Im transitioning... not understanding the preAmp thing.

[thunderkyss]

I'm a guitar, cable, amp kind of guy. I own a couple of basses already. Thinking of adding another. Looking through different models I'm noticing a built in preamp is "desirable" for bass players.

Why? It's just a built in peddle. Wouldn't i be better off with passive controls on the bass & a 10 band eq pedal? Or a darkglass preamp?

 

[-Stingray]

As yes. The age old question.

Yes and no.

Do you want to control your sound from the controls right at your fingertips? Then yes.

Do you hate changing batteries, or love the sound of a passive bass? Then no.

You do you bro.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I put a preamp in my jazz bass to boost output and control tone right from the bass. It has a bypass. But really the idea for me is the preamp lets me show up to whatever situation with just my bass knowing I can get the sounds I want.

I think you'd be best off getting the sounds you need in whatever way makes most sense to you.

Personally I prefer passive and a floor unit, but after being in a couple situations when it was easiest to just DI to a board, I realized having an onboard preamp is a great idea.

 

[DonaldR]

Read the thread: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ca...s-passive-basses.1672266/page-4#post-29091809

 

[JimmyM]

If you don't wish to have an active pre in your bass, it's perfectly fine. I have a couple with them but I prefer full on passive these days.

 

[Jefus]

I've sold or modified every fully passive bass I've had. I definitely know which end of that spectrum I fall on. I do see some people get confused/overwhelmed by the sheer number of knobs without understanding what they do, and they usually just turn them all all the way up, which sounds like hot garbage.

So, yeah, it's a preference thing. Just understand that not everyone will know what to do with all them knobs if they play your bass.

 

[TomB]

As noted, there's no right or wrong. I've always had both - well, since the eighties, anyway. What is true is the amazing growth of preamp and various buffered pedal options that can accomplish a huge variety of sonic tasks and overcome passive cable losses. For the cost of a power supply you don't have to buy or change batteries. And you can leave your passive bass plugged in if that's helpful. So I'm trending back to passive basses for my needs of late.

 

[michael_t]

I own two active/passive basses, both of which I play in passive all the time. They don't even have batteries in them anymore.

Why? Because I always play thru a preamp/DI, where I can do all the tone-shaping. EQ on EQ can muddy things up too much, not to mention I hate having to unplug the cable every time I'm done playing.

 

[Pep]

I prefer a bass head with Gain & Master Volume Controls, EQ and Compression on-board. Anything else I prefer in pedals. I guess I'm "old school".

 

[Wasnex]

I'm a guitar, cable, amp kind of guy. I own a couple of basses already. Thinking of adding another. Looking through different models I'm noticing a built in preamp is "desirable" for bass players.

Why? It's just a built in peddle. Wouldn't i be better off with passive controls on the bass & a 10 band eq pedal? Or a darkglass preamp?

Your overthinking it. Try a bunch of basses and pick the one you like. Don't worry about whether it's active or passive.

If you simply can't accept the idea of a built in preamp, get a passive bass. If that's what you want it's not big deal.

 

[dmt]

I'm on the passive bass train, myself. For one, coming from the guitar world, a passive bass works just like a guitar. For two, if you're into the traditional sounds, playing response and amp interaction, that's where they came from. However, I have borrowed active basses and of course they can work too. And active has been around since the 70s, so they're pretty traditional sounds and such now, too. Meanwhile, bass amplification has changed since the good old days for most (but certainly not all) bassists, so it's a Brave New World, full of possibilities.

But yeah, anyway, for me, passive all the way. Best thing to do is to experiment (ex., try some stuff out at a store) if you're curious, or just stuck with passive as it'll respond as expected and be one less thing to deal with as you proceed on your bass journey

 

[MtManiac]

Never been a guitar player, and I have always preferred passive basses and still do.

