Realist Pickup for Acoustic Violin

I'm using these on three different violins. The sound quality is comparable to other pickups and microphones I use or have used: Schertler, DPA, Headway, ... and to pickups on solid-body instruments e.g., Bose&Harmonie. The DPA mic is probably the best, but only if the sound is going through a really good and expertly operated board, with an all-acoustic band and quiet audience. (I do a lot of folk and western swing club gigs, and the nuance of a fine violin tends to be lost somewhere between the time the sound leaves my fiddle, goes through the sound system, and reaches the audience.)No feedback problems, enduring heavy honky-tonk monitors while standing next to steel guitar with loud Fender amp.So, with the gypsy jazz group in a large church or quiet club, I'd use the DPA, otherwise, The Realist.The output is fine for driving my AER60, or for going through the Red-Eye preamp or the Fishman Aura Spectrum straight to Mr. Soundman, who will then have his (or her) way with my tone.Durability is fine if you keep a stable bridge. If you tend to slide the bridge over the Realist, you can cause some wear on the fabric. Some fiddle players are always changing strings or having a peg slip, and this can make the bridge slide. I have a couple of extra cables, but the original wires that came with the pickups are still working fine (2 to 7 years use). I coil them carefully after each use.

If installed properly, this pick up works better than any other pickup my wife has attempted to use. She has been playing the violin for 19 years and experimenting with pickups for the past 5. We were hesitant to try another pick-up. But after hearing a couple violinists play using the same pickup both with and without it plugged up, we forked up the money.We don't regret it one bit.

I was really torn between giving this 2 or 3 stars; I think 2.5 is more accurate.I would have loved this pickup if it weren't for the technical problems that happened. The sound was great, although I will say that the instructions claimed you didn't need any sort of pre-amp at all, which was dead wrong. I initially thought the small 1/8" cable would be great... except that too broke after about 8 months of using it on average 4-6 times a month. If you look at the design of the cable it's obvious that after awhile the cord will start to separate from the plug just from the weight of the cord.Despite the fact that it was nearly impossible to find a replacement (as it's a 1/8" to 1/4"), I gave in and bought a new one at the exorbitant fee from the David Gage workshop... and I'd like the cable to be about 3 feet longer, while we're at it.I thought my problems were over, but I was wrong.Look closely at the pictures of the unit. The element sits under the bridge. Seems like a great idea, except that after owning the pickup for about 2 years, the protective material around the element started to come off. It's almost like an electrical tape type material, and started sliding off - I've seen it called "the cheeseburger effect" - picture what happens when you bite into a burger with too much cheese or sauce or whatever - the patty starts shooting out the other side.I called David Gage and they said to repair it would cost $75.$75 for a stupid little piece of plastic.If I hadn't invested so much in this thing in the first place, I probably would have said "oh well, I got a few years out of it." But, frankly, I feel ripped off.If David Gage/Realist think they can ever get the design right so it won't break, I'd say go ahead and get this one. Until then, don't waste your money.