This is a list of acoustic guitars that ship with a Fishman pickup system, primarily the Fishman Sonitone and Fishman PreSys. Both of these pickup and preamp systems are used in acoustic guitars, allowing you to plug that guitar into a PA system or an acoustic amplifier.
Read more: How to plug an acoustic guitar into a PA system
What to look for
So what's the best way to find acoustic guitars with Fishman pickups?
This is a matter of knowing which brands to look for and reading the specs sheets. While some acoustic guitar brands are more likely to have them (more on those below), Fishman acoustic pickups show up all across the acoustic guitar spectrum.
If you're looking on a site like Sweetwater, simply look under the "electronics" section of acoustic-electric guitars and see if Fishman is mentioned.
Fishman mentioned in an acoustic guitar spec sheet.
Top Acoustic Guitars with a Fishman Pickup
This is a list of acoustic guitars that we verified to ship with a Fishman pickup and preamp installed. Note that we've focused on the more popular brands and best-selling acoustic guitars, and that this is not an exhaustive list. If you know of an acoustic guitar with a Fishman pickup that you think deserves inclusion, let us know about it in the comments section below and we'll check it out. Otherwise, happy guitar browsing.
- Epiphone Hummingbird Pro
- Epiphone Pro Dove Acoustic
- Ibanez AEWC400 Acoustic-Electric
- Cordoba Fusion 12 Orchestra CE Nylon String Acoustic
- Martin OMC-16E Acoustic-Electric
- Martin GPC-16E Rosewood Acoustic
- Martin D-X2E Dreadnought Acoustic
- Gibson Acoustic Songwriters Standard EC
- Martin D-X1E Dreadnought Acoustic
- Martin LX1E Little Martin
- Ibanez AW54CE Acoustic-Electric
- Washburn Comfort G55CE Koa
- Martin DX Johnny Cash
- Martin D JR-10E Acoustic-Electric
- Washburn Comfort G66SCE Spalt Maple
- Cordoba GK Studio Negra
- Martin SC-13E Acoustic-Electric
- Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
- Martin OMC-15ME
- Epiphone J-45 Acoustic-Electric
- Washburn Woodline 012SE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Gibson Acoustic J-45 Studio Rosewood
- Gibson Acoustic Hummingbird Studio
- Cordoba C5-CE Nylon String Acoustic
- Gibson Acoustic Songwriter Standard EC
- Martin OM-28E
- Cordoba GK Pro Negra
- Ibanez Artwood AC340CE Acoustic
- Washburn Comfort G25SCE Acoustic
- Martin D-16E Rosewood Acoustic
- Martin HD-28E Acoustic Guitar
- Fender Newporter Special Acoustic
- Cordoba C7-CE Nylon String Acoustic
- Martin D-18E Modern Deluxe Acoustic
- Fender CD-140SCE Dreadnought
- Fender Newporter Special Acoustic
- Cordoba Fusion 14 Maple
Which acoustic brands typically use Fishman pickups?
As we've curated acoustic guitars with Fishman pickups, we've noticed a few brands that seem to have some kind of an agreement where they're regularly including Fishman pickups in their acoustics.
Again, it's important to note that they show up in a lot of acoustic guitars, but these acoustic brands - in particular - are more likely to have them:
- Cordoba
- Martin
- Ibanez
Aside from these three, Gibson and Epiphone are two additional companies we noticed that seem particularly friendly to the Fishman brand.
Otherwise, it's hit or miss depending on which guitar you're talking about.
Do Fishman acoustic pickups sound good?
What about the tone and sound quality of these pickups?
It's important to point out that the tone quality of an acoustic guitar is going to be most dependent on things like construction quality, tonewood, and string quality, all of which have little to do with the pickup system that is transmitting that sound.
In an acoustic guitar, the pickup's job is to transfer as much of the natural tone of the instrument as possible and not necessarily to create tone, like we see in electric guitar pickups.
Read more: Best guitar pickups
But the Fishman acoustic pickup systems - in particular - are known to be extremely well-designed for this task.
While a lot of the tone will depend on other factors, we think it's safe to count on Fishman pickups when it comes to accurately representing the natural tone of the acoustic in an amplified environment.
What are some of the acoustic pickup alternatives?
Fishman's primary acoustic pickup competitor is a company called L.R. Baggs, which makes pedals and pickups for acoustic guitars. Gibson acoustics are commonly shipped with L.R. Baggs systems, though they're also found in a wide range of brands.
Taylor guitars makes their own preamp and pickup called the Expression System, but it's exclusive to Taylor and not really an "alternative" unless you buy a Taylor to begin with.
