Warwick Corvette true passive switch mod?

[MellowD]

I have a Warwick Corvette Standard 4-string with active electronics. I love this bass to death and it's been my main axe for the past 10 years, however I've begun thinking about modding it.

I never liked how the "passive mode" still requires the battery. The only time I would want to use this feature is as a lifesaver if my battery died in the middle of a gig.

What would it take to make it have battery-less function in passive mode? It would be cool if the eq turned into a passive tone knob too.

[line6man]

Passive mode should not require the battery, though the preamp always draws current from it.

If you're trying to disconnect the battery when you play passive, you need to use a 3PDT mini toggle switch for the active/passive switch. Switching from passive to active will give you a loud pop, however, because the preamp will power on when you go active, instead of just switching into the signal path.

I really don't see a point in this, however, as the preamp should only be drawing a couple of milliAmps at the maximum. It's not a big deal to have it drawing current in passive mode.