Has anyone changed, or know what drop-in replacements are available for the Fishman Prefix Onboard Blender system on a Guild F65CE?
Guild F65CE - Fishman Prefix Onboard Blender - Replacement?
- Thread starter Dominick
- Start date
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Dominick said:
Hello Dominick,
Welcome! May I ask what the reason is that you want to change the Fishman Prefix Onboard Blender system on your Guild F65CE? Are you not satisfied with the system or is there something wrong with it?
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
marcellis
Senior Member
I was wondering the same thing today. I have 2 F65ce's. I don't want to replace
the pick-ups. But the technology is kind of old. I'd like to augment them with a k&k or
an LR Baggs and possibly keep the Fishman on-board or even integrate both.
I have a K&K on my D60. And I have an LR Baggs I-Beam on a hand-made Vietnamese dread.
Both sound excellent. The Fishman set 70%+ toward the internal mic sounds really good.
But the the Piezo alone on the Fishman doesn't.
The K&K is probably the most accurate-sounding of all 3 pick-ups I own.
The Fishman set 100% to internal mic sounds the best, but it tends to
feed-back at a high volume. Baggs is the best overall compromise, if you ask me.
I'd like to be able to integrate a Baggs with the Fishman.
Dominick - I've seen a Fishman replaced with a Baggs I-Mix and it seemed
to fit. But you need to take measurements. A better bet might be to just
go with the I-beam or K&K and let the Fishman sit there.
For a good fit, the Fishman on-board Eclipse Aura might work.
I've never heard one though.
the pick-ups. But the technology is kind of old. I'd like to augment them with a k&k or
an LR Baggs and possibly keep the Fishman on-board or even integrate both.
I have a K&K on my D60. And I have an LR Baggs I-Beam on a hand-made Vietnamese dread.
Both sound excellent. The Fishman set 70%+ toward the internal mic sounds really good.
But the the Piezo alone on the Fishman doesn't.
The K&K is probably the most accurate-sounding of all 3 pick-ups I own.
The Fishman set 100% to internal mic sounds the best, but it tends to
feed-back at a high volume. Baggs is the best overall compromise, if you ask me.
I'd like to be able to integrate a Baggs with the Fishman.
Dominick - I've seen a Fishman replaced with a Baggs I-Mix and it seemed
to fit. But you need to take measurements. A better bet might be to just
go with the I-beam or K&K and let the Fishman sit there.
For a good fit, the Fishman on-board Eclipse Aura might work.
I've never heard one though.
plaidseason
Senior Member
The Aura is very, very good and I'd recommend emailing Fishman about the fit.
-Chris
-Chris
Thanks Guys,
Well, I just bought the guitar from another forum.
I'm running it through a board then to powered speakers.
I'm getting very low output for some reason.
I read the Prefix's user's guide, know how everything works and tried adjusting everything (including the internal blend pot).
The signal is clean, with good sound quality, just not very strong.
I changed the battery but that didn't help.
I tried a friends Taylor with a Fishman through the exact same channel and get much more output from that.
Heck, even my Les Pal with passive PAF's through the same channel give me more signal.
I have turn the boards gain trim pot to 3:00 for the Guild (that's pretty high), where I only have to run the gain trim pot around noon for the other two.
I called Fishman and talked with the repair tech.
He was kinda baffled.
He said if it was a problem with the pickup under the saddle, then the internal mike should overpower it.
Also, there is usually some sort of noise, buzz, hum etc. symptom if there is a problem with the electronics.
I'm might just have to send it to him.
But then again, I'm not crazy about the internal mike tone (and feedback at high levels - even when adjusted for max gain before feedback) so I usually mix it 90% pick up - 10% mike
That's why I'm thinking of just replacing the whole system, but wan't sure what my options were.
BTW, Killer guitar, I absolutely love it!
Well, I just bought the guitar from another forum.
I'm running it through a board then to powered speakers.
I'm getting very low output for some reason.
I read the Prefix's user's guide, know how everything works and tried adjusting everything (including the internal blend pot).
The signal is clean, with good sound quality, just not very strong.
I changed the battery but that didn't help.
