See if your local guitar store will let you A/B test a passive and an active bass at the same time using the same amp. That way you can hear any difference there may be between the basses. Too many times when we get to try basses out we are unable to compare them with our existing bass(es) with the same type amp. Nothing worse than buying a bass because you just love the sound and when you get it home your old bass sounded much better.
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I prefer passive. Active gives me too many knobs and options to dial in sounds between the bass and amp. It's too confusing for me. I've always preferred my active basses flat and dialed in my amp. I understand some people like having all that option at their fingertips, but I like simple bass sound. Plus, I hate unplugging active basses every time I set them down. I have 2 kids, so that could be 30 times a day. My passive bass stays plugged in for days at a time.
If you left an active bass plugged in from the moment you put the battery in till the moment it dies, it would last over a month.
A
andrklet
Guest
Thanks a lot guys! You have been a great help! At the moment I´m leaning towards a Fender Modern Jazz. Sounded absolutely spot on and I like the simplicity of two volume knobs and tone. I´m going to try out a few more basses, not thinking to much about the active/passive thing and just trust my own feelings. Again, thanks. This forum is fantastic!!
Sorry, Jimmy, not true. My old DeArmond Pilot Deluxe would eat a battery in less than a week if left plugged in. So, apparently it varies quite a bit.
I used to think like that but these days, with my active Lakland 55-94, I only add a little bass or take away a little mid. The other tone controls sound right set in the middle.
It makes a great noise and is simple enough so even I can't screw it up.
Wow! That IS amazing!A Fender modern player jazz, sits next to me in my livingroom. Salesguy thought I should try it out at home before buyingGood service is hard to beat!
I think you've gone in the right direction: worrying less about active/passive and more about finding a bass you enjoy playing.
The info that's been shared on this thread is all very useful, but you're just starting out and much of that stuff can be worked out later.
Whichever bass you end up choosing, enjoy it... and it probably won't be you're last!
