Hum’s the word

"Shadow’s SH 145 Prestige is an active soundhole Humbucker with great tone and enough installment options to please even the most demanding player.

The only control provided is a volume roller knob, but that’s all you’ll need. The rich and harmonically complex mids that you’d expect in a Humbucker are present, and the trebles are given an ample share of the sonic spectrum as well. I tried this pickup in two different acoustics: a Wahsburn WD-32S (with a spruce top and makassar back and sides), and in a Taylor 600 (with spruce top and maple back/sides). The Washburn retained its deep, woody character, but still had enough definition and shimmer with this pickup to make each note stand out. The Taylor, on the other hand, maintained all of its bright and airy glory without sounding harsh or strident.

The SH 145 Prestige can be mounted in different places within the soundhole to customize the tone to your taste. The fact that each of the pole pieces on this pickup is fully adjustable makes further tweak-age possible. The Shadow mounts via two screw action levers located on the edge of the pickup. These are coated in rubber to protect the host guitar’s finish. It installs in seconds (though you’ll need to detune the strings for easier access) and comes with a ten-foot cable that can be plugged straight into an amplifier or soundboard. Shadow also supplies an endpin jack should you desire to make the installation permanent, although this might require some modifications to the guitar. The pickup is powered by a long-life lithium 3V battery that can last up to a year under normal playing conditions. The SH 145 Prestige is an impressive pickup that can handle just about any guitar with aplomb. If you’ve been desiring a soundhole pickup that’s easy to install without much modification and delivers the complex, detailed tones of your guitar without embellishment, you should absolutely check out the SH 145 Prestige."