I tried a friends Taylor with a Fishman through the exact same channel and get much more output from that.
Heck, even my Les Pal with passive PAF's through the same channel give me more signal.
I have turn the boards gain trim pot to 3:00 for the Guild (that's pretty high), where I only have to run the gain trim pot around noon for the other two.
I called Fishman and talked with the repair tech.
He was kinda baffled.
He said if it was a problem with the pickup under the saddle, then the internal mike should overpower it.
Also, there is usually some sort of noise, buzz, hum etc. symptom if there is a problem with the electronics.
I'm might just have to send it to him.
But then again, I'm not crazy about the internal mike tone (and feedback at high levels - even when adjusted for max gain before feedback) so I usually mix it 90% pick up - 10% mike
That's why I'm thinking of just replacing the whole system, but wan't sure what my options were.
BTW, Killer guitar, I absolutely love it!
marcellis
Senior Member
Yeah. It's an amazing instrument.
The Fishman blender is a pretty old pick-up.
One of my F65ce's dates to 1997.
I'm the opposite of you though. I prefer the internal mic tone
to the pick-up tone.
I'd look into swapping it out for another on-board pick-up.
It would be less hassle and delay in the long-run.
Or you could just leave it in the hole and install a UST.
I have both the K&K Western Mini & the LR Baggs.
I like both.
The Fishman blender is a pretty old pick-up.
One of my F65ce's dates to 1997.
I'm the opposite of you though. I prefer the internal mic tone
to the pick-up tone.
I'd look into swapping it out for another on-board pick-up.
It would be less hassle and delay in the long-run.
Or you could just leave it in the hole and install a UST.
I have both the K&K Western Mini & the LR Baggs.
I like both.
KenL
Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2009
- Messages
- 109
- Reaction score
- 166
I have a nice '95 Guild DCE5 that had a Fishman system in it. I didn't care for the Fishman, but am a big fan of the Alvarez System 600T preamp system.
I found one of those on eBay, and had my local guitar guy remove the Fishman and install the Alvarez system. He had to enlarge the hole in the side to do so, but did a really nice job. I added a condensor mic to the thinline (I left the original thinline in), and was very happy with the result. I can hit the volume knob real quick to play a lead, and then back it down; the tuner is a nice feature as well.
I'm guessing that I've got the only Guild guitar on the planet with an Alvarez System 600T preamp/pickup. It's the acoustic that I gig with, and get nothing but compliments on the sound. You never hear much about the DCE5, they weren't made for very long, but it's an incredible instrument.
I found one of those on eBay, and had my local guitar guy remove the Fishman and install the Alvarez system. He had to enlarge the hole in the side to do so, but did a really nice job. I added a condensor mic to the thinline (I left the original thinline in), and was very happy with the result. I can hit the volume knob real quick to play a lead, and then back it down; the tuner is a nice feature as well.
I'm guessing that I've got the only Guild guitar on the planet with an Alvarez System 600T preamp/pickup. It's the acoustic that I gig with, and get nothing but compliments on the sound. You never hear much about the DCE5, they weren't made for very long, but it's an incredible instrument.
jcwu
Senior Member
I have the F4CE that I'm trying to replace the electronics on... I just don't care too much for the UST sound. I have a K&K on the JV52, and like it; I have the LB6 on the DV52, and like it as well, more than the UST but not as much as the K&K. I had a L.R. Baggs iMix system I was planning to put on the F4CE, but ran into two problems:
1) The F4CE, being a thin body, has a much smaller barndoor preamp than usual. I finally found that L.R. Baggs made a smaller preamp for Larrivee, but even that proved too large.
2) The F4CE's bracing leaves not a whole lot of room for mounting the iBeam pickup under the saddle. In fact, I tried placing the iBeam down there and the only way it would fit was across where the string holes come through the bridge plate. Obviously not going to work.
I'm not sure if the the F65CE has the same bracing as the F4CE, but you'll want to make sure there's room enough to put either the K&K or iBeam down there.
1) The F4CE, being a thin body, has a much smaller barndoor preamp than usual. I finally found that L.R. Baggs made a smaller preamp for Larrivee, but even that proved too large.
