Passive 5 string vs Active for gigging

[jdthaddeus]

I was gigging in a metal band last year with my Schecter SLS Elite 5er, and I have been very happy with it's performance. I've bonded with it after using it for so many venues.

I purchased a Lakland Skyline 55-02 Dlx for a backup bass but never needed it, so it's mint condition. I was planning on selling it. I've never played it.

I'm auditioning now for some cover bands, with the typical set list of 80's-90's+ rock songs.

I haven't played passive pickups in so long..... How are passive pickups different (better or worse) than active for my situation? Should I sell the Skyline as planned or will I regret not having a passive bass?

Thank you!

 

[TrustRod]

Tastes will vary, but for me everything I want from an active pre I can get from the other side of the cable. It is convenient though if you use a lot of different tones.

 

[el murdoque]

I would not worry about that. There's essentially two things an active bass can do that you can't emulate with a pedal:
1. Driving looooooong cables. Fifty feet and more will, coupled with a passive bass, suck top end away when used with a passive bass.
2. Volume control. You can turn down the volume right there on the bass without altering the tone.

 

[chris_b]

I play both and have no preferences between active and passive basses. If the bass has a great tone I'm happy. How we get that tone is of no interest to me.

 

[ShadowGroover]

Use an active DI for passive bass to solve the issue of maintaining signal integrity over a lengthy cable run. Total non issue, especially since excellent active DIs are plentiful and inexpensive.

 

[pepj]

All my basses on gigs are active, but I'll sound check the passive tone.
I will use a lot of sounds from the two single pickups but once I've set the pre, I dont need to touch it so its not a big thing.
Passive will get you there but you need a bit more time mostly, whereas active gives you flexibility quickly.

 

[2112]

I use an active 5 with narrow string spacing for gigging because it's the bass our sound guy thinks sounds best for our mix.

 

[Geri O]

Without playing the Semantics Police….

Most all pickups are passive except for some EMGs and one or two others. It’s the battery-powered preamp in a bass that makes it active.

Now to my point….

I think it would be a good idea to keep the passive bass around as a spare bass. The occasions when an active bass will fail ( not battery-related) are quite rare. But all it takes is once to be dead in the water with a dead bass.

So what if you don’t play it much? Just keep it in good shape and play it occasionally.

I have an active Mike Lull and a very nice Stingray Special. I’m carrying them both with me today with the Stingray being the spare bass. But I’m seriously considering getting an old MIM 5-string Jazz that can serve as a spare bass. Or to offer the headliner’s bassist when his bass suffered a tuner failure instead of my Lull, which was fine, but made me a little nervous….

 

[Chris Chong]

An active bass with passive option. Best of both world.

 

[Alban]

If I am not mistaken, your Lakland is actually a passive bass with an active preamp which can be bypassed by pulling the volume knob up?

 

[prndltech]

2 is one and one is none. Always good to have a 2nd bass and if or when the need arises or one needs work, you have another up and running for a week or 2 or 3 or however long it takes without having to scramble to find a bass.

 

[sikamikanico]

Between those two basses, I’m not sure if the Lakland offers much more in terms of sound, assuming it’s stock. I do really like Lakland for their necks, and you can fit other pickups if needed….

that said, you might enjoy some classic passive tones with more traditional pickups. There’s are many options, but I personally find fender-style pickups with Alnico rods sound quite distinct. hard to describe it into words, but more “organic, relaxed.” Stuff like that

Your Schecter can probably do 80s and 90s music just fine, but a nice passive bass can offer some new tones and a backup. The Lakie is a good candidate, but I’d look into different pickups if it were me. Or get a more classic passive bass, such as Lakie DJ, JO, or Glaub… other factors you could consider for sound reasons are shorter scale (34” or shorter), different string type (eg flats), and maybe even hollowbody. And maybe get a 4 string, they play differently..,

 

[Aloe]

I play both and dig both:
* passive pickups arguably sound more dynamic
* active pickups are better at RF rejection

Most all pickups are passive except for some EMGs and one or two others. It’s the battery-powered preamp in a bass that makes it active.

fishman fluence that are in question are definitely active pickups.

 

[Killing Floor]

With only a few exceptions passive pickups and active are the same until you get to the preamp which may boost or cut or both. Play whatever you want. Adjust accordingly. I switch between active and passive all the time and I’m the only one who knows. That’s how it should be.

 

[DWBass]

The 55-02 is an active bass with a passive option. Passive option works well if you decide to use a preamp pedal for a different flavor.

 

[ezstep]

Interchangeable. In fact, I do that often and simply adjust the volume to compensate. Tonight, I am taking tow basses - active and passive.

Don't overthink this.

 

[logdrum]

Even if my 5+ string bass have a passive option, I will always prefer active 5+ for gigging

 

[Nightman]

I have both active (battery driven onboard preamp, not pups) and passive, and all 5-strings.
My grab ‘n go/no brainer bass for any playing situation that I might encounter is my passive CP Thornton Jazz with DR 45-125 Pure Blues strings.

 

[GTHintz]

If it's just to be on the road and to have a backup then definitely good to have. Passive is going to be the easiest to ignore for a long stretch and then if you plug in just plug and play. But if you have active basses just keep the 9v batteries around and you'll be fine. I wouldn't necessarily just buy another bass for the hell of it but if you did Lakland makes a great instrument so I can think of far worse. You might find it just works for certain songs and turn into a new sound going forward. If you do decide to go in a different direction and you like 5 strings then maybe a good option at least for your 80's 90's band would be a passive Warwick streamer or Corvette. I have both and haven't needed to worry about output or anything because the Corvette especially is very loud output. Also it goes well with the music of the period being that many bands we know from that time we're rocking Warwicks. It'll offer some contrast from the Schecter and give you more variety. Plus Warwicks and metal are always a match. When I want to play heavy stuff it's the first bass I pick up. Ibanez SR basses really sound big when you dial it in too. They sound closer to what you have already though. Which could be what you want or not. I really like contrast more than every bass to sound like the other. But just me ...

 

[Wasnex]

How are passive pickups different (better or worse) than active for my situation? Should I sell the Skyline as planned or will I regret not having a passive bass?

IMHO, passive and active are not really better or worse. The way to answer this question is to play both basses and make your own informed decision. Some people prefer passive and some prefer active. The reasons are often purely subjective. You may find you like both basses enough to keep them. Or you may find that you don't particularly care for one of the basses, but it has nothing really to do with active VS passive.

Here are some questions to consider. Which bass do you like better and is the other different enough to cover ground that your favorite does not? Are you interested in covering other ground? Do you need the money to fund something else?

Nothing wrong IMHO with owning multiple basses.

My general preference is active. On average I think they tend to sound better (to me), be more versatile, and have less noise. However, whether these statements are true should be judged on a case-by-case basis. I have heard and played some really fantastic passive basses. In fact I own 9 basses and two are passive.

I still own my first bass. It was originally passive and I converted it to active and installed a 2-Tek bridge. The bass sounds and plays great and is arguably a better bass. But it no longer sounds like a Ric 4001. If I could go back in time, I would advise myself to leave it stock.