active > passive

[KipAshcraft]

hi top guys, i am lurking for a very long time, and now i will post something.
i do not understand why to go for a passive bass today if you can have active and bypass to passive if that is better at the time. not so much more expensive and gives you something back. it seems the correct thing to do for a bass today. why passive??

 

[RyanOh]

yep that happens

 

[ZedLepp]

I stick with passives. Less things to worry about.

 

[Maxdusty]

Even though most of my current basses are active, I do prefer passive ones these days. I was on a passive kick, then like you, changed my mind and went all active, and now I'm somewhere down the middle but with a preference for passive. Simple, classic and needs no batteries.
You can always get passive basses and just get an external preamp with EQ, can't really do the reverse.

 

[JRA]

I stick with passives. Less things to worry about.

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i like 'em all. but a nice passive setup sure beats having to remember critical parts!

 

[ZedLepp]

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i like 'em all. but a nice passive setup sure beats having to remember critical parts!

and running around like a chicken with its head cut off looking for a 9v right before you go on.
Ask me how I know.....

 

[PWRL]

I just like it when the bass is done right.

 

[socialleper]

I've never had a problem with my active basses. Don't leave them plugged in and the battery will last for years.
My second bass almost 30 years ago had active EMG pickups in it, and I'd say 80% of my basses since then have had active electronics.

I tend to like active electronics for the extra bite. I don't fiddle with the EQ too often, but it depends on the bass and its natural sound.

 

[dabbler]

I prefer passive, but that doesn't make it absolutely "better". Each has their place in my arsenal. Which is why I like my Sire so much, a full time passive tone control AND a pre that can be on or off. Why aren't more mfrs doing that ?!?!?

Now if you're talking active pups... never had 'em, so I have no comment on 'em.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I started playing on active basses and have been adamant on all my basses being active. I have only recently gotten onto a passive kick and realized that passive is good - as long as your pickups are good.
also, if I could utilize a passive tone control on an active bass, it would be even better.

 

[40Hz]

Transitioning back to passive doesn’t surprise me.

I started on passive basses. But in the 80s I really got into actives. I used to be a big advocate of onboard active electronics. Wired up several preamps for my own and friend’s instruments before they became easier to just buy from third party sources. But over the years I’ve come to once again mostly prefer (with a few notable exceptions) to play passive basses.

 

[Thum5b]

I like active until I forget to change the battery and they always go flat at the worst time.

 

[Element Zero]

Whatever floats your boat. I’ve owned only active basses since ‘98 and NEVER once had a battery die on me at a gig, or at church, or at home.

 

[two fingers]

Transitioning back to passive doesn’t surprise me.

I started on passive basses. But in the 80s I really got into actives. I used to be a big advocate of onboard active electronics. Wired up several preamps for my own and friend’s instruments before they became easier to just buy from third party sources. But over the years I’ve come to once again mostly prefer (with a few notable exceptions) to play passive basses.

This is me exactly. I was all passive. Then I went all active. Now I'm about half and half but I prefer passive tones. I'm sending off a bass tomorrow to get all new electronics. It will have both. But I'll probably use the neck pickup in passive 80-90% of the time.

 

[Thum5b]

Whatever floats your boat. I’ve owned only active basses since ‘98 and NEVER once had a battery die on me at a gig, or at church, or at home.

Maybe I should put it on the calendar, generally I remember to swap them before they go flat but sometimes life gets in the way.

 

[chris_b]

I have a passive P bass with flats and an active Jazz with rounds. I think that's the right way around for me.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Hey, I have a question that maybe doesn't need its own thread now that y'all are right here. I have owned two active basses. But it's my inclination to run them with their active EQ settings flat. Like, religiously. I do not move them, ever. So my question is: Is there any benefit to having an active bass if you never use the EQ? Does it give higher signal strength even if you leave it all flat? And what's the benefit of higher signal strength anyway?

Why am I better off with my Fender Jazz being active rather than passive? If I am...

 

[lomo]

...a battery unused is a gift of omission to those who follow....

 

[Bass V]

Hey, I have a question that maybe doesn't need its own thread now that y'all are right here. I have owned two active basses. But it's my inclination to run them with their active EQ settings flat. Like, religiously. I do not move them, ever. So my question is: Is there any benefit to having an active bass if you never use the EQ? Does it give higher signal strength even if you leave it all flat? And what's the benefit of higher signal strength anyway?

Why am I better off with my Fender Jazz being active rather than passive? If I am...

active is such a mixed bag, especially if preferring old school basic bass, vintage tones, and a dryer sound. going to 0 on the eq has it's benefits on my actives for that end but then what's the point of active? juicing the eq is cool to liven it up but it seems any more than that and good tone suffers as it becomes more artificial, bland, processed, or sterile, on some basses. I like it to sound 'real', like Motown with a classic rig, most modern era players want mids and highs to cut thru and / or pop n slap which most any bass can do or be made to replicate, this can separate the camps by a wide margin. it's been a battle royal for decades now lol

 

[Charlzm]

Having owned and played both, I found that I leave EQ flat on actives and at 10 on passives. Never touch them. So... passive for me. Cheaper and no batteries to mess with.