Fishman Prefix Systems • Shoreline Music

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Prefix	Prefix Plus	Prefix Premium Blend

Click on any picture above for a high-resolution close-up

The Fishman Prefix pickup systems set the standard for onboard pickup/preamp systems. All Fishman Prefix systems start with the Acoustic Matrix undersaddle element, and then add one of several onboard preamps for easy control of your onstage tone. As you can see above, all models include a master volume knob to the top-right of the unit, and just above that is the latch for Fishman's patented "barn door", where you can flip the preamp open to change the battery when necessary. This obviates the need to reach inside the guitar to change the battery.

The preamp in the basic Fishman Prefix features a 3-band EQ, with the standard fixed shelving treble and bass controls, and then a parametric mid control—the "Contour" slider seen in the picture above. The Frequency slider to the far right lets you choose which mid frequencies to boost or cut (from 250Hz-10kHz). You then use the Contour to control those frequencies.

As you can see above, the Prefix Plus adds several other features. The first is a "Brilliance" control, which is just a fancy name for the high end of the frequency spectrum, in the >10kHz range. Boosting these higher highs can add a bit of shimmer or brightness to your tone. To make room for the Brilliance slider, the Frequency slider (for those parametric mids) moves to the bottom of the preamp, as you can see above. The next important feature of the Prefix Plus is the notch filter knob, located on the top left of the unit. This knob cuts, by a fixed -15db, any frequency from 40Hz-500Hz. This, combined with the Phase switch, offers much more effective feedback control than the regular Fishman Prefix.

The Prefix Premium Blend keeps most of the features of the Prefix Plus, and it adds not only a blender (for blending between its mic and pickup sources), but it also includes perhaps the two most welcome improvements to onboard systems: An LCD chromatic tuner, and a detachable mic that allows you to find the sweet spot inside of your guitar. The detachable mic alone is worth the $80 price difference between this and the regular Prefix Plus, but since the onboard tuner also saves you having to buy a separate tuner, the Premium Blend becomes a very attractive upgrade to standard Fishman Prefix systems.

Fishman also used to make the Prefix Stereo Blender, which filled a nice price point between the Prefix and the Prefix Premium Blend. Please note that this model has been discontinued by Fishman.

Dimensions: 2.44" x 3.81" (62mm x 97mm)

To purchase any of these systems, choose the width of the undersaddle element for the Prefix system you wish to purchase. If you need help determining your saddle width, please visit our FAQ:

Fishman Prefix Systems	Description	Price*
Prefix	Matrix pickup with versatile side-mount preamp	$255.16
Prefix Plus	Prefix with more controls	$316.76
Prefix Premium Blend	Prefix Stereo Blender with onboard tuner and detachable mic	$395.96
Prefix Pro	Smaller-profile Prefix Plus (for narrower guitars)	$290.36
Prefix Pro Blend	Smaller-profile Prefix Stereo Blender (for narrower guitars)	$289.95

Fishman Prefix