Bass sounds a bit weak in Sire

If the bass is the same volume when active OR passive, leave it like it is.

 

Are you sure that you completely understand how to operate the preamp? It should be louder in active mode. Check if your batteries are good too.

 

If your EQ is flat, the active/passive should be about equal in volume. When you start boosting EQ that will be different. If anything, if you have a certain EQ setting you like, I'd imagine you'd use the trim switch to lower the pre-amp volume to be even with your passive tone.

 

Basses are not equal in output. Some have hotter signals than others, with less output signal from the bass you can get away with more input gain/master volume at the amp. I have a passive P-bass that runs pretty hot, and I had a passive J that was pretty quiet comparatively.

Unless it's just not loud enough when you up the volume on your amp it shouldn't be a concern. Boosting the EQ on my Sire P7 can have it pretty loud though.

 

The V7 has single coils which may not he as high output as soap bar or humbucking pickups on other basses.

 

The trim pots are there for you to set as you see fit. Adjust them and see if you like things better.

 

Raise the pickups?

 

It's really a matter of personal preference. The preamp is your oyster. You can opt for a hotter signal with flat EQ, you can boost/cut certain frequencies and use the trim switch to even the volume out with your passive signal, so if you choose to switch between the two you aren't having to dance around volume levels with your amp or interface.

By default, I'm pretty sure Sire tends to send them out so that your flat active signal is the same as your passive signal.. and you can get a louder volume by boosting EQ's while the bass is set to active. Or, if you say boost lows and low mids way high for a certain tone, but want to even it out, you can lower the trim switch so that your desired eq matches the volume of your passive signal while keeping the tone you aim for with the active EQ

 

Enjoy your new bass. The Sire's pre-amp is a beast.

 

My first question was going to be about pickup height.

 

The closer the pickup is to the strings, the louder it is. Sometimes for example when you have a two pickup bass, one pickup has to be closer to the strings for the same loudness.

 

My rule of thumb for string height at the pickups is 1/8" on the bass side and about 3/32" on the treble side. I shouldn't say my rule of thumb as I have heard this from other people, but it works for me.

 

There is another thread here with a similar issue. In that thread, it is mentioned to try increasing the gain on the preamp vis the blue cube-shaped trim pot.

Sire Marcus Miller V7 power doubt.

 

I think it's a good thing if the passive volume and active volume is even when the EQ is set flat.