|  | | 
10-29-2012, 06:47 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio | | | Anyone going back to passive basses?
Over the past several years I've been using MusicMan basses (Stingrays, Bongos and Sterlings) and most recently I had a Carvin SB5000 bass. They all were great basses and I would have no problem playing them again but I have been playing a passive jazz bass lately and I just really like the tone for some reason. I recorded with it and it sounded so nice in the mix. I don't know if its the simplicity of it or what but I just am really enjoying using a passive Jazz Bass right now.
Has anyone else recently made the switch from active back to passive? What was your reason for switching? |
10-29-2012, 06:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN | | I just purchased a Fender American Jazz Standard to possibly replace my Lakland 55-02. But then I'll probably change my mind and keep them both. 
__________________
LOG #443 – Fender Jazz Bass #1040
GK MB210 - Fender American Standard Jazz - Lakland 55-02D - Mesa Boogie 5:50 Express - Gibson Les Paul Standard - Gibson ES335
|
10-29-2012, 06:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Buckley AFB, CO. | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by kirkm24 What was your reason for switching? | Power outage.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM  I believe you're talking about Darcy, not Nicole. | |
10-29-2012, 06:54 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: AZ mountains | | | I've owned dozens of basses, at least half of them active. Now down to 6. All passive.
__________________
To each his own when it comes to tone.
|
10-29-2012, 06:55 PM
| | | | I may pull the active guts out of my T-Bird pro and replace them with passive circuitry.
__________________
Cranky old man. Cranky old bass. Cranky old amp.
|
10-29-2012, 06:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boston | | | i just push a button with my reflex !
__________________
Stambaugh Build placed 6-1-13 Other basses: Bongo 5HH Sterling 5HH PDN G&L Tribute L2500 Amps: Shuttlemax 9.2 Streamliner Cabs: GK NEO 115x2 GK NEO 412
|
10-29-2012, 06:59 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chilly ND | | | I did the switch several years ago to p basses. I love the simplicity and when you dig in they get more aggresive it seems. Sits in with the band perfectly. I like that my tone is very easy to dial in and no issues. I was an active guy for 20+ years.
I recently (really in the past month) have been liking my new acive basses(Spectors). There is no way my go to p basses will leave me but it is a nice change up for now. I do know what you mean though it is nice to play a nice passive bass!! |
10-29-2012, 07:00 PM
|  | Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bawl'mer, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kirkm24 Over the past several years I've been using MusicMan basses (Stingrays, Bongos and Sterlings) and most recently I had a Carvin SB5000 bass. They all were great basses and I would have no problem playing them again but I have been playing a passive jazz bass lately and I just really like the tone for some reason. I recorded with it and it sounded so nice in the mix. I don't know if its the simplicity of it or what but I just am really enjoying using a passive Jazz Bass right now.
Has anyone else recently made the switch from active back to passive? What was your reason for switching? | Kirk, I made the switch a couple of years ago. I've had 4 Ernie Balls (Stingrays, Bongo, Sterling) at one time, then Jazz basses with active preamps, but here lately I've slowly sold the actives and have been sticking to my 3 passive Jazz basses. The tone knob and 2 pickup configuration works just fine for me, especially in a live setting.
Last edited by RaginRog : 10-30-2012 at 07:42 AM.
|
10-29-2012, 07:04 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: AMERICA | | | I'm passive about 90% of the time. I like passive basses better because it seems like you can 'hear' them more. There's less 'stuff' between your fingers and the speakers. |
10-29-2012, 07:05 PM
|  | Walter Woods or Aguilar to LDS - the best! | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NE Ohio | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kirkm24 What was your reason for switching? | Tone! I think the only active bass brand I would own these days is Alembic (or Wal), they do things differently than virtually all other active preamp basses.
The only active bass I own is my Rick Turner and that is because piezo pickups need an impedance matching buffer preamp.
I have had people come up to me in music stores and ask what kind of preamp is in my Martin Keith basses. Just great pickups and a clever, passive wiring scheme. 
__________________
With Rickenbackers we RULE the World!
