It's a DI out, i had a Pangborn for many years. Never ever used the DI out though (Did anyone?). Pangborn Electrics were typically 'hand made' by one of Ashley's friends..he hated paying full dollar for electrics, i think margins were tight without adding an expensive preamp (cost wise a production pre-amp could cost as much as ALL the timber !) I played mine passive most of the time as the pre-amp wasn't very good anyway. I loved my Pangborn for the way it looked and especially felt, not for the ahem cough cough electrics. 😉