Do we really need high-end basses with intricate active electronics?

[DanGouge]

I prefer passive, but others prefer active. Play what you like and what suits your style, technique and genre.

 

[Means2nEnd]

Need? – Ferrari’s, smart watches, bikinis, thongs, high heels, 5 string basses, 6 string basses, yoga pants, 100 dollar bills, $5 coffee, cup holders, pets, 1000 watt amps, purple strings, spurs that jangle, cowboy hats, fish tacos, sweepable mids, filter based preamps, 18 volts, tan lines…..

I imagine this is only the tip of the what we don’t need iceberg (which we might need) but the world would be a hell of a boring place without em….just saying.

 

[Baird6869]

Need? – bikinis, thongs, high heels, yoga pants, tan lines…...

Yes to all of the above.

What's your point?

 

[Thisguy]

I like both. Have both. Where I draw the line is the over the top sweeps, coil taps, and so on. My SB14 and Music Man Sterling, pretty much the same thing, is about all the nobs and switches I can take. To each their own. I love a simple P-bass, Jazz,as well as my MM Sterling, and Ibanez SR800.

 

[red_rhino]

Why can't we just stick to a good ol' fashioned blood-letting!

I thought that's we we were doing in this forum.

 

[Means2nEnd]

Bwahahaha I'll definitely take them over 18 volts, and sweepable mids!

 

[Kmonk]

I have been playing since 1978. I have tried many passive and active basses. I have found that when I bought an Alembic active bass I could hear my mistakes much more clearly. As a result, it made me become a better player. I mostly play MIA passive Fenders but still enjoy playing my active Alembics.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Hi Gang,

I wanted to get some opinions about the differences between what many of us consider to be so-called lower end models of major bass manufactures like: Squire to Fender, Soundgear to Ibanez, LTD to ESP, Sterling to Musicman, etc. etc. etc.

Also, what “truly” is the relevance of active pick-ups and multiple tone, balance & volume knobs on today’s modern basses?

Do all of these devices truly make us better bass players or bass players more dependent on electronics to sound good?

Personally I believe we should all purchase bass guitars that fit us physically first, then aesthetically & emotionally.

I believe that electronics should be the last consideration because (in my humble opinion) if we can’t make (for example) a Chinese Hondo Fender Precision Jazz knock-off bass sound good through a decent amp, with no special electronics, and damn good fingering techniques – then we have no business in the game.

I also believe that the “lower-end” models of major bass manufacturers can (given the chance) out-perform basses that cost 4 times as much. (in the right pair of hands)

Dozens if not hundreds of cats 20, 30, 40 years ago played simple, straight-forward electric bass guitars and they were bad-asses that sounded great with either none or very little of the modern day electronic assistive devices we find on most of today’s modern instruments.

I own 5 bass guitars and only two of them have active pick-ups.

I prefer the basses with passive pick-ups and maybe 2 or 3 volume, tone, balance knobs without all the glitz because they challenge me to concentrate more on my fingers for creating the sound I want.

Please give me your feedback……..thanks…

Ah. The TalkBass Luddite contingent pipes up once again....

Why have we allowed ourselves to become "dependent" on such "assistive devices" as indoor plumbing and indoor toilets? Lots of people in the past were able to keep themselves well hydrated by pumping water from outdoor wells, and were readily able to void waste materials from their bodies by using outhouses.

MM

 

[JazznFunk]

Passive has its own flavor. Active has its purpose as well, and can lend a 'voice' to a bass that is unique. Personally, I play active basses for the most part, but rarely use extreme adjustments to the tone controls - 99% of times I adjust the EQ in response to a pickup pan adjustment - trying to even things out or accentuate/cut in certain areas. Could I get away with just passive basses as a result of my overall approach? Probably. However, active always gives me the option at my fingertips to make adjustments in the frequency area that needs adjusting on the fly that passive basses don't necessarily offer. It also helps with tone sculpting if you're going for something really specific. Should players rely on an active bass to help them make up for or hide deficiencies in their tone/playing? No. Just as with EQ adjustments on an amp, start flat with the onboard EQ, adjust in small increments.

 

[tbz]

I agree; I just use a rubber band into microphone for my bass needs.

Magnetic pickups, "real" strings, and all that other stuff is just a crutch.

 

[Handyman]

Yeah, man survived on the pentatonic scale for thousands of years. Then they go and invent the diatonic scale. I mean what gives. I say if you cannot get the job done with 5 notes, then clearly you are compensating for something.

Jaco only needed four notes.

 

[JimmyM]

I think we should all think alike. Just think like me, and everything will be alright for you.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

My Delano is, by default, housed by a high end bass(maybe?) '94 Stingray and yes they make my high end pedals sound waaaaay better than any other passive setup or any other setup in general I might add. Its what I like and fits the Odd Harmona sound.

However, I have a P bass into a bassman head and cab setup thats awesome by its own right and fits The Popskull Rebels sound perfectly and I give credit to Lindy Fralin.

It just depends on the pickups but all three bass guitars I own are very high-end. Whether it was ''04 or '94 or '84 they were and still are, IMHO, high-end, regardless of price then or now and they play, feel and sound better than any low end bass I have ever had or played, even with a great setup.

Further more the first thing I do with any guitar I get is upgrade the pickups. Customize and Modify was what daddy used to say. I start there.

 

[DigitalMan]

Do we really need chocolate ice cream when we already have vanilla?

 

[squidtastic]

It's the passive/aggressive nature of the post

Maybe that explains his preference for passive(/aggressive) basses.

 

[squidtastic]

Should players rely on an active bass to help them make up for or hide deficiencies in their tone/playing? No.

Why not? I agree with most of your post, but this part is saying basically what the OP is saying. What's the point? If it makes someone happy, how in the world is it any skin off your nose? It's music, not brain surgery -- no one will die in the process.

 

[FretNoMore]

...
Should players rely on an active bass to help them make up for or hide deficiencies in their tone/playing?
...

Sounds like a strange concept to me - how can an active bass do that, and if so, what does it do that your amp doesn't?

Even if it somehow is some kind of crutch like you imply, I'll gladly use it since it is the end result that matters to me, and the audience. Tone is tone, I couldn't care less how it is achieved - I'll use all available tools to make the job easier so I can concentrate on the bigger picture.

 

[Doc Mojo]

Life is short so if you want a bass that can give the space shuttle a run for its money or you want it so simple a cave man can play it, just do it. I want to try it all before I wink out of existence.

 

[JimmyM]

How does an active bass cover up your deficiencies? First I heard of that.

 

[Watchootognbout]

The problem with Neveragain55's concept is that "Less is more" can always be divided to the lowest common denominator.

You can always subtract something until we all have nothing.
And THEN what?