Fishman TSV Powerbridge

Pickup features: Strat bridge with active accoustic saddles
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender USA Stratocaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: 3 stock single coil pick ups
Artists using this pickup: Many
You musical style(s): Classic Rock, Country and Blues
Reason for pickup change: Great for live playing options.

Perceived output level: It's hot. So I don't get any distortion, I don't put the volume past 3 or 4. If you go to 10 it will be difficult to keep it clean and crisp. It least that's how I was best able to get the tone I wanted.
Tone: I can get any tone I want. From my guitar I go into a Tech 21 TriOd pedal and then directly into my board. I add a little Chorus and short delay and it sounds great all the way from the low E to the high E
Sonic evaluation: As I stated above I basically go directly into the board for my live setup. I have separate input jacks on my Strat. The regular one goes to my Traynor YCV 80 and the other takes care of my TSV to the board. The only draw back is that I don't any tone control at the guitar for the TSV. Very small issue.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Classic Rock and Country. My Strat is so well set up to deal with both.

Comments: Don't buy this expecting to get a Martin D-28, but for an electrified accoustic sound, it certainly does the trick. It it were stolen I would buy it again. I have been playing for over 25 years, I know what I like and I know what sounds good and the TSV is all quality. It does what it is designed to do. It doesn't perform magic. What it does is give me options that my Strat didn't have before.

Pickup features: Active Piezo pickups plus Power Chip
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Am. Standard Stratocaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: Custom Fender Rio Grande
Artists using this pickup: jammy bastard(www.tangymusic.com)
You musical style(s): Shouty Aggro-pop
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to get as close to an acoustic sound on an
electric as I could for playing live.

Perceived output level: Output is variable, but these are hot pickups and the louder they go the worse the sound is.
Tone: Nice but thin.Don't expect to really sound acoustic. Can be brittle depending on the amp
Sonic evaluation: Can be brittle depending on the amp. I am using with the Powerchip which you really can't live without. Who needs another pedal on the floor? The bridge assembly is stamped and seems cheap. Doesn't help the tone. The trem is difficult to use with the Fishman pickups on because any movement on the bar is transferred to and amplified by the pickups. Hit the bridge at all with your palm and you will hear it come out of the amp.
I bought this to use live, and I'll tell you that if you rock out it won't sound as good as Townshend's does on the last couple of Who tours. I just did three gigs in a week with it with mixed results.
I've tested it with a BF Super Reverb, Marshall JCM800 on low and high inputs, Vox AC15 RI, Fender Pro Junior, and a Fender Acousticsonic Junior.
Ok with the Super, and the Vox. Sounds like crap through the Marshall, even the low input. Great with the Pro Junior and best with the Acousticsonic. No surprise there.
I'd like to play it through a cranked Fender Vibro King like Townshend to see if I can dial in the same tone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play garage rock/pop music, much like the Who, Strokes, White Stripes, Doves, Stone Roses. This pickup *might* be a good match. Not sure yet. I need it to work live, and at the moment it just sound like a clean boost live, as opposed to a different tone.

Comments: Would I buy it again? No.
Too expensive, not fully developed. Seems like a beta release.
I've been playing since '85. I've got or had tons of gear and I know what I like.
Look I'm a musician who plays at least twice a month. If I was just wanking in my home studio this would be fine, but for live applications it's not good enough.
Ya gotta wonder what mods are on PT's rig so it sound crystal clear while he's windmilling away?

Pickup features: Piezo pickup. Supposed to sound acoustic.
Impedence or other specs: Replaces tremelo

Model of guitar or bass: Fender American Deluxe Strat Plus
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fishman Powerbridge TSV
Other pickups on guitar: Lace Sensors (Blue/Gold/Silver)
Artists using this pickup: Townsend, DMB, look at fishman.com
You musical style(s): Rock, alternative, some acoustic, little punk/funk
Reason for pickup change: Wanted an amplified acoustic sound w/o havig to lug two guitars around!

Perceived output level: It was about equal to my lace sensors...volume range goes from 1 to 5.
Tone: Sounds just like an acoustic guitar that's amplified! It sounds just right. Very mellow, wonder bottom and top end. CLose your eyes and you cannot tell the dif from a $600 acoustic/electric guitar!
Sonic evaluation: I am playing my mag pickups through a 200 watt Peavey Renown 210. My new piezo will run to my smaller Peavey or a PA system (The single is split and requires a Stero Y-cable unless you get the special mixing chip which I didnt...)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly rock w/ some acoustic. Will work GREAT!

Comments: Wonderful sound, good cost, pain in the a$$ to install :)...if you know nothing of electronic or guitar wiring, don't even attempt...took me a good three hours and I know what I'm doing...plus crappy directions didnt help either. However, the payoff is GREAT. This guitar is everything I need now...AND MORE! The sound is perfect. Definitely a good buy. Just make sure you run the the piezo through a good amp (preferably w/ tweeters)...it's great how you can run each set of pickups to two different amps and control the volume of both. Makes for some great tonal possibilities. Eaisly get's a 9 (would be 10...but install was a pain!)

