American Deluxe P - Active to Passive? Or both?

mebusdriver · #1 08-25-2008, 03:22 PM

I've got an American Deluxe P-Bass. It has two pickups, a p and a "double j" at the bridge, which I believe is a humbucker. I've got two problems with the current set-up.

One is that I never use the double j. I've tried and tried and tried but the bass is SO ACTIVE that this pickup just ends up sounding thin and getting lost in the mix. For me it's really just a waist of space. The second is that I'm craving a the passive sound.

I've heard about a passive/active pre-amp? And I was wondering what the deal is with these. Do they require passive pickups or active pickups? For a while I've been considering making this thing passive and adding a straight up jazz pickup for the bridge, but I figured I'd ask about this active/passive option first.

So I wanna have a p and a j combination as well as an active/passive combination. Is this possible and can someone recommend a good setup? Thanks a ton.

jsingles · #2 08-25-2008, 03:26 PM

buy a passive p bass, and buy a passive j bass.. thats the only way i know of the is honestly and truly going to get you those sounds..

some active stuff can come close but its really not the same, and ive NEVER heard any P/j setup sound liike a TRUE J or P, though it can come pretty close, its still its own sound.

as far as what to do electronically to your bass to improve it, I dont know much about that stuff, but it sounds like you want to be able to bypass your preamp entirely and go passive. you dont necessarily need a whole new preamp

Visirale · #3 08-25-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mebusdriver

I've got an American Deluxe P-Bass. It has two pickups, a p and a "double j" at the bridge, which I believe is a humbucker. I've got two problems with the current set-up.

One is that I never use the double j. I've tried and tried and tried but the bass is SO ACTIVE that this pickup just ends up sounding thin and getting lost in the mix. For me it's really just a waist of space. The second is that I'm craving a the passive sound.

I've heard about a passive/active pre-amp? And I was wondering what the deal is with these. Do they require passive pickups or active pickups? For a while I've been considering making this thing passive and adding a straight up jazz pickup for the bridge, but I figured I'd ask about this active/passive option first.

So I wanna have a p and a j combination as well as an active/passive combination. Is this possible and can someone recommend a good setup? Thanks a ton.

Uhmmm how are you using it? Both pickups on that bass are VERY usable and sound VERY good. Thin is the last word I'd use to describe it. What settings are you using?

Experiment with the blend of the pickups. If it doesn't have enough booty in the bridge for you, EQ it in, that's what active basses are for.

KeithPas · #4 08-25-2008, 03:33 PM

I have two passive P basses, one I am going to mod with a G&L MFD humbucker and the other has an added jazz pickup. I intend to keep them passive as I have three other active basses. I modded a P bass with one of those Fender double jazz pickups and I loved it. it probably just is not "your" sound.

mebusdriver · #5 08-25-2008, 03:36 PM

the p pup sounds great and believe me i've tried every freakin blend combination, amp eq combination, onboard eq combination, strings blah blah blah. I just dont dig the pickup. Could you guys recommend a good j for the neck then?

KeithPas · #6 08-25-2008, 03:43 PM

I am waiting on a set of G&L MFD humbuckers and I only have plans for one. Would you be interested in trading your double jazz for an MFD? The MFD's a seriously ballsy pickups.

mebusdriver · #7 08-25-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithPas

I am waiting on a set of G&L MFD humbuckers and I only have plans for one. Would you be interested in trading your double jazz for an MFD? The MFD's a seriously ballsy pickups.

sure why not. ima get rid of it eventually. pm me and we'll set it up.

unclekebm · #8 08-25-2008, 04:08 PM

hey mebusdriver,

I have an AM Deluxe P
took the pre out and made it passive, put a SD spb1 in it w/ a .1 cap and LaBella flats (it gets a great 70's P tone) made it Vol/Vol/Tone, used the fourth hole for my output jack. V/T/V/T might be cool also...
I tried a jazz p/u in the double hum. position, didn't care for it, the tone didn't change...
I put the double humbucker back in, I find that i rarely use it... it gets kinda close to a jazz bridge tone, I may use it when i solo for some cut, but rarely
I've been using this bass as my main working bass for a couple years...it works but...

doesn't come close to the "heft" of my P's, 62RI or '08 Am Std. except for playability and feel

I think maybe an active/passive switch would be my suggestion...maybe with an Aggie obp3...
and as posted by jsingles, it will never cop a true P or J tone if that's what you're after
It gets a usable P tone but the J tone? not so much...
but soundmen love it and it records great!

let me know if you have specific questions, I've done a lot of experimenting with this bass...P/U's, caps, strings and recording...

cheers

msquared · #9 08-26-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mebusdriver

One is that I never use the double j. I've tried and tried and tried but the bass is SO ACTIVE that this pickup just ends up sounding thin and getting lost in the mix.

From the sound of it, my opinion is that either something is wrong with your bass or you aren't dialing it in properly. I find that with my Deluxe P, the exact opposite is true: I have troubles cutting through with the neck pickup but the bridge pickup is wonderful. I bump the bass and mid a touch and that's all I need with a drummer, three guitarists, and a keyboard player.

Typically a 50/50 blend of the two pickups, maybe with a touch more bridge pickup, is one of the best bass tones I've ever had.

If you want the passive sound, maybe consider an Audere preamp? They have a pretty widespread reputation as having a very passive-y tone.