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Active Headaches. Back to the stone age?

B

bdgreen88

Guest
Feb 3, 2012
13
2
#1
Currently at a gig at a spot I loathe here in fairfax VA and yet again I am struck by a smooth criminal: Narly static interference. Now, I've been told it doesn't particularly matter if its active or not, but not from my experience. It seems everywhere I go I have a different issue of varying degrees no matter where I go or what active bass I play (the amp is ruled out as an issue). Boy I am tired of active electronics and the endless pit of 9v batteries. Is it time to go back to the Stone Age?

Does anyone know of any solid passive basses that have a strong powerful active like sound? Also on a side note...anyone know what kind of fretboard is on les claypool's fretless basses? Traditional ebony or managing?
 
#2
I guess I never considered passive basses Stone Age models since there are far more of them sold that actives but to each his own.

I can't help you much as far as telling you where you can find a passive bass with an active sound but I can tell you that the Modulus 5 string I played had an 18v system and I never ran into any noise or static problems with it.

My guess is that with the right pickups you can equip most any bass to get what you're looking for. Maybe somebody will chime in with some pickup suggestions.
 
#4
"Strong powerful active like sound"... you mean more input gain? Active preamps only boost the signal and offer some degree of tone shaping (and sometimes coloration).. Jaco didn't need active preamps, and A. Jackson doesn't need it today.
 
#8
Can't speak to your issues. However, may I humbly suggest you look at a Fender Roscoe Beck Signature bass. All passive. Volume and tone. BUT, the 3 way selector switch, and series/single/parallel switch for each humbucker puts an endless variety of tones at your fingertips. I haven't found a tone that bass (and my Walkabout) can't hit with good results. Modern to vintage and everything in between. Cops a pretty good P bass, J, MM, EBO, and plenty of bright modern tones as well.
 
#9
Yes powerful active like sound = high gain/input. I'm bad with words haha. But thanks 2 fingers, ill have to check that out. I have a fender strat with that in it, 3 single coils tho that u can hum buck together and get crazy range of sounds. Didn't know any basses picked that idea up. I'll def have to find one to try out. I have just never liked the fender feel. Idk, last 3 basses have been ibanez, love the SR neck.
And whoever suggested pickups, I have bartolini custom single coils...the noise canceling ones and sometimes it's so wack, far beyond normal single coil buzz haha.
 
#10
Funny. I've been playing active basses non-stop for 2 years, now, and I've only had 1 battery ever crap out on me and that was during a practice in my living room. I change my batteries every 6 months and make sure NEVER to leave the cable plugged in when it's not in use. This includes while it's sitting on stage between sets.
 
#11
You know I've kind of come to the same road as you. I'm back to playing a passive Ibanez when my main bass was an active Ibanez. And the passive has excellent projection and PUNCH like you wouldn't believe.

I believe there are a couple signature models that are passive you can find at the Ibanez website. I really like how the sound cuts through the mix. Go try one out at your local music store. Promise you won't be disappointed....:bassist:
 
#12
It's always strange to me when people mention actives eating up 9 volts. I've used a wide variety of actives as my main basses for over 15 years, and really only needed to change batteries 1 to 2 times a year. Do you leave your bass plugged in when not using it?
 
#16
bdgreen88 said:
Currently at a gig at a spot I loathe here in fairfax VA and yet again I am struck by a smooth criminal: Narly static interference. Now, I've been told it doesn't particularly matter if its active or not, but not from my experience. It seems everywhere I go I have a different issue of varying degrees no matter where I go or what active bass I play (the amp is ruled out as an issue). Boy I am tired of active electronics and the endless pit of 9v batteries. Is it time to go back to the Stone Age?

Does anyone know of any solid passive basses that have a strong powerful active like sound? Also on a side note...anyone know what kind of fretboard is on les claypool's fretless basses? Traditional ebony or managing?
Click to expand...

Details could help sorting out your problem.

1. How did you rule out the amp?

2. Stock active electronics or an "upgrade"?

3. Does anyone else have a noise issue at that venue?

4. Do you unplug the bass when not in use? That's the most common cause of abnormal battery drain.

5. Have you tried going straight from your bass to your amp minus the effects and if so did you still have the same problem?

6. Dual or single coil pickups? If single coils, do you keep them at equal volumes?

This should help narrow down the issue. I've been gigging active basses for over thirty years and I can't recall the last time I had any buzzing on a gig. Same goes for going through batteries... most of my basses have Bartolini preamps and I keep the internal gains turned up and batteries still last me around a year.

hth
 
#17
Did you rule out the cable?
Did you rule out problems with bass's input jack? A real strong possibility!! Corrosion, wear inside, damage from the cable being knocked sideways. (you know that's happened when you play sitting down)
Again, the amp?

A passive G&L has all the umpph of many actives.
However all sources of noise I stated above could happen to a passive bass.
 
#18
Lackey said:
Jaco didn't need active preamps, and A. Jackson doesn't need it today.
Click to expand...


Carlos Santana uses few to no effects. So Robert Fripp should get rid of his? You use what you want to.

Let's see. Jaco had stellar touch. He played with an overdriven tone continuously.
To achieve that edge an Acoustic 360 has to be cranked when using a passive Fender. I owned one, new. $825. :) Turn that bad boy up to 8 and it would be just like that. Meanwhile you drown out two Marshall stacks. Doesn't fit a lot of settings. The Roland Guitar Chorus open backed guitar amp he used was quite overdriven on those Joni Mitchell studio recordings. The two MXR units, the Flanger/Doubler and Digital Delay added both gain and a hall effect that he played within.
John Paul Jones didn't come close to having that wound up tone.
My point is that he was compensating with amp gain for the passive Fender.
 

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