Bongomania was right in pointing out that it is probably not an impedance problem, since all of your basses are low impedance, since they all have active preamps on board. It's more likely that your Spector is just putting out too high of a level, so you might try lowering the volume on your bass itself and see if that makes the effect sounds better. It might be just too hot of a signal.
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Active pickups + effects = fail? But why?
- Thread starter mmbongo
- Start date
So mmbongo I was doing some A/Bing last night between two similar basses, one active and one passive... the active being an Ibanez SR with PJ's and the passive an early 80's Ibanez Roadstar II P bass. My "base tone" is through a VT Bass, so that was on as a pre for both... clean through the VT, the active SR has more character to its tone, more note-to-note consistency, no buzz or feedback, just a really solid clean bass sound. The passive is alittle more unruly... not as consistent across all notes, not as much "character" to the clean tone, and kind of muddy compared to the SR at the same settings.
Enter Ibanez PD-7 Overdrive + Wren & Cuff Pickle Pie B fuzz... my chain sends direct signal to the PD7, then into the VT toneshaper pre-amp, then into the Pickle Pie with clean blend.... played the active first, and while it held up the consistency, the tone felt a bit lifeless, and I realized it was more smooth synthy than the distorted facemelting I expected. Plugged in the passive P, and the tone is amazing... playing dynamics are amplified as they should be through the dirt, harmonic fuzz overtones are audible but not overpowering, note-to-note playing remained punchy and distinguished, and space between playing let out deliciously tasty feedback that I can modulate with the tone knob.
I may be playing with a thrash metal group again soon, and I'll probably go for the active. Under a wall of heavy guitars, its clean tone and consistency will trump the P. But for nearly any other genre of music or single-guitar metal (where dynamics in the bass are heard, not just the fundamental or mid punch) I'd go for the passive P.
Enter Ibanez PD-7 Overdrive + Wren & Cuff Pickle Pie B fuzz... my chain sends direct signal to the PD7, then into the VT toneshaper pre-amp, then into the Pickle Pie with clean blend.... played the active first, and while it held up the consistency, the tone felt a bit lifeless, and I realized it was more smooth synthy than the distorted facemelting I expected. Plugged in the passive P, and the tone is amazing... playing dynamics are amplified as they should be through the dirt, harmonic fuzz overtones are audible but not overpowering, note-to-note playing remained punchy and distinguished, and space between playing let out deliciously tasty feedback that I can modulate with the tone knob.
I may be playing with a thrash metal group again soon, and I'll probably go for the active. Under a wall of heavy guitars, its clean tone and consistency will trump the P. But for nearly any other genre of music or single-guitar metal (where dynamics in the bass are heard, not just the fundamental or mid punch) I'd go for the passive P.
I got a chance to sit down last night and really listen to things and I realized that my Spector produces a TON of midrange which is what some of the pedals, specifically the SFT, was having trouble with. It has quite a mid bump itself, and the two together is just too much. So, I'm dialing down the mids on the bass which does not sound great clean, but sounds massive through the SFT.
I'm testing 3 pedals right now...Pork Loin, Phat Phuk B, and SFT and I'm getting a very similar sound out of all 3 with small differences. The Pork is softer, the Phuk is punchier, and the SFT is tubbier. I like them all 3 for different reasons.
I also ordered a passive Bart to try in my Spector, but now I'm not so sure if I want to try it or not. If I had bought it used I would with no question, but since it's new I may end up returning it. Heck I don't know.
I'm testing 3 pedals right now...Pork Loin, Phat Phuk B, and SFT and I'm getting a very similar sound out of all 3 with small differences. The Pork is softer, the Phuk is punchier, and the SFT is tubbier. I like them all 3 for different reasons.
I also ordered a passive Bart to try in my Spector, but now I'm not so sure if I want to try it or not. If I had bought it used I would with no question, but since it's new I may end up returning it. Heck I don't know.
Well if anybody still cares 
I replaced the EMG pickup in my Spector with a Bartolini. I'm a happy boy. While the EMG may not work great with dirt pedals, I absolutely loved the clean tone of it, and have never been able to come close to it with any other bass. Turns out most of that sweet tone was in the bass (and probably the Aguilar preamp), as the Bart cops the same tone...only better! It's much more organic with some added punch and depth.
The best part? My different dirt pedals now give the bass lots of different character and not just varying levels of fizz I can actually tune my pedals to sound like I want now.
I replaced the EMG pickup in my Spector with a Bartolini. I'm a happy boy. While the EMG may not work great with dirt pedals, I absolutely loved the clean tone of it, and have never been able to come close to it with any other bass. Turns out most of that sweet tone was in the bass (and probably the Aguilar preamp), as the Bart cops the same tone...only better! It's much more organic with some added punch and depth.
The best part? My different dirt pedals now give the bass lots of different character and not just varying levels of fizz
I can actually tune my pedals to sound like I want now.
Give an active bass a try sometime. It might just turn your world around! I'll never go back to a passive bass.
Note there is a difference in active pickups and active basses. Active basses can still use passive pickups.
I second that notion. I have active and passive, and really can't bring myself to play the passive ones much.
I'll tell you that the Spector CRFM5 that I have gives my Eden amp tons of problems with its' high output. I'm not talking impedance. Even one of the top Eden guys in their forum has discussed the known problem of Spectors giving Eden amps hell.
Now that I went to pedals, I have been playing my Warrior and haven't tried the Spector with my current setup, so I don't know if I'd have the same problems you encountered, but wouldn't be surprised.
