Not what sounds best in theory, what do you actually take to rehearsals and gigs?
And do you ever use the onboard EQ, or just leave everything flat?
And do you ever use the onboard EQ, or just leave everything flat?
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Passive vs Active, what do you actually gig with?
- Thread starter Stacks
- Start date
Been some time since I gigged, but I used both. I typically set a baseline sound on the amp relative to the room. I adjust from that baseline as needed on the bass (true on active and passive; tone pot/pickup selection/coil selection can be just as flexible as active onboard EQ). Will adjust amp if I absolutely need to, but usually try to set and forget at the amp.
Everything is active with as many knobs and switches as possible. I want to be able to adjust my sound on stage song to song without ever turning around to fiddle with the amp.
I use both active and passive basses. IMO buy the right bass and either can sound great.
Also buy the right amp and you won't need to EQ your sound so much. My amps are usually between 12 and 1 o'clock with the instrument tone controls between 50% and 80%. The volume might change after the sound check, but the tone controls usually don't.
Also buy the right amp and you won't need to EQ your sound so much. My amps are usually between 12 and 1 o'clock with the instrument tone controls between 50% and 80%. The volume might change after the sound check, but the tone controls usually don't.
I use both, but my choices are more about the whole package than just active or passive. I also use an outboard preamp/EQ (several), and I'll use the onboard EQ if I have it.
Passive always now. I've removed the batteries in one and removed the preamp in another. I find I just don't need them. Almost never use the tone pot either.
One of each, both at our gigs and also at rehearsals.
The passive one is an interesting custom P/J with a very mid-forward sound. If I engage the mid scoop switch on my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, the tone from that bass is still very solid in a band mix, but also a good bit less harsh and honky sounding than without it. I've never much cared for those mid scoops or the "Contour" control like the one on my GK MB 500 (that also carves out the mids while up'ing the lows and highs), but that scoop switch on the Shuttle is magic!!
The other one has two pickups and an active preamp that I constantly use (amp settings remain pretty much flat). LOVE the menu of useful tones that this general layout gives me for gigs - tones that I can dial up in a snap. Some examples:
- pickup blend centered for a sort of Jazz tone, bump the low's and high's if I want to slap a little bit.
- solo'ed neck pickup for more of a thick and wooly sound, cut the high's for a more round 'n thumpy vintage tone or maybe just boost the mids to get more of a raw and punk-adjacent sound like I think of when I hear The Clash.
- blend slightly toward the bridge for some nasally attitude that reminds me of a lot of Duran Duran tracks (I usually need to bump the lows with the preamp when I blend away from the neck pickup).
A few of our pals here have offered their preference for having something like a passive P along with an active Jazz to really cover a lot of the tones that they need or want to do for gigs. This recipe has really registered with me. I'm a hobby player - not touring, just gigging locally - but I take all of this seriously enough to put a good chunk of time, effort, and $$$ toward all of it. A few years ago I probably would have said that I prefer to use my active bass over the passive one, but lately I've realized that I'm entirely confident with either one. I don't swap instruments several times per set, but it's nice to have the "right" mojo for the song.
The passive one is an interesting custom P/J with a very mid-forward sound. If I engage the mid scoop switch on my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, the tone from that bass is still very solid in a band mix, but also a good bit less harsh and honky sounding than without it. I've never much cared for those mid scoops or the "Contour" control like the one on my GK MB 500 (that also carves out the mids while up'ing the lows and highs), but that scoop switch on the Shuttle is magic!!
The other one has two pickups and an active preamp that I constantly use (amp settings remain pretty much flat). LOVE the menu of useful tones that this general layout gives me for gigs - tones that I can dial up in a snap. Some examples:
- pickup blend centered for a sort of Jazz tone, bump the low's and high's if I want to slap a little bit.
- solo'ed neck pickup for more of a thick and wooly sound, cut the high's for a more round 'n thumpy vintage tone or maybe just boost the mids to get more of a raw and punk-adjacent sound like I think of when I hear The Clash.
- blend slightly toward the bridge for some nasally attitude that reminds me of a lot of Duran Duran tracks (I usually need to bump the lows with the preamp when I blend away from the neck pickup).
A few of our pals here have offered their preference for having something like a passive P along with an active Jazz to really cover a lot of the tones that they need or want to do for gigs. This recipe has really registered with me. I'm a hobby player - not touring, just gigging locally - but I take all of this seriously enough to put a good chunk of time, effort, and $$$ toward all of it. A few years ago I probably would have said that I prefer to use my active bass over the passive one, but lately I've realized that I'm entirely confident with either one. I don't swap instruments several times per set, but it's nice to have the "right" mojo for the song.
Been many years since I had a gig, but if I had active on the bass I always used it then. You want access to the widest range of tones plus the boost in the mids. At home, I never use the active settings unless it is an always active bass. I prefer to practice with the bass as neutral as possible to concentrate on my technique. Tone is in the fingers then.
I have maybe 10 basses. All are passive except my fretless. I gig only the passive ones (mostly P-basses, sometimes a J bass) because:
1) I don't feel confident I could pull off a gig with a fretless, although I probably could, and 2) I worry about the battery dying mid song!
1) I don't feel confident I could pull off a gig with a fretless, although I probably could, and 2) I worry about the battery dying mid song!
Common fear. If you replace batteries routinely then it is never a problem. I averaged 4 hours of play time every weekday on my Peavey GV back when I was in high school. Replaced the batteries on semester breaks and never had an issue. Sure I may have bought a few more 9 volts than I needed to in that time. Well worth the little bit of money it cost to not worry about it.
Worth noting… Batteries last a long time if you do not leave the bass plugged in.
Depends on the gig. Classic rock, blues or country, Basically P. Pop or Rnb, active L2500. Jazz or as needed, fretless active Ray.
Active probably 80% of the time...and yes to EQ. But every now and then I want to bring out the 4003s or LB-100. Mostly depends on what I feel like playing that day.
I have 2 main gigging basses, Lull M4V and Fender Roscoe Beck IV. The Lull is active or passive, the RB IV is passive, but it's got a lot of tone switching options and when in Series mode the signal is quite hot. I use the Lull in passive mode pretty much all the time, but I have the option to put it in active if there is some advantage. But, overall, my signal chain is set up for the basses in passive mode. Just sounds better to me, I'm not a passive evangelist or anything like that.
I have, play and gig both active and passive basses. Lately my #1 go to is an active 31" scale, and #2 is a semi hollow passive 31" scale passive. Both 5 string.
For me it more about the bass vs whether it was active or passive.
Jazz basses and Stingrays.
Passive P bass with rounds. I like to mostly set it and forget it. I can get all the tones I want between adjusting where I pluck or pick or palm mute and using the tone knob.
For reference I’m currently playing in a mostly originals country rock group.
For reference I’m currently playing in a mostly originals country rock group.
