Which type of pick ups do you prefer? What do you like about the type you use. I prefer active for the extra thunder and umph they add my Fender Jazz is active and so is this Yamaha I have. But I also have an Ibanez that has passive pups and am trying do decide which I prefer. Cause tonaly I like both.

Different monsters for different jobs.

Personally I use all passive pickups with an active (though bypassable) preamp in one bass, and even THAT is pretty transparent (Marcus Miller Jazz)

For me it comes down to fewest variables. Two knobs on a P-bass is pushin' it :)

sounds like the nikki sixx blackbird (http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/Bass/nikkisixxbass.html) would be right up your alley....