A Piezo The Action

With the Fishman company approaching its 40th year, Ryan Fitzsimmons walks us through some of its most popular designs from the Infinity and beyond…

- Ryan Fitzsimmons

Next year will see Fishman in its 40th year of operation, and while the Matrix wasn’t Larry Fishman’s first pickup offering, it certainly proved to be his most impactful. “The Matrix is an under-saddle transducer pickup and has been the industry standard for decades,” Fishman’s Ryan Fitzsimmons tells us. “Larry Fishman spearheaded the development of the piezo. He brought it to a place where it was applicable to virtually any acoustic guitar. With its early adoption by the Martin Guitar company and some other partners, we really brought it to the forefront. You can’t beat its resistance to feedback and how well it performs in large scenarios. It’s loud, bright and present, and it cuts through the mix easily, even in a large group.”