• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I never place a battery in my bass

I never have a battery in my active/passive bass. Will this harm the active pre-amp?

  • No

    Votes: 171 97.7%
  • Yes

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Total voters
    175
906be4c9bfe14eee65d563c488c4d807.jpg
 
Why buy an active/passive if you're not going to use the preamp?
Perhaps because it isn't available in a passive only model.

I would totally do this if I loved the bass overall and liked its passive tone. There are certain active/passive Yamaha basses that have interested me that I'd probably never put a batter into.

@Salsa what bass did you pick up if you don't mind me asking?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wisebass
I would totally do this if I loved the bass overall and liked its passive tone. There are certain active/passive Yamaha basses that have interested me that I'd probably never put a batter into.

@Salsa what bass did you pick up if you don't mind me asking?
Hello, I bought a new Fender American Ultra Precision Bass. I needed the P Bass and Jazz Bass pickups (like two basses in one), and like you said, it doesn't come in passive.
 
Why buy an active/passive if you're not going to use the preamp?
The bass I wanted (P and Jazz Bass pickups) only comes in active/passive, and I like the passive sound (Fender American Ultra Precision Bass). I tried the fender performer PJ bass (P and jazz bass pickups) but it had Yosemite pickups which I do not like.
 
Last edited:
I would totally do this if I loved the bass overall and liked its passive tone. There are certain active/passive Yamaha basses that have interested me that I'd probably never put a batter into.

@Salsa what bass did you pick up if you don't mind me asking?
A Fender American Ultra Precision Bass. And you are right, it doesn't come in passive. The performer P Bass has Yosemite pickups which I do not like. I want the authentic Fender P bass sound with the extra Jazz bass pickup. It's like having the P and Jazz bass in one.
 
My L2K ran without a battery in it for almost 20 years. The only thing you might pay attention to is the knobs on the preamp - over a very long period of time, the pots can become a little scratchy, especially where the wipers sit if you never ever touch the knobs like I did.

My Carvins I ran without batteries too and I just turned the knobs all the way in the "down" position. That way the wipers sat in a totally unimportant area in the pot, so if any corrosion occurred in the fully off position, who cares.

That may be a little anal, but doesn't hurt to just turn the knobs all the way down and leave them.

L
 

Latest posts