I'm reviewing the NEOVIN 7, which is one notch below the hottest output pickup in the product line: http://store.guitarfetish.com/coju20nepino.html. I put it in my cheapo Ibanez/Tanara, pictured below, right (NOTE: make sure you have the red and white wires soldered securely before taping them off).

PLUSSES: 1) Only very very faint hum, which does NOT increase near monitors, etc., and 2) slightly anemic bass (see below) so mixes well with my monster-output, stock bridge humbucker -- even makes me dissatisfied with the humbucker's smeared midrange.

MINUSSES: 1) For a "hot" output, my no-name humbucker is still almost twice as loud (for my application, the Neovin 9 super-hot would likely be ideal), and 2) by "slightly anemic" I mean by itself in the middle position. Sounds just about right with a fat bridge humbucker into a dark Marshall though -- no treble-booster needed. Beautiful, acoustic-like timbre through a Digitech Dual-Band Comp or Aphex Big Bottom. (I reviewed those for bass last blog, but forgot to mention they're GREAT acoustic-simulator and guitar EQ pedals.)

In the neck, rather than the middle, the NEOVIN would likely sound even better (just not the bridge, unless you have the above Digitech or Aphex to expertly boost the lows). And for what they sell for (under $40 shipped direct), try one. Better tone and far better noise-floor than any stock Squier or import Fender, and the lack of low-end could likely be due to the fact I have the "Rock, ceramic" vs classic, AlNiCo ones -- although they do have an active-eq-preamp add-on (at left) for like $20 more. . . (gasp!).

Scott "The Bard" Wilcox, aka tocs100, is a musician, Mystic Fx Stompbox designer, filmmaker, and former English teacher, living in Utah.