Why Are So Many High-End Basses Active?

CBgaragebassist · #1 10-12-2009, 06:56 PM

I've noticed that more expensive/higher-end basses (such as Zon, Dingwall, etc.) have active preamps. I prefer passive basses, and I was just wondering why that is?

funkucan'ttouch · #2 10-12-2009, 07:01 PM

most I have seen have passive pups and active preamps..

CBgaragebassist · #3 10-12-2009, 07:18 PM

All the more expensive basses i've seen that have passive have been ones designed to be more look the vintage Fenders/etc. Like Sadowsky's J's, they're high-end with passive(they have the option at least).
But more contemporary designs have active, that i've seen anyway.

bongomania · #4 10-12-2009, 07:25 PM

Can you clarify: are you sure you mean active pickups, and not passive pickups combined with a preamp? The Zons, for example, are passive pickups with a preamp in the control cavity.

CBgaragebassist · #5 10-12-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Can you clarify: are you sure you mean active pickups, and not passive pickups combined with a preamp? The Zons, for example, are passive pickups with a preamp in the control cavity.

I meant active pickups as in EMG-type ones. I don't know much about Zons and i thought they were active based upon the appearance. sorry about the confusion. When i was saying passive i was refering to kinds like these-

bongomania · #6 10-12-2009, 07:37 PM

EMG makes passive pups too, FWIW. And what you have shown there are "Precision" pups which may be passive or active. Both passive and active pups come in every shape and format: J, P, MM, and soapbars of every description.

Most high-end basses do not have active pups. There are a few, sure, but...

cmewhinney · #7 10-12-2009, 07:46 PM

I think CB is equating visible magnets with passive pickups and pickups without visible magnets with active pickups. Sorry for being so wordy and confusing. Very tired. If you need clarification, I will do my best.

mmbongo · #8 10-12-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBgaragebassist

I prefer passive, and I was just wondering why that is?

Maybe you like more of an 'old school' sound. Actives are usually a bit more modern and aggressive.

CBgaragebassist · #9 10-12-2009, 07:51 PM

When i was saying passive i meant that it's sending just the raw signal, pickup to amp. and active sending the signal through a 'onboard'(for lack of a better term) preamp.

**line6man** · #10 10-12-2009, 07:52 PM

Very few pickups on the market are active.

As I have said so many times before on this forum, 90% of the time "active" is referring to passive pickups through a preamp.

mmbongo · #11 10-12-2009, 07:52 PM

Easy thing to remember about active pickups is that EMG is pretty much the only company that makes active pickups. Duncan has 1 or 2 models, and Peavey has some they use on their basses. Other than that, you're probalby looking at passive pickups.

CBgaragebassist · #12 10-12-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Maybe you like more of an 'old school' sound. Actives are usually a bit more modern and aggressive.

Yeah, i like the older-type tone. And nearly every bass with active p-ups i've played has just sounded bad to me.

bongomania · #13 10-12-2009, 07:56 PM

OK, so you meant "active preamp", not "active pickups". The pickups are only active if they contain a powered preamp inside the pickup housing. For a preamp inside the control cavity, "onboard preamp" is a correct common term, although 99% of the time when somebody says "active bass" that's what they mean--not active pickups per se.

So your question is "why are so many high-end basses active?"

naturalkinds · #14 10-12-2009, 07:58 PM

Weird thread.

**line6man** · #15 10-12-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Easy thing to remember about active pickups is that EMG is pretty much the only company that makes active pickups. Duncan has 1 or 2 models, and Peavey has some they use on their basses. Other than that, you're probalby looking at passive pickups.

Don't forget MEC.

But yeah, it's a very limited market.

CBgaragebassist · #16 10-12-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

OK, so you meant "active preamp", not "active pickups". The pickups are only active if they contain a powered preamp inside the pickup housing. For a preamp inside the control cavity, "onboard preamp" is a correct common term, although 99% of the time when somebody says "active bass" that's what they mean--not active pickups per se.

So your question is "why are so many high-end basses active?"

yes. thank you.

mmbongo · #17 10-12-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Don't forget MEC.

But yeah, it's a very limited market.

Really? I didn't know MEC's were internally active. I'm gonna have to look out for some...I need an internally active J pickup!

MrLenny1 · #18 10-12-2009, 08:06 PM

My first active bass got noticed in the mix. Got a comment every time.
Pedulla, Tobias has active /passive option. Very nice.
That's why I like active.

LightGroove · #19 10-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Im confused by the original post.

Are you asking why you like passive pickups over an active setup or asking why high end builders choose onboard preamps over straight passive?

rumblinbass · #20 10-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Very few pickups on the market are active.

As I have said so many times before on this forum, 90% of the time "active" is referring to passive pickups through a preamp.

The pickups you are referring to as active - are these the ones with the active electronics within the pickup housing?
If that's the case I would still refer to the pickup as a passive device. Moving the electronics from one place to another does not change that.