Swapping Active P/U's for Passives

Ampig · #1 06-22-2009, 09:48 PM

I have an 80's Fender P Lyte Deluxe. The pickups are active. In general, what's involved in doing a swap out to passive pickups?

ErebusBass · #2 06-22-2009, 10:01 PM

Well, just like any pickup change, you have to take the old ones out and put the new ones in.

Going from active to passive and vice versa you usually have to change pots as well.

Ampig · #3 06-23-2009, 05:44 AM

Thanks for the heads up on the pots. I hadn't thought about that. Is that about it?

mikezimmerman · #4 06-23-2009, 08:59 AM

Are you sure that the pickups are active, rather than the more typical arrangement of using passive pickups with an active EQ?

Mike

Ampig · #5 06-23-2009, 09:18 AM

I'm not sure. That's how Ive seen these basses described. I don't have the original owners manual. Here's a pic of the bass.

There are no visible pole pieces so they may be active.

stflbn · #6 06-23-2009, 09:21 AM

Someone saying a bass is 'active' often/usually means the bass has passive pickups and an active preamp. Often confused.

Personally i've no knowledge of the Lytes, so no help from me.

Ampig · #7 06-23-2009, 09:24 AM

I agree about the active/preamp thing, but every P Lyte listed in the BGRA says the pickups are active. By the looks of them, they may be. How can you tell?

mikezimmerman · #8 06-23-2009, 09:35 AM

Active pickups will have an extra wire going into them from the battery, because they need power to operate.

I'm pretty sure those pickups are passive, since I've never heard of Fender making active pickups.

Mike

knigel · #9 06-23-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

Active pickups will have an extra wire going into them from the battery, because they need power to operate.

I'm pretty sure those pickups are passive, since I've never heard of Fender making active pickups.

Mike

Sure they do. My MIA Jazz Bass Deluxe has active PUPs, and they are stock for sure.

If you've never changed a battery, they are probably passive on the P bass Lyte.

mikezimmerman · #10 06-23-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knigel

Sure they do. My MIA Jazz Bass Deluxe has active PUPs, and they are stock for sure.

Really? How do you know the pickups themselves are active, and not just the preamp/EQ?

Mike

Ampig · #11 06-23-2009, 10:28 AM

Both of my MIA P Deluxe basses had passive pickups.

Craig_S · #12 06-23-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knigel

Sure they do. My MIA Jazz Bass Deluxe has active PUPs, and they are stock for sure.

The battery is for the preamp, not the pickups.

::Saint:: · #13 06-23-2009, 11:25 AM

I've got an MIM Deluxe Jazz from around 2005 and I've been curious about going full passive for the sake of my effects, etc, as well.. I had assumed it was passive P/U's with an active pre, but I am curious how one might go about this.

knigel · #14 06-24-2009, 05:12 PM

Well, I have been schooled. I guess that's why the bus was waiting for me this morning.

And yes, it was the short one.

Fajah · #15 06-25-2009, 08:27 AM

I recently converted my Douglas 825 from active to passive. I installed two single coil passive pickups (jazz in my case), removed the preamp/battery, and changed the pots (250k: 2 volume/1 tone). It was very easy to do.