For sale:
-------------
|
10-29-2012, 07:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota | | | Not only have I gone passive, I've also gone 4 string. In played an active 5 for a long time. I decided to go passive - and 4 string - for a year to see if I really NEEDED an active 5 string or not. Turns out a passive 4 string (love the Geddy Lee neck) with a D-tuner is all I really need.
I still look at active basses - 4 and 5 string - but I know I have all I really need.
__________________
Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 CB Fretted (E064)
Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 JB Fretless (E028)
Geddy Lee Jazz modded w/Hipshot Tuners and custom Geddy Lee Pickguard (FOR SALE $650 shipped)
|
10-29-2012, 07:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego, Ca. | | | Love passive basses and the natural tone of the pickups without the scoop or bias of a pre-amp. Or having a bypass switch on the bass, or using an external pre-amp you can bypass is my preference. |
10-29-2012, 07:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Metro St. Louis | | | My main bass is active, but it has an active bypass switch and a passive tone control, so I often play it passive because it sounds so good.
__________________
Vintage Yamaha & Peavey Fan!
G-K MB210, killer bang for the buck!
Spector Rebop Deluxe V, my best gift ever!
|
10-29-2012, 07:16 PM
| | | | I played Stingrays exclusively for over 20 years, but about 10 years ago I bought an American P Bass on clearance (store went out of business). Well, I took it to a gig and damn if I didn't feel "Reborn"! I just loved the girth, the organic tone, the utter no nonsense of the thing. It became my #1 and about 2 years later, I had the courage to sell the Stingray. At times I miss it but I would not choose it over the passive bass. And, look mom, no batteries!
__________________
lEFTYS wHO pLAY rIGHTY cLUB # 101
|
10-29-2012, 07:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wales, U.K | | | Yep did the same thing a while back. Went from a Stingray to a P-bass and bought a Sansamp BDDI that I can stomp on if I need any 'active-ness'. That Sansamp just eats that pre that was in my 2 band Stingray. (ok it's on the floor but that doesn't bother me) Way more versatile too.
The reason I went back to passive (Fender) basses was simply I yearned for the more organic tone. The Stingray was nice but as I could only have one bass back then I found it lacking, dare I say it, soul.
__________________
Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think.
|
10-29-2012, 07:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brooklyn and Hudson Valley | | here are my "soul sisters," both passive: 
however, for straight up rock gigs, I still use this bad boy: 
__________________
Genz Benz Club #168
|
10-29-2012, 07:23 PM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by miles'tone Yep did the same thing a while back. Went from a Stingray to a P-bass and bought a Sansamp BDDI that I can stomp on if I need any 'active-ness'. That Sansamp just eats that pre that was in my 2 band Stingray. (ok it's on the floor but that doesn't bother me) Way more versatile too.
The reason I went back to passive (Fender) basses was simply I yearned for the more organic tone. The Stingray was nice but as I could only have one bass back then I found it lacking, dare I say it, soul. | I sometimes use a Sadowsky outboard preamp on both P and J basses if I want some active influence (especially the Jazz), but both sound great totally passive.
__________________
lEFTYS wHO pLAY rIGHTY cLUB # 101
|
10-29-2012, 07:24 PM
|  | Total Hyper-Elite Member
Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Groom Lake, NV | | | Anyone going back to passive basses?
No.
__________________
I miss my butt! |
10-29-2012, 07:27 PM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Munjibunga No. | ?
__________________
lEFTYS wHO pLAY rIGHTY cLUB # 101
|
10-29-2012, 07:28 PM
| | | | I made it. Had A Ray and a Sterling (EBMM no the cheapy ones) as you. Then i got a Fender MIA Deluxe, which at the end, i found like nothing special, and the final conversion came with the Jazz 62. Couldn't been happier. To each one their own, and although i would consider getting a Sterling/Ray for specific purposes (slap/more aggressive in your face sound) at sometime, i couldn't got myself going with one of them as my main bass. The 62 gets my love. You are not alone. I just think, these 2 basses had a real compressed sound i couldn't dial a natural sound of my liking. Of course some people loves them. And they are terrific well made. But my ears and my hands don't listen to the craftsmanship argument. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | |
