are You a passivist?

[TrevorOfDoom]

I've only found one active bass that did anything for me: Roscoe.
Of course, it helps that it sounds natural and very close to passive.
For all other basses, passive is the only way to go for me.

 

[fenwickbacker]

5 basses, 5 passive - just works for me, but I've considered a Musicman or a Lakland 44-94 just for the option . . .

 

[tedious1]

Passive, although I own a pair of active Washburn fivers, both are slated for pre-amp removal in the near future, and one of them is getting nut and bridge replacement and blade pickups installed so it can continue serving as a wide spaced four. The other will remain a fiver, in case I find a use for one.

 

[Handz Solow]

OtIm seeing a trend here as i had suspected that many bassists are gravitating back towards passive.
Many have stated that they have
Removed or are planning to pull the preamps out of thier basses.
Some have sold thier actives.

I still want a Marcus Miller Sire!

It seems that many musicians
Appreciate simplicity these days.
look at the drum kit. Gone are the huge kits of the past for most a simple 4 piece kit woll do.
its all about the groove.

 

[electracoyote]

I was once passive-only.

But I have two active basses in my arsenal, a four and a five, and they have come in very handy in certain playing situations where I really needed that kind of aggressive output.

Tone always starts at the source.

 

[Grooveline]

One bass at the moment, a passive P. HS Ray may change that sooner or later.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I'm not sure if my comment will make sense, but basses with active pre-amps sound to pristine. I tend to equate to all of the music recorded analog in the 60's and 70's. There is a warmth to passive (like analog) whereas active reminds me of everything recorded digitally (i.e. 90's and after). I was listening to Tapestry the other day (specifically Charlie Larkey on "So far Away) and can't imagine getting same vibe out of an active bass.

 

[Thumper19605]

Seven passive, I have a Hartke Bass attack if I require EQ or a bit of warm up before the amp.

 

[AdamK]

Hah, I was gonna make a post like this. I've only got passive. But, I remember one time playing an active bass and commenting how great it sounded. And, my favorite, Phil Lesh, used an active so I may have to reconsider. I just like that no tone, low bass sound.

 

[Skasteadyb]

4 Passives. No actives. Yes.

 

[Ibby]

I have 2 basses that can be played in passive or active mode, but I generally prefer playing then in passive.

 

[Aragorn35016]

I'm 78% passive, 2 of my 3 basses are passive, my 3rd is a ray, and I love me some stingray!

 

[tfandel]

I have a passive Peavey, Stingray and Spector with active EQ and passive pickups and Hamer with active EMG pickups and EQ. Love the Peavey tone. Sounds like an old Jazz. Love the Stingray electronics. Spector I usually run EQ pretty flat. Putting active electronics in the Hamer was the biggest mistake. I'd love to have the old passive DiMarzio pickups and controls it came with. Lost in a move years ago. So I guess I like both depending on the situation.

 

[Eidolon0274]

Both! Get a bass with an active preamp and a bypass switch, make sure theres no volume difference between the two. When i get bored with my tone i just go passive.

 

[spiritbass]

Not strictly a passivist, I like both.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I recently received my first passive bass.
As it has a piezo pickup only, it essentially demands a high-impedance buffer preamp to be amplified effectively.
Is a 'passive' bass passive if its necessary preamp is external?
I don't know either.
I didn't go looking for active basses on the others, it's just how they were made.
I wouldn't turn down a bass I liked just because it was passive.

 

[Cat-A-Tonic]

My electric bass guitar has a preamp with a passive/active switch.

I thought I would prefer passive,
but now that I have this bass I find both modes useful.
It's much quicker to EQ at the bass than it is to get tweaky at my amp.

My upright has 2 piezos requiring external preamps, and one magnetic pickup that also lacks on board preamplification.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

I've played active basses most of my playing life, but have liked a few notable passive ones. I love my passive Fender Rascal. It's a very special one with a lot of tones on offer. I'd like a passive Mike Lull V4 with Aguilar 60's, but apart from that its active all the way. I love the extra shove you get on the bottom end and the top end sparkle. Active helps me hear every frequency of my bass. It's a bonus.

 

[Crystalman85]

I currently own only passive basses. I am gasing for an active but i notice a trend of people moving back to passive. The presentation contra bass for instance,one knob one pick and a volume knob. I dont play live at this point so eq on the bass probobly isnt something i need. Should i just get a Sadowsky outboard pre i can use with my exhisting insturments instead?

That depends on if you prefer passive basses over active basses. I happen to like both active and passive basses. I do like schecter and Ibanez basses. those basses are the best active basses I've played. I also like passive basses with jazz styled pick-ups. I currently own a passive fernandes gravity bass and it's a great sounding bass. I would suggest trying out active basses at your local music store. if it turns out you like passive basses more than active bass, you don't need an active bass.

 

[Crystalman85]

my ten pedals and my amp have tone controls,don't need any more on my bass other than the one MOJO knob on my P

That last thing you said there sounded like an innuendo.