Ty Presley - Posted - 09/15/2025:  15:55:50

I play in a loud country band with drums and electric guitar and I've been using a Pickup the World pickup with a Tonedexter in my main banjo and it's been fine. The tone is fine and feedback is controllable. I just acquired another banjo that I plan on using on stage and I'm really leaning hard towards the Fishman Rare Earth Magnetic Pickup for that one. Let me know if you can help with these questions:

1) Some sites refer to "Classic series" or "second generation." Are there two versions? What's the difference?

2) Some sites show that the jack is included and some sites make no mention of it. So, is the jack included or not?

3) Do you use the Fishman Platinum PRO EQ pedal with it (like the Luberecki video) and what's your take on it vs alternatives? I plan on going direct to FOH.

4) Is there anything you don't like about it?



Thanks much,

Ty

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 09/16/2025 04:17:10

BigFiveChord - Posted - 09/15/2025:  20:07:15

(1) It used to be called the Rare Earth, now it's called the Classic Series, Fishman only makes one banjo pickup. I guess their promo text does say "second generation."
(2) It absolutely needs the jack and comes with it, new at least. If they stopped including the jack, I'm not sure how they'd sell any.
(3) I go straight to FOH with a Red Eye preamp. There are plenty of good preamps out there, though. Red Eye is the best I've tried and it fits in my case. (Also: Austin.)
(4) I really don't like that you have to permanently solder the jack through the flange. I actually use the EMG ACB Barrel on most of my banjos now because I can assemble and disassemble it myself. (IMHO both sound great though, I have a Fishman installed somewhere, too.) Also some people really object to the way the pickup mounts to the coordinator rods, say it deadens the tone. I was at a camp this summer with Ned and Andy Torn, they have both had custom pickup mounts made that work on only one coordinator rod. Never bothered me, but hey.

KCJones - Posted - 09/16/2025:  05:19:56

The Fishman (and the ACB Barrel) are copies of the Jones-Hatfield pickup. There's only one version that I know of.



I agree that it's annoying that you have to solder it through the flange. But once it's installed, it's done, and you never have to deal with it again. I use a Sylvan jack mount and generic 1/4" jack.



I use a Redeye Preamp, EQ, volume pedal, reverb/compression, then run that signal to FOH. Preamp is required with the passive pickup.



I didn't like the 'active' nature of the Fishman. The batteries are annoying , the mounting is clunky due to size, and I did hear some sound dampening due to the weight on the co-rods. The Jones-Hatfield is passive, smaller form-factor, it requires no batteries, and is much lighter. The passive nature and lighter weight results in better tone both acoustic and electric. I've used the J-H for years without issue.

Edited by - KCJones on 09/16/2025 05:20:53

PKM - Posted - 09/16/2025:  07:24:01

I have 3 on my banjos and like them a lot. I no longer solder through the flange. I run the wire between the heel of the neck and the end of the flange. It does not get pinched in any way and there is plenty of slack wire. This placed the jack on the bottom side, just about an inch & 1/2 from the heel. So the cord plugs in pointing toward toe neck. I run the cord around the circumference of the flange and velcro strap it to my banjo strap to avoid it hanging straight down where I might step on it.
I've been using this arrangement for about 35 years, and never understood why the manufacturer never suggested this. It makes it removable without resoldering etc.

davefier - Posted - 09/16/2025:  11:59:58

I have used the Fishman Rare Earth on one banjo for about 6 years. It works really well, but it does not sound a good as playing into a mic. However, I do not have a choice in the band I play with since we play country and rock in addition to bluegrass and mostly play in bars. It is a little "hot", but it is easily tamed with EQ balance. I also have a Nechville Warp Drive pickup on my Nechville. It also sounds very good to me, but not as good as the mic.

I run through a Fishman Pro EQ pedal, which I love. Very user friendly, great EQ options, XLR cable output, able to run a pedal loop, and very durable. The only feature that I do not like is the tuner since I have not found it to be very accurate.