Do active and passive PICKUPS have a difference in sound?

EAdanikDG · #1 03-19-2010, 05:57 AM

Hi, is there a sound difference between active and passive pickups. Not like just an active pre-amp as on most basses, but active pickups as well. I know the difference between an active pre-amp, and no pre-amp. Thanks

M0ses · #2 03-19-2010, 06:09 AM

EAdanikDG · #3 03-19-2010, 06:17 AM

Examples? I know there is a volume difference, but what about tone?

playerunk · #4 03-19-2010, 06:36 AM

the actives ones have a bigger sound spectrum due to the preamp doing it's job..it's hard to describe but think if you record a passive bass and a active one the active one will have much more stuff recorded (hope you get it)

read an article one by adam nitti (i think it was him) saying that he prefers passive basses in the studio for that matter and actives are good on stage

Bootzilla · #5 03-19-2010, 06:38 AM

Pickups cant be active. Those active pickups are just passive pickups with a preamp built into them. They are often low output which is why they have the preamp built into them (this boosts the output to a normal or higher level).

Rickett Customs · #6 03-19-2010, 06:45 AM

The preamp buffers the signal to maximize full frequency response and to avoid distortion due to clipping. Advantages of active pickups are that they can be louder than a similar grade passive pickup, allow more "headroom" and dynamic range. Active pickups also produce less noise and hum.

.....And as always, alot of people will say that the drawback is the use of a battery, although they don't tend to have a helluva lot of draw.

**line6man** · #7 03-19-2010, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

allow more "headroom" and dynamic range.

How are you able to get more headroom from a pickup with a transistor in it, versus no additional components at all?

Passive pickups should have higher headroom, because there is no gain stage to limit them, unless you are running them through a preamp.

Rickett Customs · #8 03-19-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

How are you able to get more headroom from a pickup with a transistor in it, versus no additional components at all?

You may have me wrong here

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Passive pickups should have higher headroom, because there is no gain stage to limit them, unless you are running them through a preamp.

Ultimately, everything runs through a preamp right? Whether it be onboard, outboard or into the amp. This is the example of active/passive inputs on a preamp/(head) right?

Bootzilla · #9 03-19-2010, 08:06 AM

The main difference is that the preamp has a buffer which prevents loading of the pickup which in turn prevents loss of high end and gives a more full range signal. The other advantage is having a preamp on the bass which can be handy (and some preamps have a preset eq curve which gives it a different sound).

**line6man** · #10 03-19-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

You may have me wrong here

Ultimately, everything runs through a preamp right? Whether it be onboard, outboard or into the amp. This is the example of active/passive inputs on a preamp/(head) right?

Yep, you have to run through a preamp eventually, so when you run through multiple preamps, you start losing headroom.

You could almost think of it like making photocopies of photocopies. Each gain stage degrades the signal a bit, so it's best to have as few as possible.

**line6man** · #11 03-19-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

The main difference is that the preamp has a buffer which prevents loading of the pickup which in turn prevents loss of high end and gives a more full range signal. The other advantage is having a preamp on the bass which can be handy (and some preamps have a preset eq curve which gives it a different sound).

Both active pickups and preamps do that.

The low impedance output is one of the main advantages to wanting an active setup.

Rickett Customs · #12 03-19-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Yep, you have to run through a preamp eventually, so when you run through multiple preamps, you start losing headroom.

You could almost think of it like making photocopies of photocopies. Each gain stage degrades the signal a bit, so it's best to have as few as possible.

I with you on that. 10-4

JTE · #13 03-19-2010, 08:19 AM

It depends entirely upon the design of the pickup. Now, "active pickup" while inaccurate for the reason Bootzilla posts, is the accepted term for pickups which have the pre-amp in the PUP housing so I think we can dispense with that red herring.

It's entirely possible that someone could design an active PUP that sounds just like a particular passive PUP design. That's the concept behind EMG's vintage sound PUPs. See, the thing with an active PUP is you can design the PUP to give you a sound without regard to output levels, and use the preamp to give you the level you want. So it's kinda pointless to speculate on what IS the difference between active sounds and passive sound.

It's a difference in PUP design. Same as the difference between a DiMarzio Model P, a Duncan 1/4 Pounder, and a Fender '62 P PUP. It's all in how they designed the PUP.

And, higher output is NOT a common feature of active designs (either PUPs or circuits). I've played active basses of various types since early 1979 (StingRays, Lakland/Bart, Duncan, EMG) and none of them have been louder than my passive Fenders, and in fact have less output than early G&L L-1000s.

John

lug · #14 03-19-2010, 08:20 AM

Some active pups (depending on design) can have a slighty wider frequency range simply because they use less windings and rely on a boost from the internal preamp to get to the levels they need. Less windings mean less indcutive reactance which varies with frequency. Same theory applies to single coils vs. humbuckers since humbuckers will typically have more total windings. More windings will give you more output but a narrower frequency range, all other things being equal.

Bootzilla · #15 03-19-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Both active pickups and preamps do that.

The low impedance output is one of the main advantages to wanting an active setup.

I was using the term preamp to refer to both the internal preamp inside the active pickup and a "normal preamp" found on most active basses.

I totally agree on the low impedance output. Thats why I said that having the buffer is the main advantage as the buffer is what causes the low impedance.

Also I would not say that each gainstage degrades the audio signal.
In the hi-fi audio world where the signal has to stay as pure as possible that might be the case but here it's really not an issue.
It is true that the preamp will "degrade" or distort the signal but as long as you don't clip it you will not hear any of this distortion.
I would actually prefer to have a whole bunch of preamps in my chain to color and "distort" my signal (not the usual hi-fi preamps tho

).

**line6man** · #16 03-19-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

Also I would not say that each gainstage degrades the audio signal.
In the hi-fi audio world where the signal has to stay as pure as possible that might be the case but here it's really not an issue.
It is true that the preamp will "degrade" or distort the signal but as long as you don't clip it you will not hear any of this distortion.
I would actually prefer to have a whole bunch of preamps in my chain to color and "distort" my signal (not the usual hi-fi preamps tho

).

Well, maybe degrade is the wrong word.
What I should have said was just limit the headroom.

When you run the signal through multiple gain stages, you limit the amount of headroom you have available, not so much change in the tonality or anything though.

Ric5 · #17 03-19-2010, 08:32 AM

I like passive pickups wired into an active preamp. I prefer the more organic sound of a passive pickup and the tone shaping of a 3 of 4 band preamp.

**line6man** · #18 03-19-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

I like passive pickups wired into an active preamp. I prefer the more organic sound of a passive pickup and the tone shaping of a 3 of 4 band preamp.

I prefer that option as well.

One of the main disadvantages to active pickups over passive pickups with a preamp is that active pickups cannot be played passive.

With passive pickups, I can choose to either play them with a preamp, or totally passive.

I have my bass set up with an active/passive switch and a passive tone control though, not all passive pickup/preamp basses will do this.

lug · #19 03-19-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

I have my bass set up with an active/passive switch and a passive tone control though, not all passive pickup/preamp basses will do this.

Very few actually. Plenty let you bypass the electronics but not many include the passive tone controls with an active preamp. Jaguars and some G&LS off the top of my head.

**line6man** · #20 03-19-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

Very few actually. Plenty let you bypass the electronics but not many include the passive tone controls with an active preamp. Jaguars and some G&LS off the top of my head.

Don't forget Sadowsky.

Yeah, for some reason, passive tone controls aren't too common.
I'm guessing that for most non-vintage designs, you have the kind of players that never used their tone controls to begin with.
That and the cost and simplicity factors.

It's really easy to add a passive tone though, if you like having that option.