Basses are like toilet paper...in the end it's what ever works.
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Hey @Stumbo I too recently bought the "stealth" charcoal metalflake SR400 with the new PowerSound pickups. Three bands eq, blend control. Very powerful bass, much authority, and it really sounds like ME! The way I want to sound! Glad you found your bass too. I do have an older walnut SR500 but I don't like the Bartolini's as much as the new Ibanez PowerSound pickups. I think they're Ibanez version of the new Nordstrand pickups. Anyway, I've been getting a lot of compliments on my new bass.Yep.
I picked up an active, 3 band eq, Ibanez a few years ago. I had played passive basses for a few decades before that. Never thought I'd care for it.
With the Ibby, I can adjust the volume and pretty much leave the backline eq. alone. The bass has enough eq. to get the tone I want.
My passives sit nicely in their cases. Probably bring out the '63 or '78 J for recording.
If it weren't for those holes that would be left in the controls area I'd gut it & make it completely passive
Hey KBD! I knew it was something like that! Anyway it's unbelievable how good the new PowerSpans sound. Can't figure how Ibanez does it-- an affordable bass that looks and sounds awesome! Thanks for the update!The SR400EQM has PowerSpan pickups.
I really want to try one of those! Hard to come by in Norway though.I prefer passive basses, and my favorite bass is a passive MusicMan Caprice!!
Sounds like a good way to do it! I absolutely agree when it comes to active v. passive. I haven't tried enough expensive active basses to clearly say, there is just a feel about the passive ones I really enjoy.I like to have an active with me when I gig both a 4 string and a 5er on the same night - that way, I can EQ my amp for the passive bass, then dial in the active with those amp settings... This kind of approach makes for seamless bass changes during a set - and has worked really well for me...
Regarding EBMM preamps vs others - I also have a Schecter Hellraiser-5, but don't like it's "active sound" nearly as well as that of EBMM - same thing with all the Ibanez 5ers I've owned, and there have been many(over a dozen)... To me, passives have a more "real" sound than most actives - more organic, and less "electronic", if that makes sense...
For discussions sake. Isn’t it “plug and play” too, to leave your amp flat and use your bass’s eq.?I have owned and played some of the nicest basses IMHO.... Alembic, Pushic Custom Bass, Spector, Rickenbacker, Fender Custom Shop and the list goes on and on for the past 44 years...and have loved them all.
But, I find myself gravitating to the simplicity of my Carvin TBS4 and Squier CV 50's Pbass. Is it just me, or have others found the "plug and play" with passive basses more attractive? I set the EQ on my amp and am happy!!
Really both....set EQ flat on bass and once the EQ is set on amp, I leave it alone. My Carvin TBS4 Bass has only a volume knob (no EQ section).For discussions sake. Isn’t it “plug and play” too, to leave your amp flat and use your bass’s eq.?
Really both....set EQ flat on bass and once the EQ is set on amp, I leave it alone. My Carvin TBS4 Bass has only a volume knob (no EQ section).