Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 9 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
4.5 (31)
$219.95
Guitar Center
4.5 (19)
$219.95
Amazon
4.0 (1)
$179.95
Reverb
5.0 (6)
$171.51 New
$110.00 Used
Musician's Friend
4.0 (47)
$219.95
Thomann
4.8 (93)
$155.00
Gear4Music
£135.00

Price History

Based on price data from 7 merchants for "Fishman Rare Earth". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unlock the true potential of your acoustic guitar with the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Soundhole Pickup. This innovative pickup is perfect for musicians seeking a warm, full-bodied sound while maintaining pristine string-to-string balance. Neodymium magnets, a key feature of the Rare Earth, provide exceptional sound quality, capturing the natural warmth of your instrument with clarity and precision. With its humbucking design, this pickup eliminates unwanted noise, ensuring a hum-free experience whether you're playing live or recording in the studio.

The Fishman Rare Earth's active electronics deliver a pure and clean sound, enhancing the tonal richness of your guitar. The thoughtfully designed onboard volume control allows for easy, on-the-fly adjustments without the need for additional equipment. Fitting seamlessly into soundholes as small as 3-5/8" in diameter, this pickup installs effortlessly, offering a true plug-and-play solution that requires no modifications to your beloved guitar.

Designed for convenience, the pickup's miniature batteries are discreetly mounted on the underside, providing up to 300 hours of uninterrupted playtime. Whether you're amplifying your sound for a live performance or capturing the subtleties of your acoustic music in the studio, the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Soundhole Pickup enhances your guitar's natural voice, making it a must-have accessory for any acoustic guitarist.

Key Features:

  • Humbucking stacked coil design for noise-free performance
  • Cutting-edge neodymium magnets for warm, natural acoustic tone
  • Active electronics ensure a pure, clean sound
  • Convenient onboard volume control for easy adjustments
  • Miniature batteries provide up to 300 hours of use
  • Easy installation with no instrument modification required
  • Fits soundholes as small as 3-5/8" in diameter
  • Pre-wired output jack with optional endpin mounting

Owner's manual

Fishman Rare Earth User Manual

Product specs

Instrument Acoustic Guitar
Type Humbucker
Position Soundhole
Active/Passive Active
Built-in Preamp Yes
Controls Volume
Power Source 1 x 3V CR11108 or 2 x 1.5V LR-44 (240 hours)

FAQs

What type of power source does the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker require?

The Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker requires a 3V CR11108 battery or two 1.5V LR-44 batteries, providing approximately 240 hours of use.

Is the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker suitable for all acoustic guitars?

The Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker is designed for acoustic guitars with a soundhole, fitting most standard-sized soundholes.

Does the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker have built-in volume controls?

Yes, the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker features a built-in preamp with volume controls for easy sound adjustment.

How does the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker affect the natural tone of an acoustic guitar?

The Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker enhances the natural acoustic tone by providing a warm, balanced sound with reduced feedback, making it ideal for live performances and recordings.

Is the Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker active or passive?

The Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker is an active pickup, offering a robust output and greater sound clarity.

Fishman Music

Fishman Music

Fishman Rare Earth Soundhole Pickups

Video thumbnail for Fishman Rare Earth Soundhole Pickups by Fishman Music

Fishman Rare Earth Soundhole Pickups

Fishman Music

Fishman Music

Video thumbnail for Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Acoustic pickup comparison by Eric Palmer Music

Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Acoustic pickup comparison

Eric Palmer Music

Eric Palmer Music

Reviews

PROS

  • Natural full sound, not thumpy or tinny

  • Easy to install and attach to guitar

  • Sleek design, not bulky or clumsy

  • Great for live performances with no feedback

  • Volume/Sensitivity dial enhances usability

  • Consistent good sound from dependable brand

  • Excellent for clean tone play on acoustic guitars

  • High-quality build and sound reproduction

  • Works well with a mixer for live events

CONS

  • Manual lacks detailed installation instructions

  • Lacks an EQ switch compared to some competitors

  • Overdrive tones not as sweet as electric guitar

  • No easy way to shorten or disconnect the cable

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fishman Rare Earth.

Setup and maintenance

  • Fishman Rare Earth users report consistent low output despite using a max volume setting and fresh li-ion 3V batteries.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Owners note that the Fishman Rare Earth can be powered by 2x AA batteries or a single 3V li-ion battery, with no substantial output difference observed.

    Source
  • The Fishman Rare Earth Blend offers mic and magnetic sound mixing through a mono cable or separately with a Y or stereo cable for versatile sound options.

    Source
  • The Rare Earth Blend lacks pole pieces, but owners note that changing string gauges can help tailor the sound effectively.

    Source
  • The Fishman Rare Earth combines a magnetic pickup with a small microphone, making it unique for blending acoustic tones with direct string sound.

    Source

Comparisons

  • A factory-fitted 9V Sonitine pickup in a backup guitar provides significantly higher output compared to the Fishman Rare Earth.

    Source
  • The Fishman Rare Earth Blend is noted for its ability to represent the guitar's natural sound, especially when compared to the LR Baggs M80 and Fishman Blackstack.

    Source
  • The magnetic part of the Rare Earth pickup offers a unique sound distinct from Bartolini, EMG, or Fender Jazz stock pickups, influenced by its wire and magnet composition.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Rare Earth Blend is praised for handling percussive string slaps and body percussion well, especially when more mic is mixed into the sound.

    Source
  • While designed for acoustic guitars, the Rare Earth can be experimented with on acoustic basses, although the mic may mostly capture string and hand noise.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the Rare Earth Blend's feedback resistance, especially when using the full magnetic sound without the mic mix.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Gear Review: Body Sensors Take Fishman PowerTap Rare Earth and Infinity Pickups to a New Level | Acoustic Guitar

acousticguitar.com

Fishman's PowerTap Rare Earth is a commendable leap in acoustic pickup technology, blending magnetic pickups with body sensors for a fuller sound. While its lack of onboard volume control is a minor setback, the Rare Earth offers a compact design that integrates seamlessly into the guitar's aesthetic. The blend of magnetic and sensor signals provides a rich acoustic tone, though finding the perfect mix might require some tweaking. The system shines in stereo mode, offering creative possibilities for sound shaping. Overall, it's an affordable, versatile upgrade for capturing the true character of your acoustic guitar.

positive

Fishman Rare Earth Pickups - Peghead Nation

pegheadnation.com

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
joeymcclain1

Great dual pick up

Like having a sunrise and I mic on your guitar. I have mine wired together but you can run two lines with this.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Noel Gallagher uses Fishman Rare Earth

Noel Gallagher

Singer, Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Photo

He used it on his Takamine FP-460SC Acoustic. This guitar was used on MTV Unplugged

See how Charlie Barnes uses Fishman Rare Earth

Charlie Barnes

Singer, Guitarist

Bastille

...
Verified via YouTube

The Pickup Charlie uses for the Give Me The Future Outstores tour and MTV Unplugged

See how Tim Smith uses Fishman Rare Earth

Tim Smith

Guitarist

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"Tim and Sheryl’s guitars incorporate the Fishman Matrix Infinity system. Their guitars have been customized as dual pickup systems, combining an undersaddle bridge transducer with the Fishman Rare Earth magnetic humbucking soundhole pickup. There are individual level controls for each pickup and EQ capability all housed and mounted under the upper lip of the soundhole, with mono output. The magnetic sound of the Rare Earth pickup blends well with the undersaddle transducer with few feedback issues. We’re also using Kaman Acoustic Feedback Busters to block soundholes when needed."

Album Usage

The Fishman Rare Earth has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fishman Rare Earth, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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