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Does anyone here only play passive basses?

F

funkybass

Oct 19, 2006
657
5
44
Indiana
#1
For the past few years i've only played active basses. Lately I've really been missing the sound of a good passive p bass thump. I had an amstd p bass a few years ago, but sold it. I've also been playing 5 strings lately, but am starting to think I'm more of a 4 string guy. I might sell one of my 5 strings and get a couple p basses, one with flats, and one with rounds.
 
#5
2 Fender MIA Standard J (one fretted, one fretless), 1 Squier CV 50's Precision, 1 Squier VM Jaguar... yup, all passive. It's mainly the battery thing and the added complexity (equilizing) that put me off: I like to keep it simple.:D
 
#6
On this thread, I said the following:

nocontrols said:
Passive everything. Nothing but passive, all the time.

My tone is better when it's warmer, deeper, more old-school. I don't need EQ, I don't need gritty, metallic tone that "cuts through", I don't need glassy highs and I don't need a bunch of tonal options right there on my instrument. I just want thick, dark passive tone.
Click to expand...

And that's basically how I've always felt. Passives just sound the way a bass ought to sound, to my ears, and I enjoy not futzing around with batteries and myriad on-board EQ options.

Another misconception is that actives are more "powerful" and you should play them if you want heavier tone. That's unnecessary, IMO.

Oh, and I'm also considering switching to a short-scale strung with flats, which would be the logical extension of my existing tastes so I'm only going... "passiver" (not a word and I don't care :D )
 
#9
The thing I've noticed with my active basses in a band setting is the sound very hot in the mix, and I get a metallic type sound. The singer in the band I just joined said at practice last actually asked if I could bring a different bass. He didn't like the metallic sound either. The bass and amp was set flat. I've got a lead on a 09 amstd p that's mint. I'll probably pull the trigger.
 
#14
All I ever played and now own have been passive. Never tried an active bass, so I really don't know if I would or wouldn't like it. I would not be averse to trying one at least. But, for the moment I'm quite happy with passive. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.
 
#15
I've been in that situation just a few weeks ago :-) I've played active 5-string basses for years, but always that they were lacking some soul in their sound. And to be honest, I really never used the active electronics.

And with my recent switch to a new band (which plays in drop c) I took the chance to get back to 4 strings. There is just no use for a fifth string in that band.

So, I bought the bass I aaaaalways loved so much - a Gibson Thunderbird.

I'm going to sell my last active 5-string these days and get a decent backup bass for my Tbird, thinking about a Fender Precision.
 
#17
Don't care for active anything. I'm a plug-and-play caveman. I've owned and played actives or had onboard active EQ. Don't need it, don't like it. Heck, the only effect I ever really use is a fuzz, and that's rare for me.

Still, lots of active players whose playing and tone I dig. Lots of people can do great things with active electronics, or want a wider palette. They just aren't my thang.
 

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