The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.

Subject: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 01:09 AM

I've used just about every device ever invented to try and amplify an acoustic guitar in a way that I could live with . The technology has inched along for many years with improvements coming in tiny (and often very expensive) increments, but I thought I'd share my experience with Fishman's new product.
In my "big box 'o pick-ups" I've got DeArmonds, Dean Markleys, Seymour Duncans, LLR Baggs, Dana Bourgeois,Audio-Technicas, Barcus-Berrys, Sonys, and even Radio Shacks (one of the best, by the way)! The difference between the thirty dollar Radio Shack Lavalier mike and the 500 dollar Sony 55B are pretty small.
I read a review in "Acoustic Guitar" magazine about the Fishman "Rare Earth" soundhole and mike pick-up that sounded promising so I went down to the 12th Fret here in Toronto and borrowed one for a few days. Well I love it! It's definitely the best I've worked with so far. Since 90% of the time there's a mike for the guitar on stage anyway I didn't get the combination pick-up, just the soundhole one. I've tried it with my Lowden, Tak 12string, Larrivee, and 0-18 Martin, (Woody) and it consistantly sounds good, with an even, non-electric sound. Course since it's magnetic you can crank it up. I think they've got it right this time. Beats the hell out of my old Sunrise pick-up, which has certainly boasted being the "best of the best".
I've had several friends who are excellent players, give it a run-through while I've listened from different angles and distances, and I ought to get a comission cause they ALL want one!
Has anyone else tried one? Oh and by the way, they ARE pricey,(about 450 Canadian) but what the hell, it's just money!
Rick

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Musicman
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 02:21 AM

Hey Rick, I heartily agree about Fishman's Rare Earth pickups.

In fact, I have the blender installed in my guitar (humbucker pickup and microphone combined) I was looking for something that would give me the acoustic sound of my guitar that I love so much, and just soundhole and bridge pickups didn't do it for me. This one is great! I had my brother in law test it for me on his Martin (my guitar was not available). He was very impressed with it. His word sold me because he is one of the top guitarist in Vancouver and was so impressed they ordered several pickups for the guitars for the band he is touring with this summer......Sarah McLaughlin......Anyway, his recommendation sold me, I've used it and LOVE IT!!!

I also have fishmans mandolin pickup on my mandolin and I am impressed with it as well.

good playing all,

Musicman

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 03:06 AM

What's $450 Canadian these days, about $350 US? Pricey, indeed. I'll add it to the list of things I'll buy when I win the lottery. --seed

(but then I can't claim it as a professional expense)

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 11:41 AM

Couple of things I should add. The humbucker version is superior to the single coil. I use a small "Bi-fet pre-amp pedal" which I clip to the mike stand. It has a volume and tone control which alows me TOTAL autonomy from those nasty sound people who only listen to rock music and keep trying to get one more decibel of high-end volume out of my guitar so that I will sound like a "real" singer-songwriter, rather than a geriatric semi-traddie.

Oh oh, I didn't mean it, sound people. I love you, madly, deeply, passionately! And I love all the music you listen to, and I know you're not jealous of the performers on stage, and....and...
sincerely
Hyman Dorkelman

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Les B
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 04:21 PM

Rick -- If you're talking about the RE1(single coil) or RE2 (humbucker)soundhole pickups, a music store called First Quality Musical Supplies in Louisville, KY has them listed in their catalog at $95.95 and $129.95 US, respectively. I ran across them on the net the other day and ordered one of the Intellitouch Tuners from them, no problems. Their web site is www.fqms.com (these pickups may not be shown on their web site -- ask for a catalog.) Their info telephone # is 502-447-5670 and their toll free order # is 800-635-2021 I also just checked Elderly Instruments, and they didn't seem to have these on their site. Hope this helps. It's wa-a-ay cheaper than what you quoted.

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 05:40 PM

Thanks Les. What a mark-up!

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: MichaelM
Date: 23 Jun 99 - 07:46 PM

Rick et al; have you tried the True Tone system. I have it in a couple of my guitars and it sounds remarkable. It combines two microphones (high and low frequencies) with a under the bridge plate accelerometer (I have no idea!) that fills in the low end. In-the-sound-hole controls allow you to control your mix and take the volume right off for re-tuning.

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 12:30 AM

Nope Michael I haven't. Most of those types tend to be feed-back prone, but I've heard really good things about "tru-tone". Have you used it in a place the size of the Tranzac yet?
Rick

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Musicman
Date: 24 Jun 99 - 02:27 AM

Rick, the $450 price is about right for the Blender ( I paid $400) whereas the single coil and Humbucker are considerably cheaper. The Blender comes with the humbucker pickup. I would recommend the blender for anyone wanting a true acoustic sound through a pickup especially if you guitar has a nice body sound. This way you don't just get the string sound but the resonance of the body as well, and you can mix the blend to your preference.

Musicman

(even better if you can write the cost off!)

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Jason LaPrade
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 10:44 AM

Well, Rick and Michael have brought up my problem -- True Tone or Rare Earth? I've tried both(actually, I recently played Ricks' who introduced me to the Rare Earth). I think they are much more acoustic sounding than any other pickup I've used.

Hey Rick! Michael has played the Tranzac with the True Tone and it sounded great. I was doing sound that night. I also did sound for J.P. Cormier who was using it. Very impressive. J.P. told me that Ricky Skaggs loved it so much that he bought 10 to replace the pickups he used. Although now that I've tried yours, I'm not sure which I like better. I guess I'll have to compare them sometime soon.

Jason LaPrade

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 03:20 PM

Jason. Now here this. Buy BOTH! I'll only be 74 pick-ups ahead of you then!
Rick

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: MichaelM
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:30 PM

Rick, I think it's time for you to initiate the Righteous Authoritative Pickup Test (R.A.P.T.) to save all we camp followers from throwing away any more of our hard-earned Canadian pesos on inferior products. I suggest you get David Wren of the Twelfth Fret (Toronto's premier acoustic shop, IMHO) to sponsor the event as the Fret carries both systems. (I would suggest that Jason would sponsor the RAPT but I know that no soundperson ever gets paid what they're worth (Did I say that right, Jason?)). The venue would be, of course, CIUT (or would this count as a commercial endorsement?). We,the on-line and FM audience could register our opinions of your transmitted guitar sounds. Thoughts?

P.S. Rick, you have to see my latest love, a blond koa Laskin 12-string with Tam Kearney on the headstock.

Michael

Subject: RE: The 'Rare Earth' acoustic guitar pick-up.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:23 PM

With TAM ON THE HEADSTOCK? Michael, Michael, you sick puppy!! Well alright, you've gone and done it so why not complete the package and get various "heckles" of Tam's in place of fretboard markers! I'm phoning you right now to see if you're all right.
Rick (who cares)