Do I need a Pre Amp for an Active Bass?

Ritchski · #1 07-02-2010, 09:30 AM

I am about to purchase active bass guitar and was wondering if I need a pre amp, as I heard they have their own signal boost? If I do need one are there any decent pre amps I should look out for as I have no idea about them really.

I’d appreciate any help, thanks

NicJimBass · #2 07-02-2010, 09:41 AM

What type of preamp are you talking about? Usually, an active bass will have an onboard preamp, but there are also outboard pre's, in either rack or pedal form, and the pre on an amp as well.

**line6man** · #3 07-02-2010, 09:46 AM

When you say "active bass", do you mean a bass with active pickups? Your post doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

90% of "active basses" have passive pickups with a preamp.
Basses with active pickups usually have passive controls, though you can also use them with a preamp.

Preamps exist for three reasons:

1. Onboard EQ.
2. Lowered output impedance. (Which active pickups already provide.)
3. Some preamps boost gain. Many are designed for a unity-gain output though.

Ritchski · #4 07-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Sorry about the lack of info.

I have brought a second hand Music Man SB14. Yes, it says that it has an active 3 band pick up.

The preamp I was wondering I might need was an outboard one I could plug the bass into, to boost the signal. I guess I am wondering if the guitars own pre amp would be powerful enough on its own.

**line6man** · #5 07-02-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchski

active 3 band pick up.

You mean 3 band preamp?

I wouldn't run a preamp into another preamp.

Every time you go through a gain stage, you decrease headroom and raise the noisefloor.

NicJimBass · #6 07-02-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchski

Sorry about the lack of info.

I have brought a second hand Music Man SB14. Yes, it says that it has an active 3 band pick up.

The preamp I was wondering I might need was an outboard one I could plug the bass into, to boost the signal. I guess I am wondering if the guitars own pre amp would be powerful enough on its own.

Most Music Man basses have a pretty hot signal, from my own experience (have owned 4 or 5). As far as needing a preamp, if you have a bass amp, which normally has it's own preamp, then no, you won't need another between the bass and the amp. If you're using a power amp, with no preamp of it's own, then you may need something to shape your tone to your liking.

Ritchski · #7 07-02-2010, 12:00 PM

Thanks guys. Yeah sorry I meant 3 band pre amp. It wont be used with an amp, it will be routed through my computers audio interface. Then I'll probably use a virtual amp like ampeg SVT or something, so I guess I wouldn’t need an additional outboard pre amp then?

**line6man** · #8 07-02-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchski

Thanks guys. Yeah sorry I meant 3 band pre amp. It wont be used with an amp, it will be routed through my computers audio interface. Then I'll probably use a virtual amp like ampeg SVT or something, so I guess I wouldn’t need an additional outboard pre amp then?

That's not the proper way to record.

You need an interface with a high impedance instrument level input.
They usually have a gain control that will allow you to turn up the preamp's gain to get the proper volume.

Ritchski · #9 07-02-2010, 12:46 PM

I got a multiface 2 card so assume that will do the job, its got gain control. cheers

darkstorm · #10 07-02-2010, 06:27 PM

No, you dont need an outboard preamp. Active basses have their own preamp onboard which switches signal to LowZ and also ussually provides hotter output from the bass even with its tone controls set flat. Actve basses generally put out a hotter signal then the average passive bass.

Ritchski · #11 07-03-2010, 06:56 AM

Thanks

archtop2 · #12 08-21-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

90% of "active basses" have passive pickups with a preamp.
Basses with active pickups usually have passive controls, though you can also use them with a preamp.

Preamps exist for three reasons:

1. Onboard EQ.
2. Lowered output impedance. (Which active pickups already provide.)
3. Some preamps boost gain. Many are designed for a unity-gain output though.

Hi, this is messy for me coming from guitar world where only two kinds exist :
- passive pickup 90%
- active pickup 10% mainly EMG stuff. some years ago one would say "active = EMG".

For bass, it seams it is almost the same, ie Fender, Ibanez, Cort, Yamaha... have all passive pickup, even if having the EMG flat closed box look.
Active bass would merely be linked to a preamp "in board" while it could come as a pedal and be optional.

A jazz Bass for instance, would embed same pups wether it is active or passive.

Is this view the good one ?

**line6man** · #13 08-21-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtop2

Hi, this is messy for me coming from guitar world where only two kinds exist :
- passive pickup 90%
- active pickup 10% mainly EMG stuff. some years ago one would say "active = EMG".

For bass, it seams it is almost the same, ie Fender, Ibanez, Cort, Yamaha... have all passive pickup, even if having the EMG flat closed box look.
Active bass would merely be linked to a preamp "in board" while it could come as a pedal and be optional.

A jazz Bass for instance, would embed same pups wether it is active or passive.

Is this view the good one ?

Well, usually the same passive pickups would be used whether there is a preamp or not, but you can also have active pickups with a preamp.

archtop2 · #14 08-21-2010, 04:06 PM

yeah, i assume active pups à la EMG always come with a preamp.

Is there a simple way to determine from technical spec if a bass is equipped with active or passive pickups ?
Most of the time only the active/passive eq is mentionned, nothing on the pickups themselves

For instance, I assume all Fender models have passive pickups, but considering Cort, are some models equipped with active pickups ?
a A4 ?

Or a Curbow ?

Are the pups active? passive ?

**line6man** · #15 08-21-2010, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtop2

yeah, i assume active pups à la EMG always come with a preamp.

Is there a simple way to determine from technical spec if a bass is equipped with active or passive pickups ?
Most of the time only the active/passive eq is mentionned, nothing on the pickups themselves

For instance, I assume all Fender models have passive pickups, but considering Cort, are some models equipped with active pickups ?
a A4 ?

Or a Curbow ?

Are the pups active? passive ?

Usually active pickups are played with passive controls.

Just take a look at the wiring.

If the battery's + terminal is connected to one of the pickup leads, that means the pickup is active.

jimmyjames77 · #16 08-21-2010, 04:16 PM

I have a set of EMG p/js in my warwick and it has no preamp.

bongomania · #17 08-21-2010, 05:37 PM

If they are active EMG's, then it does have a preamp--housed inside the pickup casing. If they are passive EMG's, then that's neither here nor there.

People get very confused about the term "active bass". A bass is active if any part of it requires a battery. It could be a preamp in the control cavity, or it could be a preamp inside the pickup casing ("active pickups"), and in rare cases it can have both.

To the OP, you don't need an external preamp, unless the signal your sound card receives is weak.

archtop2 · #18 08-22-2010, 03:51 AM

As far as I saw, passive EMG are tagged HZ, Hi Z for high impedance.

Active bass is really confusing.

My main concern is about replacing pups, and being limited to active ones, a shorter and more expensive range than passive ones.

**line6man** · #19 08-22-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtop2

As far as I saw, passive EMG are tagged HZ, Hi Z for high impedance.

Active bass is really confusing.

My main concern is about replacing pups, and being limited to active ones, a shorter and more expensive range than passive ones.

You can use whatever pickups you want.

Just make sure you're using the right pot values for the pickup's output impedance, if you aren't using a preamp.

ex-tension · #20 08-23-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

If they are active EMG's, then it does have a preamp--housed inside the pickup casing. If they are passive EMG's, then that's neither here nor there.

People get very confused about the term "active bass". A bass is active if any part of it requires a battery. It could be a preamp in the control cavity, or it could be a preamp inside the pickup casing ("active pickups"), and in rare cases it can have both.

To the OP, you don't need an external preamp, unless the signal your sound card receives is weak.

What if it's a bass without any preamp but LED inlays