Pickup features: tremelo bridge with piezo in the saddles
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RT650
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: replaces my tremelo bridge.
Other pickups on guitar: Ibanez neck humbucker and center single. DiMarzio Evolution at bridge.
Artists using this pickup: see www.fishman.com
You musical style(s): mostly hard rock, classic rock, metal, with the occasional acoustic song.
Reason for pickup change: wanted an acoustic-like tone for the occasional instances I want it.
Not very often -- I'm mainly a heavy metal dude, using my bridge position
DiMarzio Evolution (a great pickup BTW).

Perceived output level: Very similar to the DiMarzio, much to my surprise.
Tone: amplified acoustic. Seems devoid of the negative attributes I've heard about Piezos -- it's not nasal, and it is high output. It is actually nice and mellow.
Sonic evaluation: Ibanez RT650 (strat-style, H-S-H PUs, with pull-up tone that converts it into S-S-S, 5 pos switch. DiMarzio Evolution at bridge). Line 6 POD stereo out into a Peavey Express 112S and a Peavey Bandit 65. Also have a Gibson SG.
Put the Powerbridge in the Ibanez. It was essentially a drop-in replacement. Had to file down small lip at the bridge cavity, to make room for piezo wires (Fishman could have hidden that a bit better, I think). Installed stereo jack -- tip is the magnetic output, unchanged, ring is the piezo output. Didn't install the included piezo volume - didn't want to mess with my pickguard. Took my time and spent about 2 hours installing and restringing.
Powerbridge output is pretty high, comparable to other pickups, even with a 18+ foot cable. Direct into a Peavey amp it doesn't sound that good, but through the POD (using "POD Clean", Drive at 0), it sounds pretty good! I don't really know what an amplified acoustic sounds like, but this certainly sounds like what I imagine it to be. I think one could easily get Jorma/Hot Tuna tone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: I'm looking forward to spending some time with it, expanding my musical horizons by incorporating this new acoustic tone into my playing regimen.
I would certainly get one again. I give the sound quality a 10, and mechanical quality a 7 -- some of the saddle height adjustment screws were way way too short, and Fishman could have done a little better with the wiring, and the plate part is slightly loose from the block.
But overall it is great - way better than buying an acoustic for the casual player.
If I was building a guitar, I would certainly go for this bridge over a plain one. It's basically a fourth pickup.

Pickup features: Piezo unit replaces entire bridge assembly and tremolo unit on strat-style guitars
Impedence or other specs: see www.fishman.com

Model of guitar or bass: handmade strat-style guitar by Jeff Sokol of Scottsdale AZ
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: this replaces the enitre bridge assembly and tremolo unit -- in effect a 4th pickup
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio cruisers in neck and middle position; custom-designed DiMarzio humbucker with split coil in bridge position
Artists using this pickup: see www.fishman.com
You musical style(s): blues, rock, folk rock, and a little jazz
Reason for pickup change: Guitar was originally equipped with older model Fishman VS100-P. Had some problems with string breakage. Fishman offered upgrade to the newer TSV model and problem is solved.

Perceived output level: This is a piezo, not magnetic pickup, so comparisons to magnetic pickups aren't really meaningful.
Tone: pure acoustic sound -- makes a strat sound like an amplified acoustic guitar
Sonic evaluation: Guitar is a custom-made solid body strat-style guitar described above. I use a Peavey Delta Blues for smaller venues. For large venues I amplify through a Fender stage amp with extension speaker. Installation of this pickup creates the potential for stereo output -- using a stereo jack you can send the magnetic pickup signal to your regular guitar amp, and send the piezo acoustic signal to a different amp.
I've played for a long time and enjoy using new technology. My other guitar (also strat-style) is equipped with a Roland synthesizer pickup. Vintage is cool but nothing compared to the great inventiveness in guitar electronics that is taking place today.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play blues, rock, acoustic folk rock. This pickup gives you the option of switching to an acoustic sound.

Comments: Installation of this pickup creates a great deal of versatility in a solid body guitar. It preserves your original sound, while adding the whole acoustic dimension as an option (without having to switch guitars). You can also blend the acoustic sound with the magnetic sound, or direct them separately to different amplifiers.
Installation might require help of a professional -- not sure.
By the way, Fishman customer service is GREAT! Have no fear of dealing with this company. They are really good to their customers.
Other questions:
-- if lost or stolen, yes I would get the same thing
-- playing for 40+ years
-- I like the ability to switch, add or blend in the acoustic sound (even finger pick) without changing guitars
-- didn't comparison shop; pickup was already installed on guitar when I bought it
-- if you like the sound of an amplified acoustic guitar but don't want to mess with switching guitars, you will love this pickup