Westerly factory pickups-passive or active?

[bruzmuse]

Hey everyone. Happy New Year! I know there's someone out there in this forum that can help, what a great resource this is for Guild owners and wannabees.
I'm looking to purchase a 1999 Westerly JF55 and have a question about the pickup.
I like passive pickups like the K&K's and have one installed on my D46. It sounds great.
I have a passive Fishman on my DV52 and it sounds nice too. I just like never having to deal with batteries.

The seller says that it has a stock pickup but it has a 9 volt battery clip and wire inside. I'm hesitant for a couple reasons.
Were all the stock Fishman pickups active or passive? I swore they were passive.

Thanks in advance and play on!

Bru

 

[plaidseason]

I can't give you a complete answer on this, other than to say I know a lot of 90s Guilds came with active Fishman pickups installed. Somewhere I have a late 90s catalog with all the Fishman options explained. I'll take a look and get back to you.

-Chris

 

[bruzmuse]

Thanks Chris. I know there were the preamps with the two knobs for bass and treble and I know there were passive Fishmans installed because I had a late 70's D50 with one that was stock. If you have a catalogue from then, that should help to find the answer.

Thanks for helping and helping us all learn a little more about the history of Guild guitars!

Bru

 

[hansmoust]

I'm looking to purchase a 1999 Westerly JF55 and have a question about the pickup. The seller says that it has a stock pickup but it has a 9 volt battery clip and wire inside. I'm hesitant for a couple reasons.
Were all the stock Fishman pickups active or passive? I swore they were passive.

Thanks in advance and play on!

Bru

Hello Bru,

First of all, are you sure that the guitar came stock from the Guild factory with the transducer installed? If it did, it more than likely should have the JF-55-E model designation written on the label.
If the transducer was originally installed and there is a 9-volt battery inside I would think that you have the 'Fishman transducer plus 'Power Jack' option, which was one of several options available on Guild acoustics during that particular period. It's an active pickup but without any controls.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Bobby McGee]

What Hans said;

If it has a battery, it is definately ACTIVE.

I've not yet been satisfied with any of the Guild Fishman electronics (althought the Blender is useable). You can always replace it with your flavour of choice. Just factor that into the price.

Bobby.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

My 2005 D-55 has an active Fishman Natural in it.
The guy I bought it from said that it was factory.
My the way it's not a bad pick up but I would rather have a K&K and not a USP.

 

[marcellis]

My Guild pick-ups all use 9v batteries. They're active.

What Hans said;

If it has a battery, it is definately ACTIVE.

I've not yet been satisfied with any of the Guild Fishman electronics (althought the Blender is useable). You can always replace it with your flavour of choice. Just factor that into the price.

Bobby.

Agreed. Blender is usable. The rest of them are mediocre.

 

[bruzmuse]

Thanks everyone!