Active or Passive

[TortoiseBass]

So cute It reminds me of this (sorry I couldn't resist ):

Lol! People should stop eating tortoises. A lot are endangered. But that’s seriously hilarious.

 

[TortoiseBass]

I own and play both. Whatever the song calls for.

Fair enough!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Sorry, I’m a massive noob. What does this mean exactly?

It's usually either a pull pot or a switch but it allows an active bass to be played passive.

 

[TortoiseBass]

It's usually either a pull pot or a switch but it allows an active bass to be played passive.

Oh ok. Sounds interesting!

 

[Valvehead]

Carrots!

Active, but with the response and feel of passive. This means passive pups with a REALLY good onboard pre like Mike Pope, John East or Roger Sadowsky.

 

[TortoiseBass]

Carrots!

Active, but with the response and feel of passive. This means passive pups with a REALLY good onboard pre like Mike Pope, John East or Roger Sadowsky.

Ok!

 

[Valvehead]

Also a passive tone control combined with an active pre can really fix fret noise or other clunk problems with some rigs you play through, the passive tone control usually does a better job at this then the treble pot on an active EQ will.

 

[TortoiseBass]

Also a passive tone control combined with an active pre can really fix fret noise or other clunk problems with some rigs you play through, the passive tone control usually does a better job at this then the treble pot on an active EQ will.

Yeah I think that would work amazingly.

 

[nilorius]

The best way is to have electronics with push/pull - active/passive switch in your bass.

 

[TortoiseBass]

The best way is to have electronics with push/pull - active/passive switch in your bass.

Hey, just realised it says you play fretless. Without slides does a fretless sound like a fretted and you get the fretless bonuses or not?

 

[JGbassman]

In my tribute rock band I play a four string precision passive with flat strings.

In my dance/top40/party music band, I primarily play an active five string bass with round-wounds.

Neither is better or preferred. I use what tool is needed for the job at hand.

 

[mcnach]

Cucumbers.

And this is the correct answer.

Personally, I don't care. If an instrument feels and sounds the way I like, I don't care how it does it other than for information. I see no inherent advantage in any kind, they're just different flavours.

 

[JW56789]

Doesn't matter to me. I've heard and owned good ones in either style, although I'll admit a good passive system has a certain simplicity most active setups lack.

 

[nilorius]

Hey, just realised it says you play fretless. Without slides does a fretless sound like a fretted and you get the fretless bonuses or not?

You just realised, i did it 20 years ago.

 

[Phalex]

I like to swing both ways.

 

[kmon]

i like not dealing with batteries. Still own a stingray though bc it sounds great.

 

[brianrost]

Close your eyes. Play the bass. Sounds great? OK, then it's safe to see if it uses a battery.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

It’s pretty simple really. Active or Passive! I’m not too sure what I mean, I guess a bass with anything active (Stingray/Subray) or a bass with everything passive (P-bass).

I am aware the Stingray has passive pups but it has active EQ so I’m counting it as active.

(Btw this is my first poll)

I have one of each. I do not use the onboard EQ function leaving it at flat. There is a very slight difference switching it from active to passive. In the passive setting, there is no tonal control, other than a blend knob for the two pickups.

In general, I use my App/Preamp for my tonal control. Anything I send to FOH is unaltered.

 

[murphy]

I enjoy not having to think about the battery. My preference

But..I love my basses with active preamps also.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

I have owned both. A bass that has passive pups but an active GOOD quality pre is my preference as long as you have the option to bypass the pre to use it passively.