How do i know if my pickups are active?

taygunov · #1 07-17-2009, 05:44 PM

Pretty much what the title said. My bass has an active EQ but it runs 2 batteries so i wanna know if my pickups are active or if my eq just has 2 batteries for massive output, any help...?

Phalex · #2 07-17-2009, 05:49 PM

You are active.

allexcosta · #3 07-17-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taygunov

Pretty much what the title said. My bass has an active EQ but it runs 2 batteries so i wanna know if my pickups are active or if my eq just has 2 batteries for massive output, any help...?

Check out how many wires come from the pickups. 2? Passive. 3? Active...

It doesn't matter how many batteries you have. Many onboard pres use up to 3 batteries, so that doesn't say anything...

What are the pickups, BTW?

taygunov · #4 07-17-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Check out how many wires come from the pickups. 2? Passive. 3? Active...

It doesn't matter how many batteries you have. Many onboard pres use up to 3 batteries, so that doesn't say anything...

What are the pickups, BTW?

bartolini's , and thanks for the info. it's not like i don't like active pickups, its just that its interesting for me to know

allexcosta · #5 07-17-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taygunov

bartolini's

Passive then...

There's no active bart's in the market. The ones they make for MTD's are not available for everyone to buy...

T-MOST · #6 07-17-2009, 06:00 PM

Most basses that are "active" don't have active pups. The Preamp is "active". Meaning the Pre requires the batteries to opperate (unless you have passive bypass) not the pups.

FL Knifemaker · #7 07-17-2009, 07:06 PM

In a few months, if you have a bunch of little pickups running around, they are active

dog1 · #8 07-17-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-MOST

Most basses that are "active" don't have active pups. The Preamp is "active". Meaning the Pre requires the batteries to opperate (unless you have passive bypass) not the pups.

Yup

JTE · #9 07-18-2009, 12:06 PM

Just having three wires isn't really a valid test. If however, the third wire eventually connects through the circuit to the battery, then the PUPs are active. Another way- if the instrument has an active/passive bypass, the PUPs can not be active.

jte

TrevorOfDoom · #10 07-18-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

In a few months, if you have a bunch of little pickups running around, they are active

this.

**jbybj** · #11 07-18-2009, 12:50 PM

As I understand it. ALL pickups are "passive". By that I mean that the basic function of the pup, to translate the vibrating metal into an electric signal, with wire and magnets, does NOT require a power source.

"Active" basses have a preamplifier integrated into the electronics. The preamps can boost level, or boost frequencies, or both. But the preamp is a separate component from the pup.

If the pickup has a high enough output, (most hi impedance pups) it can make a sweet noise, with or without a preamp.

There are two pickup designs that I am aware of, Alembic, and EMG (not the emg HZ or hi impedance, but the EMG "active" pups, the ones with three wires) that are lo impedance designs. There are reasons for this design that I am not qualified to explain, but suffice to say, they sound different than a Hi-Z pup. They also have significantly lower output. These low-Z pups must have a preamp to be properly heard. The pup is still basically the same, magnets and wires, and puts out a signal without a power source, the essential pickup is "passive", but to send out a proper level to an amp, it must have a preamplifier.

In Alembics, the preamp is in the control cavity. In EMGs, the preamp is in the pickup casing, buried in epoxy. An EMG, three wire "active" pup, is just a pickup, with a separate preamp, all in one tidy package.

So I realize this is more a case of semantics, but, pickups are by their vary nature, passive. Electronics that follow the pup, can be passive or active.

JBY

spade2you · #12 07-18-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

In a few months, if you have a bunch of little pickups running around, they are active

Or if one comes back later and needs a prescription for a 2 gram slam of Zithromax.

mikezimmerman · #13 07-18-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbybj

As I understand it. ALL pickups are "passive".... In EMGs, the preamp is in the pickup casing, buried in epoxy. An EMG, three wire "active" pup, is just a pickup, with a separate preamp, all in one tidy package.

By most people's definition, the "pickup" is what's inside the "pickup casing", which is why EMGs are called "active pickups". The preamp is included inside the pickup casing, and cannot be separated from everything else in the pickup casing, so is therefore generally considered part of the pickup.

Mike

allexcosta · #14 07-18-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

By most people's definition, the "pickup" is what's inside the "pickup casing", which is why EMGs are called "active pickups".

Exactly, and some Duncans, MTD Barts...

Number27 · #15 07-18-2009, 10:21 PM

well.. do they go out at night?

mexijazz52 · #16 07-18-2009, 10:25 PM

Dude your totally active.

**Mark Wilson** · #17 07-18-2009, 10:26 PM

Moved to pickups.

vin*tone · #18 07-18-2009, 10:34 PM

Put your tongue on the pickups.

4StringTheorist · #19 07-19-2009, 01:33 PM

In case you're wondering about the slightly sarcastic tone of a lot of these posts, there's something at the top of the pickups forum that says this:

Read first: PICKUPS FAQ - Please read before posting

Within that is the answer to this (very) Frequently Asked Question.

d_buzz · #20 07-27-2009, 05:24 PM

There is no such thing as an active pickup.