Help Me Out

[Wallygator]

Ok here's my situation. I am a "pretend" bass player with very basic skills (but I LOVE it). I am 40 years old not in a band and not really interested in getting into one. I have a couple of friends of mine that I am going to jam with from time to time. I currently own 3 basses, A Yamaha rbx 260, a Washburn XB-120 and an ESP TA-200. I play through either a Peavey microbass practice amp or a tascam bass trainer to jam along with my fav cd's.

So all my basses are passive. I am very happy with the tone that I get especially the ESP. I have never owned an active bass. I understand the concept of them (more power, more control of tone etc.)

My question is, seeing as I play with fairly low volume or through headphones, would I see any real benefit from an active electronics bass. I have a line on a nice Spector and am trying to figure out if I should bother.

I have also heard negative stories about actives as well?

Any input would help me out

thanks tb

 

[LilloEsquilo]

There are some passives that have almost as much power as actives, the Seymore Duncans in my Squier Modified VM Jag being a good case of that. As far as adjustments, well of course active makes that faster and easier to do right on the bass, with more range on the actives.

But actives require a battery (or batteries). It is an extra expense and hassle to change.

I don't think for what you are doing, from the sound of it, you "need" active. If you want a bass that is active, that's fine, but you don't NEED one. If you're not just dying to spend your money to try out an active bass, my advice, for what it's worth, is hang onto your money.

If your money is burning a hole in your pocket, go to your local music store and compare some active and passive basses. Your taste and what you want may be totally different than mine.

 

[skywalkerla5]

Have you played the spector yet? If you have and it was a joy to play, then who cares about active basses or passive basses. I feel people try to over-intellectualize tone so much and it's best not to get too caught up in it. Every bass I own plays well and that's why I own them. Since tone can be shaped by so many different elements (strings, cabs, heads, speakers, bass material, even cables or room setting) I find it the least stressful and most fun when I don't worry about what kind of bass I'm playing but rather just play.