The Neos

NOTE: This product has been retired and superseded by the Nu Series Modular Active Pickups.

The Neos are active polyphonic pickups with individual coils per string and individual balanced, low-power, low-noise preamplifier for each coil. The Neos are designed for polyphonic string processing. The intent is to have complete effects chains for each string, allowing different effects settings for each string for distortion, EQ, compressor, delay, pan, pitch-shift and polyphonic envelope extraction and control over each string, opening up the possibility of having time-variant amplifiers (attack-decay), time-variant filters and time-variant pitch-shift. Such extensive processing is now very possible due to advances in digital signal processing and multi-channel audio interfaces and multi-track audio software becoming commonplace.

Modular Design

Various Neo1s and Neo2s pickups can be combined to get all sorts of configurations. Examples:

The modular pickups are not just for guitars. Neos can also be utilized for other musical instruments such as the bass guitar, harps, pianos, xylophones, etc. The Neos are perfect for fanned-fret electric guitars with the pickup poles positioned at various angles.

Frequency Response

Low-impedance pickups have a wide frequency response (full range). Unlike traditional high-impedance passive pickups, there are no big peaks and dips in the response, which to many give the pickup it’s “character”. That should not be a problem since we can always shape the frequency response later on in the signal chain using various tone-shaping methods. The pickup is very rich in harmonics. It has a lot more harmonic content than even the bright, but very noisy Stratocaster pickup. Having a wide and flat frequency response gives you the freedom to sculpt the tone that you want using analog or digital filters. The idea of a low-impedance pickup which imparts very little coloration to the guitar sound is appealing. You get whatever tone you want using appropriate tone shaping EQ rather than a fixed, predetermined guitar tone.

Low Power, Low Noise

The Neos use the OPA2314 in a differential configuration. This Op Amp consumes 150μA (quiescent current) per Op Amp, with a respectable 14 nV/√Hz (measured at 1kHz) noise figure. The coils, are connected to the + and – inputs of the differential amplifier without any direct path to ground (floating differential mode). The Neos give you best of class signal to noise ratio.

Measured SNR:

• Gibson Les Paul - 59.57 dB
• Fender Stratocaster - 47.52 dB
• Neo - 72.91 dB

Shipping & Returns

Shipping Options

We offer free worldwide shipping. For orders over $50, we offer free Registered Airmail shipping. Airmail shipping takes 2 to 4 weeks to reach majority of the world but shipping time is greatly affected by factors beyond our control, like weather, post office or customs clearance delays, etc.

For orders over $300, we offer free DHL/FedEx/EMS shipping(We will choose the most suitable courier). It takes around 3 to 5 business days for the package to arrive at its destination. We provide tracking information so you can check the state of your shipment.

We can ship all in-stock orders in 1 to 2 business days right after your payment has cleared. Should you require faster shipping than what we offer above, please send us an email. In the near future, we intend to have distribution hubs in the U.S. and Europe in addition to Asia.

Warranty & Return

We guarantee you only top-notch, high quality products. All items are inspected, fully-tested and carefully hand-packed prior to shipping. We guarantee replacement of faulty items within 90 days from date of shipment. You agree to pay the return shipping on exchanges and returns. We will reimburse the shipping cost as soon as we verify the fault with the product. This warranty will not apply however if the item has been subject to misuse, static discharge, neglect, accident, modification, or has been altered in any way.

If you are not satisfied with a product, for whatever reason, you may return it for refund within 7 days of receipt. Please send us an email for return authorisation with a small note for the reason of the return. The note will help us serve you better and improve our products. We hope you understand that we can only accept returns of unopened items in its original packaging together with its original receipt. You must cover the cost of returning the product.