I've owned a few active ones, and currently own two, but for what they give me, they're not worth the extra PITA of ensuring I have fully charged batteries, or troubleshooting when things go wrong, like fresh batteries but still no sound. Or on a gig/at a rehearsal and I switch basses between sets, and have to readjust the gain settings on the board. A 7 or 10 band graphic EQ on a pedal provides much more control over tone, and then at the end of the chain there's either another graphic EQ or a parametric EQ. So I say "meh" to the overall concept of active preamps.

However, the nicest bass I have ever owned was a Stingray Special - roasted maple neck, Ebony fretboard, sparkle finish, two big fat humbuckers, and that neck felt amazing. Available only with an active preamp, no passive switch.

Sometimes you've gotta take the bad with the *great*.

Mostly though I'm happiest with a passive Precision, PJ, or Jazz.

 

[chris_b]

I don't worry or care about active or passive, I listen to the sound of the bass.

If the tone is better than my current bass, and a few other parameters tick their boxes, I'll buy it.

If it's active or passive, so be it.

 

[-Stingray]

Never been a guitar player, and I have always preferred passive basses and still do.

I've owned a few active ones, and currently own two, but for what they give me, they're not worth the extra PITA of ensuring I have fully charged batteries, or troubleshooting when things go wrong, like fresh batteries but still no sound. Or on a gig/at a rehearsal and I switch basses between sets, and have to readjust the gain settings on the board. A 7 or 10 band graphic EQ on a pedal provides much more control over tone, and then at the end of the chain there's either another graphic EQ or a parametric EQ. So I say "meh" to the overall concept of active preamps.

However, the nicest bass I have ever owned was a Stingray Special - roasted maple neck, Ebony fretboard, sparkle finish, two big fat humbuckers, and that neck felt amazing. Available only with an active preamp, no passive switch.

Sometimes you've gotta take the bad with the *great*.

Mostly though I'm happiest with a passive Precision, PJ, or Jazz.

I pretty much live here too. That said, my go-to basses are both Stingrays. While I prefer passive basses (no batteries, no worries about unplugging when you are done playing, less to generally go wrong with the instrument) the truth is, nothing sounds (or feels) like my Stingrays, so I deal with the active electronics they come with.

Plus it's nice to be able to quickly dump the mids (from the bass controls) for some slapping fun.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

I love my amps active because of the sound and because a lot of times I don't play with my amp and I prefer controls I perfectly know at my fingertips. Sometimes I try to play in passive mode but always come back to active. It just sounds better to me.

A lot of people prefer otherwise, which is great.

 

[MtManiac]

I pretty much live here too. That said, my go-to basses are both Stingrays. While I prefer passive basses (no batteries, no worries about unplugging when you are done playing, less to generally go wrong with the instrument) the truth is, nothing sounds (or feels) like my Stingrays, so I deal with the active electronics they come with.

Plus it's nice to be able to quickly dump the mids (from the bass controls) for some slapping fun.

I've never learned or wanted to learn how to slap, but the HH's are so very versatile. The neck humbucker does a solid-enough P sound, plus you can get something close to a 60s Jazz, a 70s Jazz, and a Thunderbird out of the other settings, not to forget the more classic Stingray tone itself. Kinda covers all of the basses!

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Looking through different models I'm noticing a built in preamp is "desirable" for bass players.

The premise does not support the conclusion.

 

[sethlow3]

It's more so common with five strings.
You may just be a guy who prefers passive only like me. That's fine and I do it for the same reasons you listed. I don't need EQ to be on board where I can fat finger or worry about it all of the time. I like vol, tone like you. If I want to adjust anything, I do it on an off board one.

It just means if you do buy an active bass, it will have to be one that has an active passive switch you leave off or gut it out to be passive.

One of my fivers is passive and the other I installed a spacer to keep it in passive mode (leaving only one dummy knob). You can find passive fives, they're just harder to find.

 

[Medicine Man]

It depends on the material. If you play in a variety cover situation, being able to twist a couple quick knobs to go from a motown sound to something more modern is just the best. If you play a more consistent genre or originals, having a single, dialed in passive tone is easier. I have historically played active basses, but my current project loves a P.

 

[BadMonk]

there are many paths but only one journey.