Perhaps! I did have the Joe Dart for a bit, and even though it was passive I loved the tone.Ceramic pickup wired in series is the Sterling sound. Maybe you just like it better. I just got back my 2007 USA Stringray 5 HH that has ceramic pickups wired in series. It also has a Sterling preamp. They only did this from 2005-2007. It has that tone you are describing. It’s definitely the Sterling sound and I love it.