THe sadowsky pre is magical. I tend to run it flat, with maybe a touch of bass boost only. It just adds some presence and a tone that simply works. Serious rock n roll tone.
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THe sadowsky pre is magical. I tend to run it flat, with maybe a touch of bass boost only. It just adds some presence and a tone that simply works. Serious rock n roll tone.
A few points on this thread. 1. The complaints about batteries killing your gig are silly. That is no reason to NOT play an active bass. 2. Those who say they can't get dynamics on a active bass dumbfound me. I literally have NO idea what you are talking about. I get plenty of dynamics with all different kinds of basses. A good active preamp will let YOU shine through just fine. 3. I rarely touch the eq or tone knob on any bass in a live situation. Outside of panning pickups I can't see a need for every making wild eq adjustment on the amp or on the bass mid gig. Recording session is different as you need to find a tone that works. But in the studio the engineer wants a flat tone so he has total control over the final tone when he mixes, in most cases (assuming the producers gives a rats ass about the bass tone, not always the case) I will admit that live I do enjoy the simplicity of the passive bass, but 25 years of owning both passive and active basses have taught me how to use both convincingly.
That being said, nothing will sound like a passive Fender P, or an active Musicman. I enjoy both these tones and have one of each in my tone arsenal.
That being said, nothing will sound like a passive Fender P, or an active Musicman. I enjoy both these tones and have one of each in my tone arsenal.
I have the PZ4 on my 55-01. I love it.
+1
I am thinking of getting a passive P/J though..
Due to convenience for making small EQ adjustments on the fly in a gig situation, but obviously not needing to do that while recording?
I like passive.
Why? I don't like worrying if my battery is dead. I don't like worrying if my battery is going to die. I don't like unscrewing 8 screws on the control panel to change my battery. I don't like wondering if I brought a screwdriver to open my control panel. I don't like wondering if my spare batteries are OK. I don't like wondering if I left a battery in a bass I haven't played in a while and it's going to leak. I don't like batteries. I like to pick my bass up and go, no questions, no wondering.
Ahhh, passive.
Why? I don't like worrying if my battery is dead. I don't like worrying if my battery is going to die. I don't like unscrewing 8 screws on the control panel to change my battery. I don't like wondering if I brought a screwdriver to open my control panel. I don't like wondering if my spare batteries are OK. I don't like wondering if I left a battery in a bass I haven't played in a while and it's going to leak. I don't like batteries. I like to pick my bass up and go, no questions, no wondering.
Ahhh, passive.
I should point out that just because my preference is for passive, doesn't mean that I think that either is "better."
Also, many active basses have active/passive switches these days.
Also, many active basses have active/passive switches these days.
Means2nEnd
Supporting Member
All the basses I build and own have preamps with active passive option switch and most with a tone so I have control over my overall tone active or passive. Batteries last me like almost a year so I can't understand a fear of them. You have a better chance of falling off the stage. Only issue I have is they are not good for the environment with the waste.
I will say though although I have the passive option I NEVER use it. To me basses in passive mode compared to the preamp engaged sounds weak and lifeless. I like to have my amp's eq set to basic sound I like then I play usually 2-3 basses a night so I just adjust my bass not touching my amp all the time. The trick is to use it sparingly and not crank everything to 11. You have an eq in your amp or preamp or in your bass why is it looked at so differently? Active pickups are another story but they have their pros and cons.. I feel most times with active EMGs or MECs you hear mostly all pickup and none of the tone of the instrument but then you can get a clarity I haven't heard in any passive pickup. The trick is to own like 37 basses in all shapes and sizes I'm certain of it.
I will say though although I have the passive option I NEVER use it. To me basses in passive mode compared to the preamp engaged sounds weak and lifeless. I like to have my amp's eq set to basic sound I like then I play usually 2-3 basses a night so I just adjust my bass not touching my amp all the time. The trick is to use it sparingly and not crank everything to 11. You have an eq in your amp or preamp or in your bass why is it looked at so differently? Active pickups are another story but they have their pros and cons.. I feel most times with active EMGs or MECs you hear mostly all pickup and none of the tone of the instrument but then you can get a clarity I haven't heard in any passive pickup. The trick is to own like 37 basses in all shapes and sizes I'm certain of it.
