Are onboard preamps mandatory for 5-string basses?

[MCS4]

Absolutely not. Active electronics are nice to have in a bass with any number of strings though, IMO.

Also, anecdotally, I've owned multiple active five-string basses, as well as multiple active four-strings that I've detuned to have a low C, and I've practically never used the active EQ on the bass to "shape" the low B or C string, with the exception that I occasionally give a very slight bass boost to one of my detuned four-stringers that tends to be a little less bass heavy than my other basses. For me if I use the onboard EQ on an active bass it is most often to give a little midrange bump or to partially reduce EQ differences between multiple basses I might swap between in a set. So for me there is no meaningful difference between the benefits of active on a five or four string to me.

 

[Dincrest]

Can an active preamp help with getting the low B to sound better? Yes.

Is it necessary? No. I've played passive 5ers that sound terrific. That being said, passive 5ers are rare beasts. I think that's because the majority of 5-string buyers favor those basses with active preamps and companies follow the money.

I think with 5-strings it's all about quality construction, particularly around the neck joint. I've played a 34" scale 6er that had the absolute best low-B I've ever experienced. I've also played 35" scale 5ers that had floppy low-B's. And an active preamp is not going to make a bass with meh construction sound much better.

 

[J Wilson]

Not at all necessary.

Look at it this way: With passive pickups, you're 'wired direct': No preamp to worry about headroom, straight off the pickups to the pots down the cable to the amp.

There are great passive fives. There are great active fives. And a lot of so-so ones.

But no, a preamp is definitely not required.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

yeah I think the title needs some distinction as it conflicts with the ballot initiative.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

A lot of my 5 string customers are Corridos/Latin music guys or Gospel guys. They both mostly go straight into whatever desk/sound system is at the venue, and boy do they gig a LOT! When you have a huge ensemble, dialing in a tone on a bass may be a bit of a struggle in a larger venue or superchurch because a lot of band directors are focused on horns and the like. So I vote yes for a preamp on a five string.

 

[Iristone]

I don't know why? Even though I'm going to buy an active 5, I fully believe that you can get equally great-sounding active 5, passive 5, active 4, and passive 4.

 

[micguy]

Can an active preamp help with getting the low B to sound better? Yes.

OK, color me curious. The Physics of pickups (I understand such things, having designed a bunch of magnetic transducers) at low frequencies is very straightforward - there is no rolloff at low frequencies in magnetic pickups, and the impedance of a magnetic pickups is pretty low at 30Hz - there is no problem whatsoever getting the low end of a 5 or 6 string bass to the amp or first pedal. If you want to boost the low end, that's as easily done on a pedalboard eq as it is in an onboard preamp - neither location has has an inherent technical advantage to it, the way I see things. At high frequencies, if you want more bandwidth, a case can be made for an onboard preamp some cases, but at low frequencies?

What is is you hear on a B string with an onboard preamp that makes you say this?

 

[Rockgeezer]

All depends on the bass. I've got three fivers: Sadowsky PJ5--sounds killer both passive and active(though I favor active 'cause "the Sadowsky Sound" but passive I get a great classic P sound with the Nordies I have in it). G&L JB5--passive, sounds great (I often use an external pre for it but it's not because it lacks anything on its own--just a great passive Jazz with a solid B string). G&L Kiloton 5, passive--this one IME needs some help to boost some lows due to the single bridge-ward pickup, so it always gets an outboard pre--would not suck to have a built-in pre in it but I may find that the case even with the four string so probably not fiver specific. Some people get a totally great sound with them au natural though.
I previously had a very early Dingwall AB1, passive, and that bass did not need anything...

This right here as pbass2 mentions above…
My experience over decades is it depends on the bass. My two Dingwalls, a NG3 and a JT Signature I usually play in passive mode because they sound like I want in that mode. Also, my Reverend Mercalli is a passive bass that can dial in a great tone with its one passive tone knob and I can’t imagine it ever needing any active circuitry. Several others I have also sound good in passive mode. I do however have others that require a bit of nudging of their active preamp to achieve what I want. So…at least for me, it comes down to the specific bass.

 

[bwildt]

I prefer passive.

Fender American Precision V
Reverend Rumblefish R5L

I always run my G&L L2500 in passive mode.

I don't have a choice on these. Active only.
Musicman USA S.U.B. 5
Line6 Variax 705 {piezo only)

 

[Element Zero]

Oh, yeah, I did put a Lindy Fralin regular wind pickup in my P5. Nice and grindy and more open than the V Mod II that came with it (AM Pro II Precision)

Ahem. What was the question again?.....

I can only imagine what that’s like. A LONG time ago a friend tossed some 5% overwound Fralins in a Mexi Jazz and the tone was UNREAL.

 

[Element Zero]

@Just Wrong

I believe the answer is… yes. And no. And maybe. And sometimes.

All 5 of my 5 strings have preamps. Sometimes the knobs get adjusted and sometimes they don’t. I typically use my Dingwall in passive (my preferred tone), fretless Music Man Special I usually crank the mids and add or subtract bass/treble as needed and my 26 year old StingRay 5 get a healthy boost of bass with the mids and highs run flat… My other 2 5 strings are best sounding run with the preamp ON and everything left flat.

What I’m getting at is it kinda depends on the instrument and the inherent baked in sound or your musical goals/needs IMO

 

[logdrum]

No to your thread question
Are onboard preamps mandatory for 5-string basses?

BUT:

Yes to the poll
Do 5-string basses benefit more from having onboard preamps than 4-string basses?

2 different questions : Voting is optional (in the US), but paying taxes is mandatory.

 

[Zooberwerx]

No, not mandatory but all my 5 bangers are active...they came that way. I could easily do away with the bass & treble controls and live with just a variable mid (w/ freq selector) and tone control for high-end roll off.

Riis

 

[sawzalot]

In a word: No.

 

[logdrum]

Just bear in mind that even in passive mode some preamps draw current and therefore go through the circuitry and the pickup loading might not be equal to true passive circuit. This may also be true for those that do not draw current or would work passively without a battery.

I prefer my 5 string basses with a pre-amp. The low and mids need some help

 

[Pings Bass]

Nothing is mandatory everything is allowed

 

[HelpImaRock]

Just bear in mind that even in passive mode some preamps draw current and therefore go through the circuitry and the pickup loading might not be equal to true passive circuit. This may also be true for those that do not draw current or would work passively without a battery.

I prefer my 5 string basses with a pre-amp. The low and mids need some help

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I have two passive 5-string basses (P and J), both function and sound fine without an onboard preamp. I use .125 B strings though; they sound clearer than thicker strings through my rig and subjective ears.

 

[basslust]

I think it depends on the type of bass. On a Jazz Bass, for example, I think it is definitely the case that a preamp is useful for shaping the tone to get the B string to cut through the mix better. Other basses don't necessarily need this as much, though the preamp is still useful for getting the right tone for the room regardless of 4-string vs. 5. I still voted yes as Jazz Basses make up a decent percentage of 5-string basses and do benefit more from the preamp.

 

[pepj]

You don't have to use it.
I use mine to ever so slightly engage.
There is minimal level of tone difference from passive. It just allows immediate adjustment on the bass.
I hugely favour VVT first and foremost so a touch more treble or bass might help...but mostly my first adjustment is the tone.

Not a fan of huge tone shaping onboard..or on the amp for that matter.