It's not a MOTU pre-amp but it works good enough in live instances to help beat the nasty eq curve in the pa's graphics... Nice compression effect from the smooth knob as well, really gives that swelled-up SPL effect on stage...

I love it, for functionality and sound. I use it for my EJ200 which allowed me to install a Martin Slimline 332 under the bridge pickup and didn't have to cut up the guitar, preserving the large clear sounds that a 200 is good for. Just drilled out the strap stud and have a stud/plug combo.

The multiple outputs let's me use the 1/4 to feed into my in ear monitor and the XLR goes to the house sound along with powering the unit.

The EQ and brightness (along with the Martin) bring back the crisp acoustic sounds typical damped by many pickups. Though no replacement for soloing at a good mic, this unit helps make the acoustic premo in the band.

Great on Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin, Electric Guitar 6 and 12 sting, Lap Steel, Bass Guitar, harp and Vocals.

I find with this unit I can get a fuller sound on electric instruments. A brighter sound that jumps out at you on acoustic instruments. A funky edge on your bass. My lap steel's sound is so good with this that I wouldn't want to play without it.

I love this unit. I have two of them. I use one for the guitar, and one for the cellist and plays with me. It works fantastically for both! I actually even use one as a splitter, so I can run 1 through effects and leave one as a static acoustic guitar. Works for both! Highly, highly recommended

Please understand that I have never played through a pickup/preamp system that I judged to be satisfactorily transparent. They ALL color the sound of my guitars (although I have not yet fully explored the Fishman Acoustic Blender). Not one that I have tried or heard is close to the sound of a good guitar played into a good microphone, much less the pure sound of the instrument itself. Having said that, this preamp is as good-sounding a compromise as I have found. It has a responsive, usable EQ, subtle compression, and tasteful sound-tweaking controls. So far it has been durable, standing up to weekly gigs. I can't speak to battery life, as I power it with an adapter. No, it doesn't sound quite like the "real thing," but it is very close, producing a fairly warm, very musical tone - not nearly as brittle as most you hear.