Fishman PowerTap Rare Earth and Infinity Acoustic Pickup Systems | Acoustic Guitar Gear Demo

Acoustic Guitar contributor Emile Menasché tests Fishman’s new PowerTap series, which mates either a soundhole or undersaddle pickup to its new TAP (which stands for Touch, Ambience, and Percussion) body sensors. The sensors are designed to capture percussive elements, body resonances, and performance dynamics that pickups alone tend to miss. Read the full review at bit.ly/36kchIs, or pick up a copy of the March/April 2021 issue of AG here: bit.ly/3prn4rQ

[@Fishman_Music]

Just a quick note about the function of the pickups: The blend control of both the PowerTap Earth and the PowerTap Inifinity only affects the mono mix (heard in this video on the left channel). With a standard 1/4" guitar cable (mono), the left channel of this video is what you would hear as your main signal. Emile recorded this demo using the included 1/4-inch TRS Male to Dual 1/4-inch TRS Female splitter shown at 01:07, which sends the output of the Tap body sensor to the right channel, and the right channel Tap body sensor signal remains at the same volume throughout the demo (as designed for outboard control). When Emile adjusts the blend control, you can hear the Tap body sensor being blended-in to the left channel of this video at different levels. The left channel in this video demonstrates how both pickups will work in mono mode with a standard guitar cable - the right channel in this video demonstrates the Tap body sensor by itself.

[@DoctorMandible]

Thanks for the added info!

[@30smsuperstrat]

Thank you for the explanation. His comments about needing a master volume still hold true. The only reason I'm putting a pickup in an acoustic guitar is to play live. Playing live, I need a master volume on the guitar.

[@cliffsmith1305]

Fabulous playing!!

[@josephstewart5201]

I join a number of others here in preferring the Rare Earth PowerTap combo to the Infinity system. Its much warmer and far more natural, and it lacks the feedback issues of the Rare Earth Mic Blend system at higher volumes, which is a distinct plus. My only concern is the potential loss of sparkly top-end without the microphone feature of the Mic Blend system? I guess I'd be a bit reluctant to install the PowerTap on a larger bodied 6- or 12-string 'Jumbo' acoustic, because they tend to already have a rather boomy low-end.

[@randyburleson]

I prefer the rare earth soundhole pickup version over the infinity under saddle... but I think I my prefer the Rare Earth Mic blend over these.

[@stevenotice2918]

Still too quacky especially on chords. There must be something better out there. I have the LR Baggs with hybrid mic - it’s maybe a little better but still not like a real microphone. The Taylor system too is ok but not like a real mic. Anyone tried the fancy new modeling preamps like tha Aura or similar?

[@russellharris5072]

Too much quack attack,I have a couple of Martins with Fishman systems that do the same.I was amazed at the L R Baggs system in my Breedlove OM ERE guitar,that one is far better than any Fishman I have tried.................................................