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Active Basses Question

#42
spade2you said:
The idea that all pre-amps will fail is more than a bit presumptuous. Some might, but there's enough variation in modern pre-amps that you can hardly apply it to all pre-amps. How many passive basses have pots that fail? Simply put, ya replace them and it works again, right??
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+1 The output jack is much more likely to fail that a preamp, which of course would impact passive or active instruments. And, while it is nice to have a bypass switch in case your battery goes dead, IMO, anyone who doesn't change their preamp battery on a regular basis (every six months or every year depending on the circuit and playing time) is just not taking their profession seriously (maintaining your tools is part of almost every profession). I've never had a preamp fail or a battery go dead since I started playing 'active basses' in 1976.

One other thing to the OP.... the bypass switch DOES NOT turn off the preamp, it bypasses it. The preamp on/off switch is triggered by the input jack. So, you never want to keep your active bass plugged in when you aren't using it over a period of days.
 
#43
And, of course, all of the above is based on the typical 'passive magnetic pickup bass', which probably is what 90% of the market plays.

There are exceptions. For example, the Rob Allen basses which use a piezo pickup that really needs to be buffered by a preamp prior to being amplified by a bass amp. No bypass switch on those types of instruments, typically.

And, there are some basses with true active pickups (e.g., MTD, some EMG loaded instruments, etc.). Bypassing would not make sense with these instruments, since they are buffered at the pickup, and won't work at all without the battery.
 
#45
KJung thanks for the video :)

Also thanks for this information because I would end up asking about it sooner or later ;)

KJung said:
One other thing to the OP.... the bypass switch DOES NOT turn off the preamp, it bypasses it. The preamp on/off switch is triggered by the input jack. So, you never want to keep your active bass plugged in when you aren't using it over a period of days.
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"Darkstrike FWIW, there is no gain boost on the C4H in question, when swapping from passive to active."

What is that mean exactly? There is only bass and treble boost?
 
#46
J.Nuno said:
"Darkstrike FWIW, there is no gain boost on the C4H in question, when swapping from passive to active."

What is that mean exactly? There is only bass and treble boost?
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I think what he is saying is in reference to my 'output differences between active and passive mode'. His point is that particular preamp does not seem to have a 'volume boost' built into it like the Sadowsky in my clip. Hence, you don't have to adjust the input gain on your amp when going back and forth between active and passive (I guess unless you do some serious boosting of the bass EQ, which would result in a hotter output).
 
#47
All of the comments so far have been in reference to active TONE circuits, (which I never really liked, but only tried a few) but the OP could also consider active PICKUPS, (which I really like). Punchy, quiet (no ground wire needed!), tons of dynamic range...

Or, he could use both!
 
#48
F-Clef-Jef said:
All of the cooments so far have been in reference to active TONE circuits, (which I never really liked, but only tried a few) but the OP could also consider active PICKUPS, (which I really like). Punchy, quiet (no ground wire needed!), tons of dynamic range...

Or, he could use both!
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Per my comment in a previous post, the disadvantage of active pickups is that you obviously don't have a passive mode available, since the pickups are always buffered. However, to your point, some of the active EMG's and the active Bartolini's used in the MTD basses sound quite good, but seem to be voiced very modern... deep lows, polite mids, super crystal clear, modern upper treble.

I find active pickups have more negatives than positives, but that is pure IMO.
 
#50
KJung said:
Per my comment in a previous post, the disadvantage of active pickups is that you obviously don't have a passive mode available, since the pickups are always buffered. However, to your point, some of the active EMG's and the active Bartolini's used in the MTD basses sound quite good, but seem to be voiced very modern... deep lows, polite mids, super crystal clear, modern upper treble.

I find active pickups have more negatives than positives, but that is pure IMO.
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I agree, I use EMG's and they do have a rather modern clean sound.
 
#52
KJung said:
Per my comment in a previous post, the disadvantage of active pickups is that you obviously don't have a passive mode available, since the pickups are always buffered. However, to your point, some of the active EMG's and the active Bartolini's used in the MTD basses sound quite good, but seem to be voiced very modern... deep lows, polite mids, super crystal clear, modern upper treble.

I find active pickups have more negatives than positives, but that is pure IMO.
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DERAIL - I just noticed you are in Sheboygan (my home town). Beautiful little city, I miss my lake Michigan!
My band is playing at The John Micheal Kohler Arts Center this Saturday for a wedding... / DERAIL
 
#53
KJung said:
One other thing to the OP.... the bypass switch DOES NOT turn off the preamp, it bypasses it. The preamp on/off switch is triggered by the input jack. So, you never want to keep your active bass plugged in when you aren't using it over a period of days.
Click to expand...

That depends on the design. I added a home-grown buffer to a passive bass and used a DPDT switch for the bypass. One side of the switch deals with switching the signal, the other with switching power. My buffer isn't powered when the bass is in bypass mode.

Of course, battery life isn't an issue for me. I rewired my 2 active basses and one buffer-modded passive bass to run off wall warts.
 
#54
Rob22315 said:
That depends on the design. I added a home-grown buffer to a passive bass and used a DPDT switch for the bypass. One side of the switch deals with switching the signal, the other with switching power. My buffer isn't powered when the bass is in bypass mode.

Of course, battery life isn't an issue for me. I rewired my 2 active basses and one buffer-modded passive bass to run off wall warts.
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+1 Let me rephrase. 99%+ of onboard preamps are activated by the input jack:p.

The original Alembic Series II electronics also had an external AC power supply.
 
#55
KJung said:
+1 Let me rephrase. 99%+ of onboard preamps are activated by the input jack:p.
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I agree with that, using the jack to complete the circuit is a really easy way to make sure the battery is only on when needed.

What hasn't been stated is whether or not active basses with a bypass switch deactivate the preamp power when in bypass mode.

I haven't seen any of those designs so I don't know one way or another. I can only say it's electrically simple to do and I've done it.
 
#56
Rob22315 said:
I agree with that, using the jack to complete the circuit is a really easy way to make sure the battery is only on when needed.

What hasn't been stated is whether or not active basses with a bypass switch deactivate the preamp power when in bypass mode.

I haven't seen any of those designs so I don't know one way or another. I can only say it's electrically simple to do and I've done it.
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As far as I know, none of the commercially available on-board preamps 'turn off' when bypassed... only when unplugged.

The only reason I can think of is pops and additional noise when going from active to passive mode on the gig, but just guessing there. Since it would seem to be pretty easy to have them bypass and turn off, and since nobody seems to design a circuit like that, there must be a reason.
 
#57
The modern EBMM pre-amp is also very heavily featured with everything you could ask for.

Eg - Big Al Bass. Volume, Passive Tone Control (very Fender-like), click on the active switch and you have a FOUR band EQ, and so far Ive found it to be excellent. Then again, I love the Stingray 2EQ/3EQ and Ive not missed passive with those, (although there is a current special run of a 2EQ Ray with Passive Tone Control/Passive option!

Pre-amps can be fantastic, its finding one you like. I have had bad experiences with the Fender Deluxe Pre-amp on a USA Fender Deluxe P (earlier model with H at bridge).

Fender are masters at passive, but still need to do a lot of work on their active circuits. I hear the latest ones are an improvement though.
 

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