Passive Music Man??

Check into early G&L basses and some newer models. They were built in the same factory as Music Man for a while.

 

I strongly believe the highlighted text to be the case. But I've never tried it myself.

 

There is no "sweet spot". The closer a pickup is to the bridge the more trebly it sounds, but there is nothing magic about any placement in particular.

 

I don't think MM has ever had a passive model. However, I think there was a limited production model, possible a GC-only release, that had a passive mode.

 

I find pups in the MM position need bass boost to make me happy, and am not fond of them sol'ed. YMMV. Diffeent strokes.

 

Many, many, many a professional working bass player would disagree with this I'm afraid.

 

Some of the American EBMM SUB's were passive. I never tried one (mine was active). Phenomenal instruments, shared the same pick up and electronics as the two band Stingray.

Worth keeping an eye on the classifieds. As they do pop up from. Time to time.

 

"The first ever active and passive Stingrays offered by Music Man!"

http://www.music-man.com/premier-dealer-network-instruments/basses/pdn-stingray.html

 

The Reflex & Big Al can both go passive. My Big Al sounds GREAT passive

 

The most resonant point for the best of all worlds is where the Precision pickup is located. The MM pickup was placed much closer to the bridge so it produced a much tighter, more focused, snappier tone. Because there's naturally less bass frequency down there due to the extra string tension near the bridge, the preamp was needed to boost the signal. And what a sound it created.

If you want to hear a passive bridge pickup in humbucker format, have a headphones listen to Ed Friedland's recent short review of the Fender Am.Std Dimension when he plays it on the back pickup alone. That'll give you an idea of the sound you'd get with a passive humbucker at the bridge, albeit with ceramic magnets.

 

Musicman was BLOWING THEM OUT a while back in GC. You could call there & see which stores still have some in stock. I got ridiculously lucky getting the special edition green sparkle for a crazy used price. Its just a beast ! Once you learn what pickup combo does which sound best... THEN EQ from there, you cant lose

 

If you keep your eyes open, the original USA made Sub basses pop up once in a while, and also came in passive. The one I own has a 2-band passive tone circuit with a volume and bass/treble cut only.

It doesn't have the same "oomph" as an active Stingray, but still has the signature 'Ray tone.

Don't let that turn you away as it has the exact same, super hot humbucker that are in a "real" Stingray, minus the preamp. It still has a very hot output for a passive bass. I plan on installing an active preamp in mine because I want that extra kick, but that doesn't mean it sounds bad stock.

Forgot to mention, I paid $360 CDN w/ a HSC from the original owner of it. Still had the $999.99 price tag on it. I almost felt bad for not posting pics

 

+1 on keeping your eye peeled for a US Musicman SUB in passive. I had one and STUPIDLY sold it.

 

I have a passive OLP MM copy. It was active when I got it but I replaced the pickup and changed it to passive volume and tone with a series/parallel switch. I really like the tone I get from it.