any tips on making my passive american p bass sound active without actually making it active? maybe an EQ pedal or something? 
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making my passive bass sound active?
- Thread starter Rilander
- Start date
any tips on making my passive american p bass sound active without actually making it active? maybe an EQ pedal or something?
You can always buy an outboard preamp pedal.
The Aguilar Tone Hammer is basically a stompbox version of their OBP-3 preamp. Likewise with the Sadowsky preamp. The Xotic Trilogic comes to mind as well, but it has a more natural sound.
The Aguilar might be your best bet.
now if i use the Aguilar Tone Hammer will i be plugging in to the active input on my amp instead of the passive?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]hit me up with a link to something like that~!
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These are both pricey but reputedly very nice.
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^This is quite a bit more affordable, and while not a pedal, works very nicely to add some control & boost to a passive bass. I have one for my DB's piezo but tried it w/a passive fretless & a 73 P-Bass; it really woke both basses up. Look on Bob Gollihur's bass page for a better deal tha $117.
Silent Fly
Commercial User
I read somewhere that the only passive bass is the double bass. All electric basses are active. The only difference is where the first stage is. 
I recommend you a good eq and new strings. If you use long cables an on-board buffer should help you.
I have a Status Graphite 6 strings (active). I can make my passive Fender jazz as active as the Status with a new set of strings and some EQ.
I recommend you a good eq and new strings. If you use long cables an on-board buffer should help you.
I have a Status Graphite 6 strings (active). I can make my passive Fender jazz as active as the Status with a new set of strings and some EQ.
Somebody's gotta do it, so I'll put in the obligatory plug for the SansAmp:
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These show up used here pretty frequently.
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These show up used here pretty frequently.
MXR M80 pedal or the Tech21 SansAmp BDDI pedal has a mid scoop switch that boost the lows and highs that give you a real nice active sound.
That's a good question. If you're not significantly increasing gain with the pedal, continuing to use the passive input will probably work fine. If you do boost, it still might be fine.
I would try passive first, and give a listen. Too much gain can distort your amp's input, but what is too much depends on your bass, amp, effects chain, technique, etc.
