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Active/Passive

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Sundogue, Oct 4, 2001.

  1. Oct 4, 2001 #1
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    I own a Peavey Cirrus 5 string and I love everything about it except that if the active electronics ever die (for any reason) I am truly dead as there is absolutely no way to use it in a passive mode.

    Anybody here have any suggestions to make it an active AND passive bass?

    I was thinking of some way to either rewire it or to somehow add even asingle pickup to it just as insurance should the active electronice ever fail during a gig. Even a so-so sound would be better than no sound at all while on a gig on the road.

    I've thought of having a spare bass too, but I'm a little short on cash and nothing else comes close to being satisfactory in playability (I'll admit, I'm spoiled) even temporarily.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. Oct 4, 2001 #2
    brianrost

    brianrost Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2000
    Boston, Taxachusetts
    You need to contact Peavey and find out if the pickups themselves are passive (or trace the wiring and see if there is power feeding to the pickups). If they are, then you could install a switch which would route the pickups straight to the output jack.

    If the pickups are active there's nothing you can do.

    For what it's worth, I own a couple of active basses and have never had one fail period, at a gig or otherwise. On the ones that do have passive bypass, I use it only as a tonal option.
     
  3. Oct 5, 2001 #3
    neptune

    neptune Supporting Member

    Feb 2, 2001
    Maryland
    Has anyone ever heard of this mod being done to a Musicman bass?