Sounds more natural than a piezo pickup (for a violin, at least).. Lacks a bit of top end range, in my opinion, but nothing that can't be fixed with a good EQ. I was hoping for a braided cable (as pictured), but this model came with a standard cable (fragile). Gain is on the low side (understandable because it's a passive design), but definitely manageable. I guess it's an OK value, given the high price tag.