NEO-D & RARE EARTH SOUNDHOLE PICKUPS
Fishman Neo-D & Rare Earth Pickups
Training Guide
Rare Earth Single Coil Rare Earth Humbucking
Neo-D
Rare Earth Blend
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Why Fishman? Fishman has been synonymous with the best in acoustic amplification for over 25 years. Fishman found early success as the premier maker of OEM acoustic pickups and preamps for Martin, Gibson, Fender, Guild, and many more. Today, Fishman is the choice of professionals in all styles, and provides everything a performer needs: Pickups, Preamps, Tone Shaping pedals, and Acoustic Amplifiers. In arenas, studios, and living rooms, or wherever you find amplified acoustic instruments, you can bet you’ll hear Fishman!
What are Neo-D and Rare Earth Soundhole Pickups? Neo-D and Rare Earth are magnetic soundhole pickups designed to amplify acoustic guitars with depth and clarity. They are easy to install, and can be semi-permanently mounted in the soundhole or removed after each use. Neo-D and Rare Earth Pickups: • Do not require any modification to the guitar • Are less prone to feedback than undersaddle transducers • Are designed for steel strings, and won’t work on a nylon string guitar
Differences between Neo-D and Rare Earth Pickups Neo-D and Rare Earth are powered by high quality Neodymium magnets, and are available in Single Coil or Humbucker configurations. Rare Earth includes an active preamp that further shapes and refines the sound, while the Neo-D is a passive design. Rare Earth Blend com- bines a Humbucker and a high quality condenser microphone to capture the resonance of the guitar body for a natural, three dimensional tone.
Single Coil VS Humbucker • Single Coil: Bright and articulate, with a slightly crisper attack • Humbucker: Warm, full sound, designed to eliminate excess hum
Active VS Passive • Neo-D: Passive design, does not require a battery • Rare Earth: Active preamp shapes and refines the signal for premium tone
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Who Is The Customer?
The Neo-D or Rare Earth customer seeks to accurately amplify the natural sound of their guitar without making modifications to the instrument. The Neo-D customer wants great tone on a budget, while the Rare Earth customer is looking for the finest available option.
Features and Benefits
Neo-D Features Neo-D Benefits • Neo-D Single Coil • Bright, articulate sound
• Neo-D Humbucker • Warm, full tone • Eliminates excess hum
• High quality Neodymium magnets • Exceptional string balance and clarity
• Passive design • No batteries required • ¼“ Plug • Plug and play installation
• Cork mounting brackets • Protects the soundhole
Rare Earth Features Rare Earth Benefits • Rare Earth Single Coil • Bright, articulate sound • Rare Earth Humbucker • Warm, full, tone, eliminates excess hum • Volume control for “on the fly” adjustment
• Rare Earth Blend • Blends the resonance of the body with (Humbucker with condenser mic) the pickup for natural, 3 dimensional tone • Blend control balances mic and pickup
• High quality neodymium magnets • Exceptional string balance and clarity • Active electronics • Further shapes and refines the sound
• Cork mounting brackets • Protects the soundhole • ¼ “ Jack • Hangs free or mounts at the end pin
• Volume Control • Easy “on the fly” Volume adjustments
www.fishman.com NEO-D & RARE EARTH SOUNDHOLE PICKUPS
Demo Tips
• Qualify the customer about their guitar and budget when choosing a Neo-D or Rare Earth
• Use a small Phillips screw driver to install a Neo-D or Rare Earth
• Point out that the low profile design doesn’t interfere with strumming
• Pick slowly through a chord, note the full sound and even string volume
• When installing a Rare Earth Blend, move the mic around to find the best tone
Common Questions
“How do I choose between an undersaddle pickup like the AG-Series or Matrix, and a soundhole pickup like Neo-D or Rare Earth?”
“Both types of pickup sound great, so it’s a matter of personal taste. Undersaddle pickups are invisible, but must be permanently installed. Soundhole pickups don’t require modification to the guitar, and can be removed at any time.“
“Are there less expensive soundhole pickups available?”
“Yes, but you get what you pay for. Fishman is the leader in this field, and between Neo-D and Rare Earth, there are several great pickups at competitive prices.”
“You bought a great sounding guitar, why compromise your sound with a substandard pickup?”
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