I have two of each. I like and play both kinds. I like and play all four of my basses. Life is good.
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Depends on layout of pickups for me. If it's as simple as a P or J bass, I will take passive. When I get into soapbars, dual humbuckers, and more than five strings I want an active setup.
I've got either with my G&L. I prefer the passive setting, since I don't really notice any advantage in active mode. The MFD pickups are super hot, so I don't really need active, unless I'm trying to cop a RIC tone (treble boost mode). Since I have a RIC now, I haven't put the G&L in active mode. I might even take the battery out soon.
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I was going to say active, because I like having as many tools as possible be as accessible as possible. Then it occurred to me that I usually start tone hunting by playing with the bass/treble knobs, get frustrated, set them back to flat, and get the tone I want quick & easy just by pickup blend and finger placement/technique.
Granted, I don't have a great ear for bass tones yet, but for my purposes I reckon I would just as soon go passive to skip the extra knobs, and leave the bass plugged into the amp without draining any battery. Saves a step when you get them powerful urges to play, you know?
Granted, I don't have a great ear for bass tones yet, but for my purposes I reckon I would just as soon go passive to skip the extra knobs, and leave the bass plugged into the amp without draining any battery. Saves a step when you get them powerful urges to play, you know?
- Jul 3, 2004
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To me it's quality vs variety.
Generally speaking I prefer the tone and simplicity of passive basses, but the convenience of onboard EQ means I often use active basses on gigs.
Nope. They're still putting out an instrument level signal, not what a power amp is designed to receive.
I've never seen a bass that takes C batteries, only 9V and CR2032. And the CR2032s are a relatively new thing in acoustics.
Generally speaking I prefer the tone and simplicity of passive basses, but the convenience of onboard EQ means I often use active basses on gigs.
Nope. They're still putting out an instrument level signal, not what a power amp is designed to receive.
I've never seen a bass that takes C batteries, only 9V and CR2032. And the CR2032s are a relatively new thing in acoustics.
Wait...what? Every active EQ I've seen for the last 20 years has been 9 volt.
All things being (un)equal, this. No onboard eq is going to give me the tonal variety of a good equalizer and/or preamp/amplifier. If I could try a hundred custom wound passive pickups in every bass I ever want to buy, I would go passive everytime. I can't so I prefer active pickups.
I like both, but these days I go mostly passive because I like the sound of my passive pickups a little better. Less clean and pristine, somewhat less versatile (but only somewhat because I can get whatever tones I need out of either), but I find it easier to get the sounds that truly turn me on in a big way out of passive.
On the other hand, an onboard EQ will give you a goodly amount of tonal variety and the ability to change it on your bass wherever you are on the stage as opposed to having to walk back to your preamp and do it. I see the logic of both sides of that issue.
I like the versatility of active eq. I do check my batteries before every gig, and keep a set of spares in my case. I'd hate to have a bad experience.
Actually I love both, and it means I can justify having more Basses for "tonal variety" 
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I like active/passive. Two of my basses havea preamp with the typical bass/treble controls, but also have passive rolloff controls typical of most passive basses. And they have an active/passive switch. Totally flexible system, and should a battery die, switch to passive - no problem, and since there's a passive tone control, I can still shape the sound.
That's a tough one. I like both Active and Passive basses.
Much of the time, I run straight into a DI box to FOH so an onboard pre helps give me options. I still like to have a passive tone knob in conjunction with the active EQ as well as an active/passive switch... Just in case.
That said, sometimes simplicity is refreshing and a passive P is all I need.
Much of the time, I run straight into a DI box to FOH so an onboard pre helps give me options. I still like to have a passive tone knob in conjunction with the active EQ as well as an active/passive switch... Just in case.
That said, sometimes simplicity is refreshing and a passive P is all I need.
The only active bass I care for these days is the 2-band 'Ray. Otherwise, passive all the way for me--just sounds better and more natural to my ears--not "hyped" like many active axes.
my basses/gtrs are all Passive ...
i prefer any kind of external preamp ... ! as it can move from instrument to instrument ...
way to many internal preamps have always seemed to have a rather limited range of usefulness ... adding to much hiss or boominess if turned up more than just a little bit ... more expensive pres don't suffer near as much ... as in my Sadowsky w/vtc , or previous Alembic ... i've like a few Aggie pres , but still using minimal boost ...
in my experience ... finding the right pickups , strings and proper height / setup ,... goes a long way in getting the natural bass gtr tone i want ... of course , i've never wanted my bass to sound like a piano or synth ... helps that keys are my main instrument .. !
bottom line ... batteries are for flashlights
i prefer any kind of external preamp ... ! as it can move from instrument to instrument ...
way to many internal preamps have always seemed to have a rather limited range of usefulness ... adding to much hiss or boominess if turned up more than just a little bit ... more expensive pres don't suffer near as much ... as in my Sadowsky w/vtc , or previous Alembic ... i've like a few Aggie pres , but still using minimal boost ...
in my experience ... finding the right pickups , strings and proper height / setup ,... goes a long way in getting the natural bass gtr tone i want ... of course , i've never wanted my bass to sound like a piano or synth ... helps that keys are my main instrument .. !
bottom line ... batteries are for flashlights
