First bass, active or passive?

[bassbenj]

My opinion: Keep it simple - 4 string passive precision. Done.

Saxophone or Clarinet? My opinion: Saxophone with no mics. Keep it simple. Unless of course, you want to play clarinet music!

I played only 4 string basses for MANY years but now I only play 5s and above. The story everyone gives you about starting on a passive 4 and "moving up to a 5" is just plain WRONG!

If you are interested in music that works best with 5 strings then learn to play one. If it's going to be a "modern" sound then think about active.

On the other hand if you plan to concentrate on old school geezer rock, then sure, a 4 string passive P-bass is the optimum thing to get.

The point being that if you get a bass that fits the music you are currently interested in, then that will help interest and inspire you to keep going when starting out. As someone else said. Take a good look at what the bands you like are playing. that can give you the hint. Done.

 

[Yogen]

As for technique, the only issue would be my right hand, but I didn't have much trouble when trying out different bass guitars at stores, if I'm correct, I didn't make a lot of noise (my middle finger nail did get in the way though), I really worked on it on the guitar and apart from some painful fast riffs, I don't make much noise.

I tried passive and active and the actives sounded more appealing to the genres I'll play the most. I thought of getting a 5 string because the low B seems pretty handy, because I might play a low tuned song at one moment and then a standard tuned one.

Right now, I'm between a second hand Schecter C-4 or an Ibanez GSR 205, I know the schecter is 4 strings, but I believe is better quality than the Ibanez

 

[bichibreaker]

My opinion: Keep it simple - 4 string passive precision. Done.

+1

 

[Solarmist]

Active has a modern hifi sound with a lot more range vs passive which sounds more raw string sounding. Both are fine - it just depends on the sound YOU like. Try both, and see what you like.

 

[natw42]

Why does active have to be a modern hi fi sound? It's typically just onboard eq that allows you to tailor your tone.

90% of the time I set my active bass to sound old school and thumpy.

 

[freshbass]

get a decent 4 string fender precision passive and put some flatwounds on it...and don't touch the strings w/ your thumb for 10 years...buy the simandl bass method book. study jamerson, dunn, babbitt, and weeks. you will work.

 

[JazznFunk]

I say go for an active bass because, as you advance, you will find that your ear and your 'personal voice' may change. The options you have with active EQ and multiple pickups will make it easier to grow with your bass.

However... as one who plays active basses 99% of the time, learn how your bass sounds 'flat' and try to not over-use the EQ. Most people who play active basses do not use the EQs to extremes: players who are inexperienced and just want to 'juice' the thing do that. Remember as well that most (but not all) active systems are boost/cut, and in some cases it's advisable to first CUT frequencies versus boosting them. In short, use the EQ when you NEED to... otherwise leave it flat or make small tweaks.

 

[Dostradamas]

I have to disagree here... If he is just starting, no reason not to start on a 5 if that's what he deems necessary for the type of music he is doing. One isn't really harder/easier than the other; it's usually just hard for 4 string guys to get acclimated to a 5 so they might be in the headspace that it is harder to play in general.

FWIW I started on a 5 and now primarily play 4 string - but I'm glad i am comfortable on extended range basses for when the need does arise.

+1
It is much easier to learn on a 5 & go to a 4 than the other way around.

1st bass passive or active? I would say passive if you use a pick & active if you use fingers / thumb.
my 2 cents.

 

[PrietoBass]

Start with a bass that will make you want to pick it up and play it.

 

[NelsonNelson]

Get a 5 that is active. Leave the battery out or switch it off until you feel you are good because it will add more noise and be distracting. Learning on a 4 is just foolish as it is easier to learn on a 5 and later play a 4 versus the other way around. Plus you don't have to swing your hand all over the fretboard for a song because you have a better range so your playing is a little more relaxed and focused. I swore by passive 4's for so long...now I'm an active 5 only guy. Just my .02

 

[Solarmist]

Why does active have to be a modern hi fi sound? It's typically just onboard eq that allows you to tailor your tone.

Don't like my description?

Yes it is an onboard EQ, but it's a powered (pre) EQ allowing it to boost the signals which a passive bass doesn't do.

I have both, and there's no mistaking the two.

 

[natw42]

Don't like my description?

