| Category | Value | Rating |
| Features | 20% |  |
| Usability | 25% |  |
| Sound | 25% | |
| Documentation & Support | 10% | |
| Price | 20% |  |
| OVERALL RATING = 3.8 Stars, which earns it a WIHO Award! 3.6 stars or better: Outstanding, WIHO Award 3 stars or better: Worth considering 2 stars or better: Suited to specific needs 1 star or less: Not recommended |
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Greg Koch has never been particularly interested in doing things the conventional way, and that philosophy comes through loud and clear in his signature Fluence Gristle Tone Telecaster pickup set. The basic premise is deceptively simple: take the familiar sounds that make a Telecaster such a useful instrument, preserve the character and dynamics that players expect from those sounds, then give the player considerably more control over how those sounds behave.
The Gristle Tone set is built around two fundamental interpretations of the Telecaster sound. Voice 1, which Fishman calls the “White Guard” voice, calls upon the open and airy side of the instrument, drawing from the Nashville and Bakersfield tradition with the kind of clarity that works beautifully for country picking, clean rhythm work, and big open chords. Voice 2, known as the “Black Guard” voice, takes that same basic foundation and adds more midrange, punch, and the sustain necessary for heavier styles and lead work.
The set is also completely hum free, which is particularly valuable for players who spend a significant amount of time under stage lighting, in front of high gain amplifiers, or in other environments where traditional single coil noise can become a genuine problem. For a working guitarist, that combination of versatility plus noise-free operation is arguably the biggest selling point.
The main feature is the Multi Voice architecture, with a dedicated “White Guard” and “Black Guard” sound available from both pickups. Voice selection is handled through the push/push control incorporated into the supplied control plate, allowing the player to move between the two tonal personalities without requiring an additional external pedal or processor.
The rhythm pickup uses Alnico V rod magnets while the treble pickup uses Alnico IV rod magnets, with both pickups sporting a 2k output impedance. Fishman includes a completely assembled and prewired control plate with the three-way switch, volume and tone controls, and push/push voice selector.
The package also includes a rechargeable battery pack and a replacement jack cup containing both the quarter inch output and USB charging connection. The entire system is designed to install without permanent modification to the guitar.
Fishman has done a good job of recognizing that pickup installation is one area where even experienced guitarists can run into trouble, particularly when active electronics, rechargeable power systems, and specialized switching are involved.
The Gristle Tone Telecaster package is supported by a dedicated user guide, a Universal Fluence User Guide, and documentation for the rechargeable battery system. Fishman also provides wiring information and installation resources through its website, giving players and technicians access to the information necessary to understand the system before putting a soldering iron anywhere near the guitar.
A traditional pickup replacement can quickly turn into a wiring project involving multiple components, switches, pots, and battery connections. Here, much of that work has already been completed by Fishman, which makes the system significantly more approachable for the average guitarist or technician.
The Fishman Fluence Greg Koch Gristle Tone Signature Series Telecaster 6 String Pickup Set currently carries a retail price of $419.95. That puts it firmly above many conventional Telecaster replacement pickup sets, but the comparison becomes considerably more reasonable once the full contents of the package are taken into account.
The package includes a prewired control plate, switching, pots, rechargeable lithium ion battery pack, replacement jack cup, charging connection, and associated wiring. You are also getting two distinct pickup voices, completely hum free operation, and a system designed specifically around the requirements of a Telecaster without causing any permanent damage to the instrument.
Contact Information
Fishman
www.fishman.com
