What's with the use of the word "evolved"? Does this imply I'm further down the evolutionary ladder?
I may be evolving back to all passive one of these days, my evolving is simply the road that I'm on at the moment-for better or worse.
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Does anyone here only play passive basses?
- Thread starter funkybass
- Start date
I may be evolving back to all passive one of these days, my evolving is simply the road that I'm on at the moment-for better or worse.
- Jul 11, 2006
- 433
- 12
- Disclosures
- Tech Director, dBm Pro Audio Services, New York
Both basses are passive, 4-string, P/J config (Fender and Ibanez) and strung with flats (Fender flats on the Fender, Roto on the Ibanez). Real ol'skool for me. I hear and play bass like a BASS, not a bari guitar.
This is not to say that active sucks, it's just not for me. I find it superfluous and unnecessary.
This is not to say that active sucks, it's just not for me. I find it superfluous and unnecessary.
Batteries and circuit boards inside a bass = not my cup of tea
I really don't tweak my tone much. I like a bass that sounds fantastic on its own, with no adjustments. So EQ options are mostly lost on me. 99% of the time I set my amp EQ flat.
I've tried many, many actives. Even built myself a handful over the years. Always went back to passive.
I really don't tweak my tone much. I like a bass that sounds fantastic on its own, with no adjustments. So EQ options are mostly lost on me. 99% of the time I set my amp EQ flat.
I've tried many, many actives. Even built myself a handful over the years. Always went back to passive.
Simplicity rules! I own two basses, a RoadWorn Precision and a '68 Telecaster Bass.
Four strings, one pickup, passive volume and tone. No bells and whistles, just plain and simple good old groove machines!
Four strings, one pickup, passive volume and tone. No bells and whistles, just plain and simple good old groove machines!
I am but only by chance. I dont care if its active or passive. Each has their merits.
1980 G&L L1000 passive mahogany monster. Gain-wise this bass stomps on every other bass i have ever played. Except L2000s!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=181938&d=1285252269
1980 G&L L1000 passive mahogany monster. Gain-wise this bass stomps on every other bass i have ever played. Except L2000s!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=181938&d=1285252269
I only play passive basses. Not because I have anything against active ones, it is just that I haven't found many active basses in my price range that I really liked.
I'm modding my old Ibanez GSR200 P/J right now to make it a Passive P Bass, just because i'm getting bored of the 2 band EQ and never used the jazz pickup.
Liam
Liam
Passive will always be my preference, but I don't hate the active tone. Especially on, say, a 70s Jazz bass.
The thing I don't like about active basses is all of those EQ controls.
Besides, everyone who has reached "bass enlightenment" has gone back to a P or Jazz bass. Just look at all of the threads about people that sold all of their high end boutique basses for one.
The thing I don't like about active basses is all of those EQ controls.
Besides, everyone who has reached "bass enlightenment" has gone back to a P or Jazz bass. Just look at all of the threads about people that sold all of their high end boutique basses for one.
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
I seem to prefer passives, don't really know why other then I like the sound better. I even converted my active Fernandes PJ to passive with humbuckers, which seems to be my sound.
Is that one of the reason people don't like active basses? The "added weight"?
My Ibanez was still light as a feather, battery or no battery. I can't see how that would affect the weight...
It's usually not the pups that are active, it's a preamp EQ (there are some models with actual active pups, but they seem to be pretty rare). I'm not an expert, but I believe the answer is no -- most active basses are not designed to bypass the preamp. There are some that have an active/passive switch, but they are in the minority. That's my understanding, but I'll leave it to greater experts than I to confirm or correct me.
As for me, I am a passive person. It's something of an instinct for me: my general personality is to keep things simple. The fewer bits are in use, the less there is to break or fail. I just like the direct, clean signal of a passive bass.
If the bass has an active/passive switch, then yes.
If not, you'll either have to add one (and that'll only work if you have the right pot values) or just wire your volume straight to the jack.
played a fender passive pj until i got my G&L Tribute.. but played it today in passive mode and it impressed me more than usual..so yes.. passive from now on (at least on this bass)
Passive Fender Precisions give me all the power I need without any of the headaches and hassles of batteries and knobs.
I think adding batteries and extra circuits in the mix you compromise your tone a bit. My main bass is a NT 5 st Warwick fretless Thumb. It ha an amazing active circuit, but I always leave it in passive with no tone controls active. It seems to have more warmth in passive mode. Better sense of dynamics for me too. You hear more sustain from the instrument and not overly sensitive electronics.
