Switching Between active/passive basses and one amp

[bcgd]

I'm getting an active bass and need to know how people switch between active/passive basses and one amp. My amp has separate inputs but i have an effect in my signal chain that I want to use on both. The rest of my effects are in the amp's loop. Is it as simple as adding an A/B switch on that line? If so do you recommend the Boss or Morley one? Cheers!

 

[RhynoRock]

Try an ABY box.

Here are a bunch listed on sweetwater.com

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=a+b+y&Go=Search

 

[MightyMiloQuinn]

You could also go with a boost pedal and engage with the passive.

 

[precijazz]

What about using the volume control on the louder bass to adjust levels?

 

[bongomania]

Let's get one thing clear though: active basses very often don't need to go into the "active" input! The input labeled "active" just cuts the signal level at the input, to avoid clipping (distortion) when a bass has extremely high output. But most active basses actually don't have such very high output. In fact some active basses can be quieter than average, and some passive basses can be louder than average.

The OP says he is "getting an active bass" so he doesn't even know yet whether this new bass will have super high output or cause clipping, or have output levels in any way different from his passive bass.

So the question is, at first, nothing to do with active or passive. You just need an A/B footswitch. If it turns out that the active bass actually is louder with it volume up at maximum, then you can just turn its volume knob down until the volume is the same as the passive bass. Easy.

There are a couple of A/B switches with volume controls, by Radial and Lehle for example, but they are not cheap.

 

[tastychoice]

I use the radial bassbone for this purpose. Great pedal with a boost switch, di, tuner out. It's pricey but worth the money.

 

[bcgd]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. My passive bass is a semi and I run it through a line booster before the chorus then the amp. It sounds like I should just be able to put an A/B/Y between the line boost and the chorus so I can use both guitars on the effect. From the Y I'll plug into the passive input on the amp and control the active bass's output from the guitar itself.

Has anyone used the EHX Switchblade?

 

[Gadgetjunky]

I was really surprised when I gigged with my Ibanez SB900 with active electronics and my passive EUB and only had to switch the basses out on the same chain and settings. The EUB usually needs an ohms boost with my sansamp, but funny enough that it doesn't boost the Ibanez in the same way.

 

[bcgd]

I was really surprised when I gigged with my Ibanez SB900 with active electronics and my passive EUB and only had to switch the basses out on the same chain and settings. The EUB usually needs an ohms boost with my sansamp, but funny enough that it doesn't boost the Ibanez in the same way.

It's funny how we like to over complicate things when the answer is simple.

 

[SirMjac28]

It's funny how we like to over complicate things when the answer is simple.

+1 I have three active basses I set my unity gain somewhere between my active and passive basses and just use my volume knobs to adjust.

 

[avvie]

can the effect run through the effects loop so it doesn't matter which bass is plugged into which input? why does it have to be separate?

 

[Gadgetjunky]

can the effect run through the effects loop so it doesn't matter which bass is plugged into which input? why does it have to be separate?

You get into line level stuff there. Just put your tuner pedal in the fx chain, turn it on to mute and swap out basses from the instrument cable. Do the volume knob matching as mention above, presto!

 

[bcgd]

can the effect run through the effects loop so it doesn't matter which bass is plugged into which input? why does it have to be separate?

It's a tonal/preEQ thing

 

[Wally Malone]

I'm using a GB ShuttleMax 9.2 and purchased a Boss A/B pedal and use various combinations of basses, a 1/4 size Kay URB with a Turner UB-1 pickup, Fender American Standard Jazz with a Roland GK-3B pickup and V-Bass, an Ibanez GVB36 six-string and a Kubicki X-Factor. I've experienced no problems with any of these combinations.

Wally

 

[Sam Evans]

Let's get one thing clear though: active basses very often don't need to go into the "active" input! The input labeled "active" just cuts the signal level at the input, to avoid clipping (distortion) when a bass has extremely high output. But most active basses actually don't have such very high output. In fact some active basses can be quieter than average, and some passive basses can be louder than average.

Indeed - and some are even adjustable. My Carvin has a tiny dial inside the electronics so I can adjust it to unity gain with other instruments.

 

[lokikallas]

I have all "active" basses, but they all vary greatly in output. Active vs. Passive isn't always the outputs main influence. I think the PUPs output is the same whether the electronics are active or not (with tone controls set flat). Active typically just means the tone controls have boost, as well as cut vs. passive electronics typically just having tone cut controls.

 

[john_g]

I always take two basses to gigs, my Ric 4003 and either my Steinberger XL2 or G&L L2500. The Steinberger and L2500 have insanely high output. I use a Boss LS-2 pedal and put the Ric in A and the other in B and set the level lower on B so I can use the A>B>Bypass setting.

I dont use the active input on my amp.

 

[bongomania]

Active vs. Passive isn't always the outputs main influence. I think the PUPs output is the same whether the electronics are active or not (with tone controls set flat). Active typically just means the tone controls have boost, as well as cut vs. passive electronics typically just having tone cut controls.

Well... Not exactly...

Active means there is a component inside that requires power. It could be in the pickups, the EQ, a unity-gain buffer, a gain boost stage.

While it's true that a passive tone knob is typically cut-only, no boost, Villex makes a passive boost system. And not all active systems have cut--some only boost.

Pup output varies widely even before it gets to an external EQ. There are active pups as well as passive ones--and each may have high or low output, completely separate from the rest of the EQ/tone/other stages.

All of this is unrelated to the OP's question though.

 

[Sam Evans]

Well... Not exactly...

Active means there is a component inside that requires power. It could be in the pickups, the EQ, a unity-gain buffer, a gain boost stage.

While it's true that a passive tone knob is typically cut-only, no boost, Villex makes a passive boost system. And not all active systems have cut--some only boost.

Pup output varies widely even before it gets to an external EQ. There are active pups as well as passive ones--and each may have high or low output, completely separate from the rest of the EQ/tone/other stages.

All of this is unrelated to the OP's question though.

Stop confusing the issue with facts ...

 

[Gremson]

I use the radial bassbone for this purpose. Great pedal with a boost switch, di, tuner out. It's pricey but worth the money.

Bassist in the band I play drums for uses the same thing to switch between his electric upright and jazz bass. It's done great for him, and sounds great from an outsider's point too.