Yes it is an onboard EQ, but it's a powered (pre) EQ allowing it to boost the signals which a passive bass doesn't do.

I have both, and there's no mistaking the two.

Nah I didn't like it mostly because it's a blanket statement. My point was that you can get all manner of sounds out of an active system - hi fi, old school and anything in between. And I've played passive basses that have very zingy sounds with the tone know all the way open.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

one difference between active and passive basses is that you have two sets of EQ when you have an active (the bass and the amp). This can lead to problematic eq settings. Of course some active basses also have very high output, which can be great if you like distortion. Or terrible if you dont.

 

[Yogen]

I'm gonna get an ibanez gsr 205, and apparently it has a high output. Should I use the eq or not? Because when I tried it at the store,i got a sound I really liked after tweaking it a but, didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I liked the sound.

 

[JazznFunk]

You should learn what each EQ knob does to the sound and then decide if you need to tweak something to get the sound you want. Start with the EQ flat (no boost or cut) and then ask 'does this need more (or less) treble, mids, bass, etc.'? Even an active bass with 'normal' or less than 'hot' output will get crazy loud and have a high output if you get too heavy-handed with the EQ. For that matter, make sure the AMP you're using is set flat to start with.

Start flat, play the bass, tweak with small adjustments.

I'm gonna get an ibanez gsr 205, and apparently it has a high output. Should I use the eq or not? Because when I tried it at the store,i got a sound I really liked after tweaking it a but, didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I liked the sound.

 

[vbshredder]

But those basses are like.. very expensive

Yeah you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a good sounding playable bass. You can play a gig just a well with a $300 bass vs a $2000 bass.

On the 5 string vs down tuned 4 thing, in a metal band alot of times the riffs are based on open strings, so if the guitarist is in drop D chugging open and you're chugging away on your low B string at the 3rd fret, it can get tricky to play some of the riffs that were written around an open string. You can definitely pull it off, but alot of times it's more comfortable just to match tunings - just something to consider.

If it were me i'd get to the 5 string - it'll be there when you need it, and it's not rocket science like some would have you believe. Plus alot of heavy bands are going lower and lower in tunings these days


EDIT: on the EQ - use it for sure!! it's there, get to know it, set it how it sounds good to you!
Good luck!!

 

[adamafurious]

If you want an active 5, then get an active 5. That's what I learned on. And even tho I primarily play passive 4s now, I'm greatful for that knowledge and experience.

Sure, a passive 4 may be "easier" but, IMHO, if you're passionate about bass, and being a student of bass, why would you ever want to make it "easy" on yourself?

KIM, what makes a bass "good" is about 2% fact & about 98% personal preference.

 

[bassbenj]

I'm gonna get an ibanez gsr 205, and apparently it has a high output. Should I use the eq or not? Because when I tried it at the store,i got a sound I really liked after tweaking it a but, didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I liked the sound.

It's hard to go wrong with a GSR205! My story: I'm wandering around Music-go-round. Spot a GSR206. $200. Try it. Note: I need one more bass like a hole in the head!

The bottom line is I HAD to have it! The tone. The neck. The feel. The overall bass for the price! For me it was a 6 string plain old black paint bar bass par excellence!

After I lived with it a while, what did I discover? Well, it's not quite your typical active bass with a lot of tonal range. The Active knobs are rather mild and the bass tends to sound/play a lot like a passive bass. (The vol/vol configuration contributes to that)

So I'm thinking about changing the preamp to an active 3 band unit to give me a more active feel, but until then it's just a matter of doing just what you already did: You play with the active EQ until tone is killer and leave it there. Do that and this bass is HARD to beat!

Think of it this way between active and passive: Does it really matter where the EQ knobs are located, on the bass or on your amp, if you are just dialing them in and leaving them there? No it does not.

It's sitting right here by my computer. Wow, does it sound GOOD!

 

[Solarmist]

I'm gonna get an ibanez gsr 205, and apparently it has a high output. Should I use the eq or not? Because when I tried it at the store,i got a sound I really liked after tweaking it a but, didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I liked the sound.

I'm going to highly suggest you get an SR305 rather than a GSR; it has a superior active EQ, and sounds much better. I don't think there's much difference in price, and you'll be happy you did in the longrun.