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passive or active

B

beni_25

Aug 13, 2008
44
0
#1
hey just wondering if i could get some advice on which pickups wuld suit me better.

to put it simply i mostly play rock/punk and i play in a lil garage band with some of my mates. If i really want my bass to be heard with the 2 guitars and drums going would i be better with active or passive pickups?
 
#3
currently im using a random no name brand worth like 100 bucks.
im just wondering which pickups i should get for when i get a new bass.

schecter stiletto studio 4 - it has EMG HZ pickups which i think i saw were passive
or
ibanez SR750 - Bartolini® MK1-4 which i think are active.

thats basically what i cant decide between.
 
#4
beni_25 said:
hey just wondering if i could get some advice on which pickups wuld suit me better.

to put it simply i mostly play rock/punk and i play in a lil garage band with some of my mates. If i really want my bass to be heard with the 2 guitars and drums going would i be better with active or passive pickups?
Click to expand...

If you´re planning to use effects then passive PUPs tend to work with them better since they don´t put out so hot signal as actives.

But if you want to go with clean sound you can´t go wrong with EMGs either.
 
#5
I prefer passive always have no batteries to change or worry about and I don't have to use a -15db pad + I use effects. Just my opinion I don't get um. To me they are nothing more then a Eq pedal and I have that on my amp. There are plenty of warm punchy passive pups out there IMO so don't get in a huff all you active guys:D
 
#7
beni_25 said:
hey just wondering if i could get some advice on which pickups wuld suit me better.

to put it simply i mostly play rock/punk and i play in a lil garage band with some of my mates. If i really want my bass to be heard with the 2 guitars and drums going would i be better with active or passive pickups?
Click to expand...

IHMO it's not so much the pickups as what kind of rig you're playing through that will determine if you can compete with 2 gtrs and drums.

The last band I was in played rock covers. Pretty solid hitting drummer, 2 gtr (Les Pauls), tube, half stacks (Marshall, Fender).

I played MIM Fender PJ w\passive DiMarzio DP126 pickups and an SX PJ with passive stock pickups. I used a GK700RBII with varying cabs (Ampeg SVT410HLF, Avatar B210 NEO + GK NEO 112). I had NO problem being heard or blowing out the guitars if I had to! :bassist:

Now I have a Stingray (active) and a Jazz (passive). I don't have any problems being heard with either one.

So IMHO, if you don't have a rig that can pump out the juice, it doesn't matter what kind of pickups you have because you still won't hear them anyway.
 
#8
Go passive:

plenty of punch, modern amps can shape the one better than any onboard pre (which all but the best are noisy) AND reliability.


There's noting worse than being in mid gig with a dead bass and no backup... and you have to open the control cavity and figure out which of the 3 dozen wires is fritzed out.

My personal favorites are Nordstrands... pay no attention to the fact that I'm an acquaintence of his :-)

Karl Hoyt
 
#10
pickups are not the answer. Rig is the answer. Want to cut theough the mix - get more horsepower... period. In my foray into punk - wave, I had no troubles making my passive p-bass heard... guitars were into a V4 full stack on one side and pair of BF Fender Bassman's & 2x12's on the other - it was not a quiet band ...
 
#11
beni_25 said:
im just wondering which pickups i should get for when i get a new bass.

schecter stiletto studio 4 - it has EMG HZ pickups which i think i saw were passive
or
ibanez SR750 - Bartolini® MK1-4 which i think are active.
Click to expand...

I have a Schecter C-4 with EMG Hz passive pups. I think their sound quality is poor and plan to replace them. If you want to stay passive, Duncan quarter pounders are a wonderful upgrade.
 

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