any of the Fluences. I see Fluences and EMG’s as very specialized pickups for tight modern tones and for almost anything else they just sound sterile and uninspiring, but that’s just my take on them

 

[blackie13]

the passive mode sounds more like the Lawrence 500XL...

I tried both the Fluence modern and the 81...I would stick to the emgs...
Here is the best demo I have found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Io-z6rkZQ&t=586s

 

[Rex Rocker]

Thanks for the replies!

How about the output in relation to the EMG's? Is the 81 as hot as the Fluences?

I had seen Jari's shootout, but quite honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the tone he dialed in. It does seem interesting that he finds the EMG's better. They definitely seem to suit his playing better.

 

[the4thlast1]

I have them both and would agree the KSE bridge has more upper mids, a bit tighter bass . I prefer the KSE to the modern but it depends on the guitar it goes in, they are both very good.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I have them both and would agree the KSE bridge has more upper mids, a bit tighter bass . I prefer the KSE to the modern but it depends on the guitar it goes in, they are both very good.

Are the KSE's brighter and tighter than the EMG 81 as well? It seems on all comparisons, Fluences are overall brighter than their EMG equivalents.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Just heard a comparison where the KSE's have even less low-end than the 81... yeah, probably not for me.

 

[Apex1Rg7X]

I'm a big fan of the Stef Carpenter Fishman set. I have a couple sets of them and to me they are similar to an 81 but a little clearer. They are voiced around the Moderns with a bump in the upper mids. Pretty basic as well, 2 voicings, active/passive. Give them a try man, I know you will like them if your an 81 guy.

 

[skullfxr]

If you like 81's I would stay with 81's. That's how I feel. If I want a passive voicing grab a different fiddle. YMMV.

 

[Rex Rocker]

My concern is that on several clips, the Fishmans sound slightly thinner than EMG's... at least the 81. The 81 is a pickup that is already so tight and focused that it's more of an acquired taste for me... is the Modern Ceramic chunky?

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I have KSE Fluence in a Caparison and they sound phenomenal. I like all the modern, "passive" and split sounds. I had the axe in E and now in dropC, it's all good. I should make a clip of it before I sell it, lol. The neck is just a little too thick for my aging hands- but it may be the best sounding axe in my collection.