are You a passivist?

[Michael4bass]

I prefer passive basses, I just like the tone better.

Bassically, Michael

 

[chris_b]

I bought a new bass a few years ago. It was light, played great, sounded fantastic (full, fat and punchy). It was the best P bass I've played. It ticked all the boxes.

The last thing I found out was it was passive. I've been playing active basses since 95, but active/passive has never figured in my decision to buy a bass.

I have to say, I'm loving the fact that it's passive, but battery or not I'd have bought that Mike Lull PJ5 anyway.

 

[Dirtyfrenchman]

Definitely a passivist. I don't know how to do with too many knobs. For me, 3 is a maximum. I may eventually use an outboard pre, with the advantage of having the controls reacting more or less the same, whichever the bass is.

 

[woodyng]

Oh yeah! Definitely a passive-preference here. I have 5 "keeper" basses now,all passive,including an 8-string bass i love,,originally equipped with active eq electronics and pickups,that i replaced with good quality passive components. That leaves me with one active/piezo pickup bass, that will be going away in the near future.

 

[hopsbb]

All 5 of mine are passive.Never owned an active.More than likely never will.Just not my thing.

 

[Robert B]

Passive. Took me something like 14 years to remove the J-Retro from my Lull jazz, but I much prefer it without the preamp. Oddly, I couldn't connect emotionally with the active sound. It was like I was hearing someone else playing the exact same thing I was playing at the exact same time, but it wasn't me I was hearing. Strange, I know, but that's the best I can explain it! Some sort of dissociative effect.

 

[Mytola]

I like both, and I own both. It all depends on the bass itself, not necessarily if it is active or passive.

 

[Dojix]

Depends on the style you play, really. While basses are all gravitating to passive, I've noticed guitars are moving to high-output actives because music is just getting heavier and heavier.

 

[Son of Wobble]

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I owned a beautiful '85 Ibanez Musician. One of the most beautiful, through-body necks ever. The active electronics completely ruined me for this bass.

The best comparison I can make between passive and active is like comparing vinyl records to digital (only way more harsh). Active also has too much sustain without any dynamics. Passive has the punch and control during those loud or quiet parts.

 

[hsech]

Four basses and 4 passives for me.

 

[franklindayala]

Passive bass 100%.

I also have a Xotic RC Bass booster if some one tells me to go for a modern sound live.

 

[Basshappi]

I definitely prefer passive electronics.
I have 2 basses that are active, they are my least played basses.
I will say that the Stingray I played last summer really impressed me though.

 

[jg42]

Got my first passive bass recently and another passive is on its way, selling one highly active now (EMG).
Having said that - I'm not sure that I won't upgrade my passive basses to active at some point in time. But that may or may not happen.

 

[khutch]

I own both and use them indiscriminately.

 

[Jughead6]

6 basses: 5 passives + 1 active/passive that rarely ever gets played in active mode.

Sometimes my amp gets really jealous of the pre-amp in my active/passive bass and goes and sleeps on the couch.

 

[kcole4001]

All I've ever had were passive basses and guitars.
I really don't want to have to ever think about batteries in guitars or pedals.

 

[spaz21387]

I have 4 basses and 3 of 4 are active. The passive one still needs to be re wired. I play my musicmans alot so I don't even care about fixing up the old p bass

 

[two fingers]

Heck no. I will knock the crap out of a bass if it gets on my nerves.

 

[ZorgRift]

passive basses don't get me *puts on sunglasses* going as much as active ones do

YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH