Passive vs. Active - 20 dB difference??

[shawnyfresh]

I understand there's a little volume jockeying when switching from active to passive, but I ran direct through a peak meter and determined a 24 dB difference. For those of you not dB inclined, that's a lot.

I also seem to notice my treble knob not causing an enormous difference in tone. My bass has been in the case for a little while, but I feel like I would have noticed this stuff before (the bass is new to me).

Just on first instinct, are my electronics screwed up?

[darjama]

The volume drop is pretty significant when switching to passive. I usually roll back my volume knob a touch when playing active.

In terms of the treble not having much effect, what kind of amp & cabinet are you playing thru? If amp isn't producing much in the way of highs, you won't hear a big impact. Try rolling off the bass, then play with your treble knob. Can you hear a difference this way? How about in treble boost mode?

[shawnyfresh]

False alarm.

Conducted the same test today and the volume jump was much less significant. Honestly, I don't know what the problem was-- I was running direct both times, and previously it was through a fancy pre and compressor. This time it was just a console pre and worked fine.

Thanks anyhoo.

[sailri]

When I switch to passive my Tribby L2000 gets louder - should it be getting louder when I switch to active instead?

Bill

[Mytola]

Originally Posted by sailri

When I switch to passive my Tribby L2000 gets louder - should it be getting louder when I switch to active instead?

Bill

Active should be louder than passive. I'd bet you either have a dying battery in the bass, or that you're mixing up the controls.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Mytola

Active should be louder than passive. I'd bet you either have a dying battery in the bass, or that you're mixing up the controls.

Didn't some Tribs ship with the switches flipped around(from what they would typically be on a US model)?

[sailri]

No I popped in a new battery just to test it before posting...

I guess I'll have to have it checked out. It's one of the ones with the BIG Tribute on the headstock.

Bill

[sailri]

And just to confirm, using the controls diagram here:
http://www.glguitars.com/schematics/...ls_diagram.pdf

The lowest switch (E in the diagram), closest to the bridge, controls passive/active. When switched down - away from the bridge, it is passive.

I'm saying volume goes up when I switch to passive. Other two positions do work, and do sound different.

Bill

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by sailri

And just to confirm, using the controls diagram here:
http://www.glguitars.com/schematics/...ls_diagram.pdf

The lowest switch (E in the diagram), closest to the bridge, controls passive/active. When switched down - away from the bridge, it is passive.

I'm saying volume goes up when I switch to passive. Other two positions do work, and do sound different.

Bill

Huh? That sounds kinda screwy.

For USA L-2000/2500 and ASAT basses:

Toggle lever toward the bridge: Passive
Toggle lever in the mid position: Active
Toggle lever toward the neck: Active with treble boost

The switch to active should give you a modest signal boost compared to passive. The most noticeable change is that the tone takes on a bit of edge. You can also run long cables when active due to improved impedance matching.

The G&L onboard preamp is not so much a gain monster as a tone enhancement tool.

If the switch action is different from what I've described here but otherwise operates correctly, it's possible that the switch may be twisted in its hole. That would be easy to straighten out if desired.

Ken...