New pickups and possibly electronics to a cheap bass?

[markanini]

EMG includes passive controls with each pickup and shows wiring options in their instructions:

Invalid Link Removed

It's really no different than any other install with passive controls.

So all you need to add is the battery basically(the rest is included)?

 

[dwizum]

Yeah, they literally include everything - pickup, wire harness, pots, cap, jack, mounting screws, battery clip. All you need to bring to the table is a bass and a battery!

 

[Reedt2000]

Active pickups (all of em, not just EMG) have some level of preamp built into them, boosting the level and shaping the tone at the pickup. What that preamp does is, of course, not adjustable, as @dwizum said you use passive controls to adjust volume and a standard tone control.

 

[markanini]

Awesome. I already have EQ gear I can use for toneshaping, and just enough space in the control cavity for a 9v battery. This lowers the barrier to entry.

 

[BadSanta1281]

Mod the heck out of it.

Just don't charge your new parts on credit.

 

[markanini]

Just don't charge your new parts on credit.

That's what I call sound advice.

 

[micguy]

If the neck is straight, feels good in your hands, the truss rod works, and it doesn't have any pronounced dead spots, it's a good physical plaform - mod away. The only thing I don't like about the active route is you can't modify the sound with circuit tweaks like you can with a passive setup, but if you know of an active circuit/pickup combo that floats your boat, go for it.