There are a few other brands that make their own system, though they're not really available on the open market.
For specialized acoustic pickups and preamps, Fishman and L.R. Baggs are at the top of the food chain.
Types of Fishman Acoustic Pickups Systems
There are two predominant versions of the Fishman acoustic pickup system, the Sonitone and the Presys. Of the two, the Presys is the nicer system with a full EQ and tuner, while the Sonitone is a simpler under-saddle system with a tone and volume control.
Sonitone
The Sonitone pickup is installed under the saddle and uses a simplified control scheme that sits directly under the soundhole.
Controls on the Fishman Sonitone preamp.
Here's a diagram of how it sits under the soundhole of an acoustic guitar:
How the Fishman Sonitone system is setup inside the acoustic guitar's body.
This pickup system is the cheaper of the two and often installed in cheaper or smaller acoustic guitars, though still does a good job of capturing and transmitting the guitar's tone.
Presys
The Presys or Presys+ is the nicer, larger, and more expensive of the two Fishman devices. It's often included in pricier acoustic guitars and offers significantly more control than the Fishman Sonitone.
Fishman Presys+ preamp.
Of the two systems, we'd definitely recommend the Fishman Presys+ since it's more flexible and better-sounding than the Sonitone.
Other preamps we noticed include the Isys+, Sonicore, Aura VT Enhance, and Matrix VT Enhance.
Conclusion
As we've established, Fishman leads the way when it comes to acoustic guitars with pickups. Most acoustic guitar brands will - at some point - cross paths with Fishman systems, though this list is about giving you the best options within that criteria. If you know of a particularly awesome acoustic guitar (brand and model) that we didn't include, that also ships with a Fishman pickup, feel free to mention it in the comments section below.
We'll do a bit of research and consider updating the article - while giving you credit at the top of the page - if it fits the list.
Other questions about the guitars already mentioned are welcome there as well.
We'll see you there.
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Written by Bobby on Acoustics and Roundups
Written by Bobby on Acoustics and Roundups
Yes….I am getting ready to install Seymour Duncan wavelength Duo system that each a condenser mike and a under saddle piezo 18v setup that can be run to a mono or stereo output jack which then separate out as separate channels to another 2 channel input.
So my question is to possibly run an additional fishman mike pickup and run it to stereo output jack along with the factory installed gt1 therefore replacing the existing output jack.
I have researched the fishman sight and will have to confer with their design engineers.
K&K has add on upgrades to some of their systems….trying to see if fishman does the same or I may replace it with one that does.
Thanks for your response!
Sorry for my confusion – but I’m reading that you have three pickups in the works: The wavelength, the existing GT1 and something from Fishman…is that correct? I assume you’re trying to completely replace the GT1 with either one or both of the Seymour Duncan and Fishman options?
My description is confusion.
I have the PRS Acoustic that comes with a factory installed GT1 under saddle piezo that is a great single source system. I love the nature of the guitar so much I would like to create a stereo system for the guitar by adding an additional source via mic or contact or magnet pickup and run the resulting choice stereo out .
I have a j160e gibson that I am going to upgrade with the Seymour duncan wavelength duo that will allow me to run stereo out with that system. I will keep intact the original P-90 coil pickup to run out mono as it as always done. So I will have a color field to have the acoustic and tasteful gain field to utilize.
It is interesting to note the Seymour runs with a 18 volt preamp for greater headroom and less trauma effect from the piezo pickup.
Also the higher end custom shop of PRS offers their own propietery 18 volt preamp mono system.
I am intrigued with a stereo chain acoustic sound for live and or recording. The yamaha corporation came out with their APX electric acoustic series in 1987 that is a very diverse stereo pickup system that has not been commercially emulated since. I have both the steel and nylon versions being the apx 10 and 10n.
Also of interest is the Sunn Audio MS-2 stereo acoustic preamp that offers a mid-side pickup processing that provides a wonderful
(better than x-y) stereo field. Look up doug young guitarist on youtube demonstrating one.
Another consideration is the hexaphonic string pick up systems that provide a broad stereo field as well.
So to close I was just trying to see if there might be easy fix to create a stereo field out of the PRS GT1 by same brand or compatible second source.
Thanks for your patience. I dig this subject matter and your background asa well.
Tim
Looking to augment my prs tx20 gt1 system with upgrade of additional pickups to creat a dual potentially stereo out signal …does fishman have a such a ready upgrade?
Tim – do you mean basically adding a second pickup with a second output jack?