*Take the 9 volt battery out of your guitar and touch it to your tongue....If ya get a nice tingle (compare it to a new one), than itz OK :D......P.S. The advent of new pick-ups out there today (like the "screamin' demon and "invader") make the active stuff more of a hassle than they're worth...Remember, the more plumbing ya got, the easier it is to stop up the drain.....One pick-up, one volume knob, good shielding on the wire, strong 1/4" female jack, new strings and an amp that has at least a tube pre-amp....Celestion speakers are the way to go, but I have had SUPERB luck with the Emminence(sic)line of speakers....They have a nice soft tone and with (minimal) EQ-ing, they wail like a new-born :D