2) The F4CE's bracing leaves not a whole lot of room for mounting the iBeam pickup under the saddle. In fact, I tried placing the iBeam down there and the only way it would fit was across where the string holes come through the bridge plate. Obviously not going to work.
I'm not sure if the the F65CE has the same bracing as the F4CE, but you'll want to make sure there's room enough to put either the K&K or iBeam down there.
Hello,
I have just become 'reconnected' to my F4ce dating from '92. Has 24 frets. This guitar used to be my live guitar and it is banged and bruised and for whatever reason it was put in a case and shelved. I have since been playing an Alvarez and love it due to the folk style body and also the 600T II pickup system. Love the tuner and I put a soundhole pickup to blend. Largely, I love it because of the smaller scale neck length. Some of my acoustics I feel like I have to really wrestle with to play.
So I dug this guitar out and with some new strings I remember how much I love the neck and the comfort of it. I would love to perhaps put a new Alvarez 600T II pickup system in it but think it will need to be modified to fit.
My question for anyone that knows is: How come info I find on the F4ce states it to have a 25.5" scale length but when I measure it it comes up 24.75". Not sure if the 24 fret models had smaller scale lengths. Anyone have any clues?
FOR JCWU: Mind if I ask what year your guild is and also what is the scale of your guitar?
Thank you.
I have just become 'reconnected' to my F4ce dating from '92. Has 24 frets. This guitar used to be my live guitar and it is banged and bruised and for whatever reason it was put in a case and shelved. I have since been playing an Alvarez and love it due to the folk style body and also the 600T II pickup system. Love the tuner and I put a soundhole pickup to blend. Largely, I love it because of the smaller scale neck length. Some of my acoustics I feel like I have to really wrestle with to play.
So I dug this guitar out and with some new strings I remember how much I love the neck and the comfort of it. I would love to perhaps put a new Alvarez 600T II pickup system in it but think it will need to be modified to fit.
My question for anyone that knows is: How come info I find on the F4ce states it to have a 25.5" scale length but when I measure it it comes up 24.75". Not sure if the 24 fret models had smaller scale lengths. Anyone have any clues?
FOR JCWU: Mind if I ask what year your guild is and also what is the scale of your guitar?
Thank you.
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Mondo Man said:
Hello Mondo Man,
Halfway the '90s the body & neck of the F-4CE were redesigned and did get 20 frets and a 25-1/2" scale. Before that the model had 24 frets and a 24-3/4" scale.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
adorshki
Reverential Member
Hi Mondo man!Mondo Man said:
First of all welcome aboard! There are some real experts here and one guy (Hans Moust) who qualifies as expert witness so to speak. I'm running off memory here but your question reminded me of the "S"4ce which I seem to remember had the shortscale and is similar to the "F"4ce. I KNOW there was a shortscale S4ce Songbird A/E listed in the '96 catalog... and it was not unheard of for specs to change during course of production. It actually wouldn't surprise me if the info you're finding on F4's is inaccurate since that occurs even on Guild's own site. Send Hans a PM with your serial number, he can probably give you a definitive answer from that. Although he's got a full plate he's a real hero about helping owners on stuff like that.
And I can see now that he already answered while I was struggling to compose this! What'd I tell you! :lol:
Thank you both for the fast response and info. At least I know that If I want to replace this guitar I should look for one from the beginning of the 90's. Short scale and 24 frets. Like I said, this baby is banged and bruised. Bridge lifting, crack from the neck to the soundhole, 4 cracks in the top spruce. Also, my nut isn't looking healthy on this thing either. Maybe I should snap some photos and some of the experts can tell me on a scale of 1-10 how bad she is looking?
jcwu
Senior Member
Mondo Man said:
Mine's same as yours - 24 frets and 24.75" scale.
jcwu
Senior Member
Another thing I noticed on the F4CE - the hole that was drilled for the UST pickup wire actually goes through the bracing! Just goes to show how tight things are down under there.
Are there any reference photos out there showing the bracing on the F4CE?
Are there any reference photos out there showing the bracing on the F4CE?