Passive vs active with full tube amps

[Iristone]

It shows that HIS passive bass into HIS valve amp gets HIS intended tone better than HIS active bass into the same amp.

 

[JimmyM]

This is a funny thread.

 

[Cory rich40]

Speaking to the specific application, I found that my Adam Clayton (ACB50 or whatever) tube combo likes my p-basses more than my active Stingray and my hotter passive basses (Sereks). I agree with @ahadl2500 that this should not be extrapolated to all tube amps, but having the same amp, I can say that the ACB likes my p-basses most. I don't own a J, but I imagine that would be fine. Hotter outputs overdrive the ACB's preamp in my experience.

Mine actually worked fine with my stingray special. It did fine with my jazz bass. The stingray was a single humbucker though. It’s been said that the special’s pickups are not as hot as the previous ones. I couldn’t tell you because I’ve never played a pre special

 

[Cory rich40]

This is a funny thread.

The guy was probably repeating what he has heard guitar players say. But this isn’t the only time I’ve heard this argument. Go to YouTube and watch the videos on the ampeg pf50t. There was a comment saying that he wasn’t using the right bass for that amp because he was using a 5 string active stingray and not a passive Fender. You find folks that are quite aggressive with that belief. And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if most of them have never played through a tube amp, or an active bass. I played a 4 string stingray through a 50 watt tube amp and it sounded awesome

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Did he try the right Active and the wrong Passive into those amps?

I do not care for some Active basses and love some Active basses.
I do not care for some Passive basses and love some Passive basses.

Use what ya like and It's all good.

 

[JimmyM]

The guy was probably repeating what he has heard guitar players say. But this isn't the only time I've heard this argument. Go to YouTube and watch the videos on the ampeg pf50t. There was a comment saying that he wasn't using the right bass for that amp because he was using a 5 string active stingray and not a passive Fender. You find folks that are quite aggressive with that belief. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if most of them have never played through a tube amp, or an active bass. I played a 4 string stingray through a 50 watt tube amp and it sounded awesome

Of course it did. They can believe whatever they want but they are just plain wrong.

 

[rickdog]

They can believe whatever they want but they are just plain wrong.

Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
-- Talking Heads

 

[kazuhank]

The guy was probably repeating what he has heard guitar players say. But this isn't the only time I've heard this argument. Go to YouTube and watch the videos on the ampeg pf50t. There was a comment saying that he wasn't using the right bass for that amp because he was using a 5 string active stingray and not a passive Fender. You find folks that are quite aggressive with that belief. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if most of them have never played through a tube amp, or an active bass. I played a 4 string stingray through a 50 watt tube amp and it sounded awesome

Mine is a vintage stingray with pretty hot output.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Everyone has their own version of the truth.

If an active bass with a wide bandwidth is plugged into an amp and cab with a limited bandwidth, maybe the player will think that it doesn't sound as good as another rig with a wide bandwidth. It's about the system and how it performs.

 

[Old Fart]

It depends.

 

[mikeswals]

It's nonsense.