Pretty much a never ending stream of complaints about variations in output from different basses even though guys are typically satisfied with the tone yet they're wanting to change pups/pres/whatever.

I just turn the amp up. So I'm curious why that is and what am I missing here?

Unless someone has a preamp or head with not enough pregain range between the lowest setting and the highest - which should accomodate any bass input signal, I'd say it's the typical user error of not understanding how to use gain structure.

Similarly, I never understood why people thought an active bass should have a ridiculously high output signal, or why they insisted that "hot" pickups were needed on passive instruments and then wondered where the treble went.

"I just turn the amp up. So I'm curious why that is and what am I missing here?"

I don't get it either - it's like watching different movies and wondering why they aren't the same.

Unless someone has a preamp or head with not enough pregain range between the lowest setting and the highest - which should accomodate any bass input signal, I'd say it's the typical user error of not understanding how to use gain structure.Nail - head.

Well I know there's this preoccupation with "louder is better" and the fact is that volume does alter the perception of sound.

In my experience finding pups you like is practically a shot in the dark yet a number of guys don't seem to hesitate to tear into a bass and chuck a tone they like rather than turn a knob or two.

Didn't seem to be just beginners so thought I'd check to see if there was a reason that made sense.