Can i run 1active and 1passive in my bass?

brianvcskin · #1 07-09-2008, 07:04 PM

I have an old yamaha rbx-250 bass i decided to fix up and modify.
i've made it fretless'
it came factory with 1 passive P pickup

A friend of mine gave me a good quality yamaha active J pickup
which i've already cut a hole for. But how do i wire these together?

pbd · #2 07-09-2008, 07:08 PM

Not sure you can, they require different electronics and the active pickup has the equivalent of a preamp in it.

If it can be done, someone on this forum will know how to do it!

Todd

b_carville · #3 07-09-2008, 07:19 PM

I saw a Carl Thompson bass that had a passive Dimarzio model P & an active EMG J.
Don't know what it was about but I saw it in a store called Guitar Villa in Bethlehem,PA maybe 10 years or so ago.I didn't play it or anything. But I was intrigued.

clickr · #4 07-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Probably have to make it switchable from either passive or active, I highly doubt both simutaneously. just my .02

PilbaraBass · #5 07-09-2008, 10:13 PM

yes, you can...one pickup is powered via the 9V, the other isn't...

it's that simple...

4StringTheorist · #6 07-10-2008, 01:24 AM

PilbaraBass is right. It will work fine.

The only trouble you might possibly get into is one being louder than the other in a way that you can't compensate for via pickup height adjustments, etc. That's a risk you have with using two very different passive pickups though. It's not a problem inherent to mixing passive and active pickups

Go for Volume-Volume controls if it's not that way already, and make sure that the volume pots you use are appropriate for the pickups. Active pickups often take a lower resistance pot. Find out from your friend what the value of the pot was that he took the pickup out of, and you're set!

brianvcskin · #7 07-10-2008, 05:49 AM

i have modified a diagram inserting abattery from the ring to to the red lead the one labelled black is bare wire, will this work? Maybe i'll have to change some pot values.
thanks for the help

4StringTheorist · #8 07-10-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianvcskin

i have modified a diagram inserting abattery from the ring to to the red lead the one labelled black is bare wire, will this work? Maybe i'll have to change some pot values.
thanks for the help

The volume pot that the active bridge pickup is connected to might need a different value on the pot. Check with your friend.

Other than that, your diagram should work with one more added detail.

You have to replace your input jack with a 3-conductor (TRS or Tip-Ring-Sleeve) jack. Sleeve and Tip will stay the same as in your diagram. The battery lead will attach to the Ring conductor instead of the Sleeve conductor on your diagram.

This arrangement makes having a cord plugged into your bass an on-off switch for the active pickup. That way it won't be powered on 24/7 and draining the battery. When you plug the bass in, the sleeve on the connector bridges the Tip and Sleeve connectors on the jack, completing the battery's circuit and powering up the pickup. When you remove the cord, the battery circuit is broken and the pickup is turned off, saving the battery.