active or passive plug in

[nitewalker]

sorry if this is a dumb question
Ibanez sr400 has passive pickups but it has a battery for the EQ. Do I plug into the active or passive jack on the amp? Anything else to know about settings on the amp or bass?

 

[DeanT]

If you have a manual with it, check what it suggests.

Generally if the bass uses a battery for an EQ, it's active. I'd plug it into the active socket on the amp.

 

[atheos]

Active is safer. If it's quieter than it should be, switch to passive input. Often the only difference between the two inputs is that the active one is attenuated to compensate the higher output level of active basses.

 

[TortillaChip520]

What atheos said.
You'll just have to turn the volume way up more on your bass if you plug into the "Active" input, which is not advantageous at all. I always go with the passive input.

 

[JimiLL]

What atheos said.
You'll just have to turn the volume way up more on your bass if you plug into the "Active" input, which is not advantageous at all. I always go with the passive input.

??

Dont you mean he will have to turn the volume up more on the AMP?

Its inportant he doesnt overdrive the pre amp on his amplifier.... better stick to the Active Jack and if thats not enough carefully select the passive input Gain

 

[TortillaChip520]

??

Dont you mean he will have to turn the volume up more on the AMP?

Its inportant he doesnt overdrive the pre amp on his amplifier.... better stick to the Active Jack and if thats not enough carefully select the passive input Gain

That too, but I doubt he would overdrive the preamp unless he had an 18v preamp maybe. IF the settings on the amp were the same, he would have to turn the volume up on his bass to be at the same level if he was playing through the active input.

 

[seanm]

I always plug into the passive input. Only if I had clipping problems (never have), would I plug in to the active. Most actives are not a problem. Then again, I have never had an 18V active bass.

 

[bongomania]

Right, the active input is only for basses that have output levels high enough to clip the preamp, completely regardless of whether the bass is active or passive. The "active/passive" labels on the amp inputs are kind of nonsense, but it's a convenience for people who don't know how their gear works. Check out the "preamps" and "active vs. passive" articles in the FAQ in my sig, for a better understanding of this subject.