Switchable Active to Passive (with passive controle) pramps? Asking to much?

OhulahanBass · #1 09-20-2009, 11:23 AM

Am I asking for to much? I want to find a hifi, lo noise preamp to put in my Jazz bass. I also want to be able to switch to my current passive setup as well. I was looking at the J-retro setup but I don't believe the passive switch is what I need. I only use one passive setting but it is not the full volume setting I think the J-retro uses. I always have the neck volume set a hair below the bridge. I play Funk and Jazz; I go for a punchy sometimes hi-mid tone. Is there a preamp that I can mod or set up to meet my needs or should I just get a Tonebone Bassbone preamp foot switch?

Thanks TBers!

**line6man** · #2 09-20-2009, 11:28 AM

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking.
What is it you are trying to do?

Skywalker83 · #3 09-20-2009, 12:10 PM

Agreeing with Line6man, your post doesnt make any sense, and also contradicts itself

Quote:

I also want to be able to switch to my current passive setup as well. I was looking at the J-retro setup but I don't believe the passive switch is what I need.

If you want to switch to a passive setup then you need a passive/active switch

I think you mean that your looking for a preamp setup with individual pickup volume controls rather than a blend control...is that what you mean?

OhulahanBass · #4 09-20-2009, 01:35 PM

Sorry. I am looking for a preamp that has an active passive switch, however I am scared that when switched passive I might not get the same tone as a standard passive setup. In the j- retro and bartolini preamp discriptions they don't explain what the passive controles are. For example let's say I got a Bartolini volume-volume-Bass/treble stacked controles with a passive switch (HR-3.2 AP). Can I assume in passive mode I have a volume-volume-tone controle? What about a more complicated setup like the j-retro? Hope that is a bit more clear.

OhulahanBass · #5 09-20-2009, 01:37 PM

Bassically I am asking if I can find a preamp that maintains Volume-Volume-tone controle when switched to passive mode?

Fetusyolk · #6 09-20-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

Bassically I am asking if I can find a preamp that maintains Volume-Volume-tone controle when switched to passive mode?

i would assume that that's what all passive preamps would do ? that's kind of the point.

**line6man** · #7 09-20-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetusyolk

i would assume that that's what all passive preamps would do ? that's kind of the point.

There is no such thing as a passive preamp.
A preamp is a device that uses active components to amplify/shape the sound.

Without the active components (transistors) you merely have a passive setup of volume and tone controls, and sometimes passive filters.

cgordonfreeman · #8 09-20-2009, 01:55 PM

John East will customize a J-Retro for you if you ask him nicely. Email him and ask, it's worth a shot.

**line6man** · #9 09-20-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

Bassically I am asking if I can find a preamp that maintains Volume-Volume-tone controle when switched to passive mode?

Just about any preamp will do that if you use 250K/500K volume pots before it rather than a 25K pot after it.

I have my Aguilar OBP-1 preamp setup with passive volumes a tone control that operate both active and passive.

OhulahanBass · #10 09-22-2009, 11:04 AM

Cool, thanks Line6man. I'll check toe Aguilar out. Does anyone know if the J-retro or Bartolini preamps have 250-500k pots before the preamp or the 25k after?

serein2j · #11 09-22-2009, 11:07 AM

Fender Jaguar has the set up you're asking for and Sadowsky Preamp w/ VTC have that and Also Audere... there are plenty others if you search around

**line6man** · #12 09-22-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

Cool, thanks Line6man. I'll check toe Aguilar out. Does anyone know if the J-retro or Bartolini preamps have 250-500k pots before the preamp or the 25k after?

I'm posting from my iPhone right now, otherwise I would check, but if you go to each manufacturers website, you should be able to identify based on their wiring diagrams.

SebbyNC · #13 09-22-2009, 12:26 PM

Not a vol / vol / tone setup, but Noll has a preamp for jazz basses that active/passive push-pull switch and can have passive tone control when switched to passive mode: http://www.noll-electronic.de/sites_e/tcm_3_jb.html (check the bottom diagram)

Musicfreak1988 · #14 09-22-2009, 12:49 PM

+ 1 for the Sadowsky preamp. Mine's wired vol-vol-VTC/active-passive-stacked high-low EQ. The nice thing is that the VTC (tone knob) functions in both active and passive mode.

SteveC · #15 09-22-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicfreak1988

+ 1 for the Sadowsky preamp. Mine's wired vol-vol-VTC/active-passive-stacked high-low EQ. The nice thing is that the VTC (tone knob) functions in both active and passive mode.

I have a Master Volume, blend, VTC/active/passive, stacked bass/treble preamp in my Sadowsky and it's very nice. The VTC works as in both modes and is a very useful knob indeed.

The "backwards" blend still throws me though. I'll get used to it in time.

**line6man** · #16 09-22-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

The "backwards" blend still throws me though. I'll get used to it in time.

By "backwards", you are referring to what?

If the neck to bridge direction is backwards, just switch it.

KJung · #17 09-22-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

Bassically I am asking if I can find a preamp that maintains Volume-Volume-tone controle when switched to passive mode?

+1 There are several pre's that do what you want. The Sadowsky, Alleva-Coppolo, and FBass on-board preamps have a bypass switch and the passive tone control is kept in the circuit when the preamp is bypassed. The Sadowsky comes standard with volume/blend, but I think you can order it Volume/volume. Both the FBass and Alleva-Coppolo preamps are VVT.

I'm not sure about buying the Alleva or FBass on-board preamps separately, but the Sadowsky on-boards are available to install in other basses.

You might consider one of the above three in the stand-alone stomp box version. That would not mess with your current passive controls at all, and would give you the ability to 'go active' when you wanted without messing with your bass. All three of the above sell their on-board pre's in a footpedal format. My favorite is the Sadowsky, since you get a DI as part of the deal.

mjolnir · #18 09-22-2009, 02:21 PM

Any old preamp with a true bypass active/passive switch will work fine, and I'll just go ahead and throw in another vote for the Aguilar OBP series of preamps. I have the OBP-2 in my Marcus Miller and I think it works great.

KJung · #19 09-22-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I have a Master Volume, blend, VTC/active/passive, stacked bass/treble preamp in my Sadowsky and it's very nice. The VTC works as in both modes and is a very useful knob indeed.

The "backwards" blend still throws me though. I'll get used to it in time.

That should take about 1 minute to get used to. If it takes longer than that, switch the wires

SteveC · #20 09-22-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

By "backwards", you are referring to what?

If the neck to bridge direction is backwards, just switch it.

Yeah, Roger does it "backwards" from most other builders for some reason. It's not that big a deal, just a little quirk that adds to the charm/mojo of the bass.