Active vs Passive Pickups

[Sir Edward V]

I'm looking into building a makeshift jaguar, which is active/passive. So should I get active or passive pickups for it? or do they make pickups that are supposed to do both?

 

[TheJimster]

Well it all depends on what one your looking for.

 

[Introvox]

Well it all depends on what one your looking for.

Most active basses, actually have passive pickups, and an active preamp, hense the need for the battery. You can however opt for Active pups if you choose, but not a LOT of selection out there....I'd get a preamp that fits in the cavity, and then you can choose any pup that fits you,,,

Bill Lawrence, Bartolini, Norstrands, DiMarzio, SD, Fender, Lindy Fralin, whatever

When I think Active pups, all that comes to mind is EMG

 

[Sir Edward V]

So if I got active pickups there would be no need for the preamp?

 

[jady]

So if I got active pickups there would be no need for the preamp?

Its the other way around. Passive pups have enough windings to produce a usable current. Active pups have fewer windings hence a smaller magnetic filed hence lower output, too low to not use a pre amp.

 

[Sir Edward V]

so in that case, i should get passive pups so i can either use the pre-amp or not

 

[Introvox]

so in that case, i should get passive pups so i can either use the pre-amp or not

yup...that's what I would do...More selection of pups, and More selection of preamps

 

[Sir Edward V]

yeah i didnt realize until today that they make preamps to go inside basses. I was planning on making my own, but it will be a lot easier to buy one seeing as how I have no idea on what the design of one would look like...

 

[A9X]

Its the other way around. Passive pups have enough windings to produce a usable current. Active pups have fewer windings hence a smaller magnetic filed hence lower output, too low to not use a pre amp.

Not quite. Having a preamp inside the pickup casing allows the designer to use less windings and have the internal preamp bring the signal back up to where many passives would be. All the active pickups I've used have about the same output level as many passives, and some passive, eg barts are lower than this.

Sir V, you could say use EMG or SD active pickups and wire them with a passive control loom V/V/T like many basses. Or you could also add a preamp, and bring extra tonal shaping on board the bass with BT or BMT controls.

 

[Sir Edward V]

Not quite. Having a preamp inside the pickup casing allows the designer to use less windings and have the internal preamp bring the signal back up to where many passives would be. All the active pickups I've used have about the same output level as many passives, and some passive, eg barts are lower than this.

Sir V, you could say use EMG or SD active pickups and wire them with a passive control loom V/V/T like many basses. Or you could also add a preamp, and bring extra tonal shaping on board the bass with BT or BMT controls.

control loom V/V/T?

does that just mean two volume controls and a tone control? I'm new to this whole thing, don't know all the terms and acronyms yet... but if that is what it means, I was intending on one volume, one tone, then switches for pickups to be on or off and another for switching between parallel and series pickup wiring. then if I get a preamp, I was going to have a switch to turn the preamp on/off

 

[A9X]

control loom V/V/T?

does that just mean two volume controls and a tone control?

Yes.

I'm new to this whole thing, don't know all the terms and acronyms yet... but if that is what it means, I was intending on one volume, one tone, then switches for pickups to be on or off and another for switching between parallel and series pickup wiring. then if I get a preamp, I was going to have a switch to turn the preamp on/off

Can be done, except with active pickups, it won't be possible to do the series / parallel switching because of the preamps inside the pickup housings. EMG -TW series are a sort of exception as they allow switching between a couple of internal wiring configurations, even though they're active, ie they have preamps built into the pickup casings.

If you want to do the S/P switching, use passive pickups, eg Barts or Dimarzios that have a 4 wire output and then you can have series/parallel/single coil per pickup if you want. Then add a suitable preamp to make it active: my usual suggestion is an Aguilar OBP series.

 

[Sir Edward V]

yeah i think passive is where its at for me, i just need to decide which pickups I want to buy... there are so many and i dont even know what i want out of them

 

[Philbiker]

Its the other way around. Passive pups have enough windings to produce a usable current. Active pups have fewer windings hence a smaller magnetic filed hence lower output, too low to not use a pre amp.

Active pickups have preamps built-in to the pickup. They don't need any kind of active tone circuit to work, you can have a bass with active pickups and passive tone control.

 

[Sir Edward V]

now im confused as to the whole active pickup thing

too many contradicting POVs

 

[Philbiker]

There's no "contradicting POVs", just a lot of different options/configurations.

 

[Brad Johnson]

now im confused as to the whole active pickup thing

too many contradicting POVs

Active pickups have an internal gain stage (usually in the actual pickup housing) and require a battery or power source to operate. No battery, no usable output. EMG is the most common brand when it comes to active pickups. US MTD basses have active Bartolini pickups. Active pickups can be used with or without an onboard preamp. The old Kawai Alembic style basses have active pickups... with no preamp.

Passive pickups are the most common pickups available and do not typically require a battery or power source to operate. Basically a coil and a magnet, no powered gain stage (preamp) in the pickup.

Either of these can be used with onboard preamps.

 

[m.oreilly]

my old MEC pups are active. just get some pups you like/other users that play in a style you like with a similar bass (or not, if you use a quality onboard pre: ie filter based). i'm really liking barts atm on fretted basses (with pre).

 

[seanm]

There aren't really that many combinations. Listed roughly in order of popularity:

• Passive pickup(s)
• Passive pickups(s) with preamp
• Active pickup(s) with preamp
• Active pickup(s)

If it has active pickups it needs a battery. Preamps need a battery but some passive pickups with preamp can also run totally passive.