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08-16-2011, 07:17 AM
|  | I'm next in line for that Batmobile, right? | | Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Belgium, Flanders | | | Active or passive?
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I can get a Sandberg Bullet Active with a 3-band preamp, pick up switch and a push pull pot to switch between active/passive, and it’s a real good looker too!
Thing is I don’t care for a 3 band preamp, nor the choice between active or passive. I’d like to keep my new bass fairly simple. So I had me an offer made for the exact same bass (body, neck) but with PASSIVE electrics. She still has two beautiful hum buckers but now a volume and tone pot per pick up and a coil switch.
I would like to hear your opinions for or against this.
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08-16-2011, 07:26 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta, Ga. | | | I prefer passive....
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08-16-2011, 07:32 AM
| | | | Passive. |
08-16-2011, 07:34 AM
| | I'm next in line for that Batmobile, right? | | Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Belgium, Flanders | | | why passive? and what kind of music do guys play?
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'Clean your brains off the cealing allright, it wasn't that good.'
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08-16-2011, 07:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta, Ga. | | | I just like to use the K.I.S.S. Method......
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08-16-2011, 07:37 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Dundee, IL | | | It's really a preference. I say rip it out, and go passive.
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08-16-2011, 07:39 AM
| | | | Passive & single coil! |
08-16-2011, 07:42 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublab  why passive? and what kind of music do guys play? | My main reason for going passive is that you have less worries without the battery. But still, half of my basses are active  |
08-16-2011, 07:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Louisville, KY | | | It's all preference, bro. Sounds like you're already a passive guy. Go for it!!!
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'07 US Lakland 44-60(JO), '06 US Lakland 44-64(BG), '82 Rickenbacker 4001, EBMM "BFR" SR Fretless(DOB-01/19/11)
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08-16-2011, 07:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia. | | | Depends on the sound you're trying to get.
Active = deeper.
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Originally Posted by vin*tone I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure. | Schecter Club #281
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08-16-2011, 07:46 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Carolina, PR | | | Passive, if you need you can always add an outboard preamp.
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08-16-2011, 07:50 AM
| | | | Passive, tone is in the fingers man. |
08-16-2011, 07:52 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by rulyongo Passive, if you need you can always add an outboard preamp. | Exactly. And make all of your passive basses sound active  |
08-16-2011, 07:58 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portsmouth VA USA | | | IMHO, active is good for three things:
1. If you have a long signal chain (long cables, lots of effect pedals, etc.) active can help preserve your signal strength to your amp.
2. The extra EQ controls can help you micromanage your tone, if you're OCD that way.
3. Some guys just like that active tone, ya know?
That said, I own both active and passive basses, and I find that I prefer the passive more. To me, passive has a more "natural" sound, especially into a tube amp. YMMV.
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08-16-2011, 08:00 AM
|  | Rocking my garage five nights a week. | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sturtevant WI | | | I have tried both, and traded my active for another passive. Didn't like the tone, even though there was many different ways to dial it in.... little too much for my tastes.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor Now, back to oiling my spoon. | |
08-16-2011, 08:14 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublab I can get a Sandberg Bullet Active with a 3-band preamp, pick up switch and a push pull pot to switch between active/passive, and it’s a real good looker too!
Thing is I don’t care for a 3 band preamp, nor the choice between active or passive. I’d like to keep my new bass fairly simple. So I had me an offer made for the exact same bass (body, neck) but with PASSIVE electrics. She still has two beautiful hum buckers but now a volume and tone pot per pick up and a coil switch.
I would like to hear your opinions for or against this. | Remember, when you pull that push/pull switch, the bass IS passive. These type of switches don't turn the preamp off, they bypass the preamp, so it literally is like taking it out of the cavity.
The only thing you might want to do is a simple rewiring of the push/pull switch so that 'down' is passive, since that is probably how you will mostly use the instrument.
And, down the road, you might be happy you have that preamp in there (if nothing else, for resale). Remember, active preamps are not just about the EQ knobs. They also provide buffering to the pickup, resulting in wider low end and more clear, crisp highs, even when the EQ is set neutral.
However, the bigger point is that getting a bass without a preamp is virtually identical in performance to a bass with a preamp bypassed.
Last edited by KJung : 08-16-2011 at 08:32 AM.
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08-16-2011, 08:17 AM
|  | Supporting RageQuitter #302 | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Århus, Denmark | | | I prefer passive, but assuming that Sandbergs active/passive works like G&L's, you won't lose that classic passive tone by getting one with both options. Going active can provide a volume boost for soloing, and simply sounds good in certain situations. That said, I love Sandberg basses in general and am certain you will be happy with whichever you choose.
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08-16-2011, 08:21 AM
| | | | I have two active and three passive basses. Right now the two actives are my main gigging basses so I'm playing them daily. Honestly I haven't seen any real added value to the active electronics.
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08-16-2011, 08:23 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: West Memphis/Marion area, AR. | | | Normally, I would agree with most of the others and say "passive". I prefer passive basses in the four string mode. However, if this is your only bass, you might want to consider the option of having active if you ever need it. I would probably specify that the bass also be able to function in passive mode with a dead battery, or even without one at all if needed. You would be amazed at the number of active preamps that have active/passive option that cannot be used in either with a dead battery. |
08-16-2011, 08:37 AM
|  | Registered User | | | | | I'll say passive. For the most part, it just sounds to clinical and unnatural to me. Although, there are a couple active basses I've had GAS for: the Status Kingbass Standard, and a Wal bass.
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