New build - stuck on pickups choice

[ctmullins]

Most "active basses" are really passive pickups paired with an active tone stack.

Truly active pickups require battery power to function. EMG is the most famous brand. The advantage of active pickups is less parasitic loss from passive circuitry. Active pickups don't have to be paired with an active tone stack.

The buffer is at the center of the active circuitry. The buffer is an impedance matching device that drastically reduces the losses of passive circuits. The buffer lets more of the pickup's "true tone" come through.

If you want to hear this "true tone" from your passive bass, wire the pickup straight to the output jack, with no potentiometers in the circuit, and use a one foot low-capacitance cable.

Using a preamp pedal instead isn't quite the same, because your passive controls are sucking away treble, and your cable probably is too, before the signal even reaches your preamp pedal.

I suspect many people who dislike active basses have based that opinion on cheap active circuits that are built to a price point. Good quality aftermarket active circuits are generally quiet and transparent. More or less. If you associate "active" with "incredibly boomy", well, you either got a cheap preamp, or you're not turning the knobs correctly.

Fears of batteries dying during a gig are overblown. With normal alkaline batteries, you'll get six months to a year out of a battery. And it will die gradually, so you'll be able to hear the signal degrade before it's completely dead. And if you need more reassurance, install a battery life indicator and a tool-less battery box. And always carry a spare battery or three.

And by no means does "fretless" equal "organic woody sound". That's nonsense.

 

[Whaleform]

Most "active basses" are really passive pickups paired with an active tone stack.

Truly active pickups require battery power to function. EMG is the most famous brand. The advantage of active pickups is less parasitic loss from passive circuitry. Active pickups don't have to be paired with an active tone stack.

The buffer is at the center of the active circuitry. The buffer is an impedance matching device that drastically reduces the losses of passive circuits. The buffer lets more of the pickup's "true tone" come through.

If you want to hear this "true tone" from your passive bass, wire the pickup straight to the output jack, with no potentiometers in the circuit, and use a one foot low-capacitance cable.

Using a preamp pedal instead isn't quite the same, because your passive controls are sucking away treble, and your cable probably is too, before the signal even reaches your preamp pedal.

I suspect many people who dislike active basses have based that opinion on cheap active circuits that are built to a price point. Good quality aftermarket active circuits are generally quiet and transparent. More or less. If you associate "active" with "incredibly boomy", well, you either got a cheap preamp, or you're not turning the knobs correctly.

Fears of batteries dying during a gig are overblown. With normal alkaline batteries, you'll get six months to a year out of a battery. And it will die gradually, so you'll be able to hear the signal degrade before it's completely dead. And if you need more reassurance, install a battery life indicator and a tool-less battery box. And always carry a spare battery or three.

And by no means does "fretless" equal "organic woody sound". That's nonsense.

Ive tried Active pickups and Active pre amps .. I found them too boomy .. others also have shared this opinion.. Ive turned the knobs correctly and still didnt like it too much..

Fretless does have a woody organic sound to my ears and the ears of many others.. perhaps my wording could have been better being trilingual but i'd appreciate you not dismissing my experience as "nonsense".

 

[ctmullins]

You're overgeneralizing. You're assuming that all active pickups and active preamps share the same qualities. They don't.

You're also assuming that all fretless basses sound "woody and organic". They don't. Some sound "zingy and shrill". Some sound "plasticy and artificial". Some sound "solid and meaty".

Also, words suck at describing sounds.

But please resist the urge to overgeneralize. There is literally a kaleidoscopic array of tones available from active electronics. Every kind of tone you can imagine, both good and bad.

 

[Whaleform]

You're overgeneralizing. You're assuming that all active pickups and active preamps share the same qualities. They don't.

You're also assuming that all fretless basses sound "woody and organic". They don't. Some sound "zingy and shrill". Some sound "plasticy and artificial". Some sound "solid and meaty".

Also, words suck at describing sounds.

But please resist the urge to overgeneralize. There is literally a kaleidoscopic array of tones available from active electronics. Every kind of tone you can imagine, both good and bad.

No i didnt assume they share the same qualities.. I stated they share enough qualities for my purpose..

Im not assuming at all.. I know that fretless has a woody, mids dominant, waah, sound regardless of the extra adjectives you just added as the icing on top..

Words are fine at describing sounds.. Im aware of the array of tones available from actives, as are many other players with 30+ years experience who also prefer passives like I do..

I will describe in the way I see fit thank you very much.. I recommend you resist the urge to come off sounding like a condescending prick.

Chill out dude.

 

[ctmullins]

Alrighty then. Good luck in your search.

 

[BGroovy]

The new Nordy multi coils are the answer to everything

 

[Matt Kustom]

Neodymium pickups are a great alternative to the battery and cheap op amps. Any op amp that can run on a battery is not going to be great