It depends. My Geddy has an Audere preamp, I spend more time playing with the knobs than actually playing the thing. My Ray, I like it flat.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I like both passive and active ...
Some basses sound better with a preamp and some don't.
I have 15 basses ... 7 passive and 8 are active.
Some basses sound better with a preamp and some don't.
I have 15 basses ... 7 passive and 8 are active.
^^This^^ pretty much sums it up. I'm a retired civil engineer - a retired combat engineer, in fact. People like me are very, very well acquainted with Mr. Murphy and his gang of gremlins. We like things that are simple; reliable; and that don't go South on us in the middle of a job - or a firefight. Which, in the case of a bass, means a battery-less passive one. All that aside, I do have an active bass - a very nice Alembic Epic. I don't play it much; mainly because, aside from having to screw around with the battery, I have a hard time getting the sound I want out of it. Because I want very vintage Rock, Rockabilly, Country, and Blues out of it; not the thin modern sound it seems determined to give me. I can get close to what I want with it - but it's a lot of work. It's so much easier to simply pick up one of the 18 passive basses I own - like the Rick, or the Gretsch, or the P-Bass - and just plug it in, and play. Gives me just the sound I want to hear, every time...
I'm confused. My first bass was a Jazz. Then for years I switched to a P. Then in the very early 80's I switched to an Ibanez Roadstar II. It "acted" like active but was passive. I used it up until 2010 when wife bought me an Ibanez SR500 with active for my birthday. I loved it! Well, it worked well with my older Peavey amps so well because of the tone controls.
Then last spring I bought a GK MB200, then a MB500 and AudioKinesis H1203. I'm currently getting a second H1203. The bass didn't sound as great but to be fair I didn't work a lot on the EQ. Well a while back I bought an Ibanez GSR100EXL, a passive 4 string with a MusicMan style single pickup, passive. Amazingly, it sounds excellent with my GK/AK H1203 cab! So, I'm now liking passive better than active. I too love simplicity. And the sound out of the 100EXL is so robust and commanding, very growly.
Next time I'm out I have to take both basses and give them each every other set so I have a chance to really push them. But at this point I'm loving the tone, sound, and simplicity of my GSR100EXL.
Then last spring I bought a GK MB200, then a MB500 and AudioKinesis H1203. I'm currently getting a second H1203. The bass didn't sound as great but to be fair I didn't work a lot on the EQ. Well a while back I bought an Ibanez GSR100EXL, a passive 4 string with a MusicMan style single pickup, passive. Amazingly, it sounds excellent with my GK/AK H1203 cab! So, I'm now liking passive better than active. I too love simplicity. And the sound out of the 100EXL is so robust and commanding, very growly.
Next time I'm out I have to take both basses and give them each every other set so I have a chance to really push them. But at this point I'm loving the tone, sound, and simplicity of my GSR100EXL.
Last edited:
- Apr 15, 2010
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- Spector Artist
I prefer passive pickups but like the idea of having switchable on-board preamp. One of my basses is set-up like this. I play mostly in passive mode but can always engage the preamp for extra tone coloration when playing through bad rented rigs or in a room with problematic acoustics.
Mostly active---- mostly for mid control at instrument to accommodate many different styles of music in a live gig situation.
However, I also own 2 Squier P5's---- one with flats, one with rounds-- I like the passive sound, but would love to have the option of active on the one with rounds.
Recently did a recording session with my Elrick 5--- strung it with flats for this session and left it in passive mode (no tone control at all)---- worked great and I concentrated on the music and let the engineer tweak the tone for the mix.
However, I also own 2 Squier P5's---- one with flats, one with rounds-- I like the passive sound, but would love to have the option of active on the one with rounds.
Recently did a recording session with my Elrick 5--- strung it with flats for this session and left it in passive mode (no tone control at all)---- worked great and I concentrated on the music and let the engineer tweak the tone for the mix.
Passive pups with active onboard switchable preamp, maximum versatility and simple layout is important tough, I love the Sadowsky preamp. buttonfest preamps is a no go
