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The P Bass

#41
nerkoids said:
I've read somewhere that Jazz basses are a lot more popular.
Click to expand...

Both are arguably popular but I'd say for kids starting out or guitarists turned bassists, I would agree that the J is popular amongst those groups. Just to name a few.

If you're in the rock, punk, or heavier music genres, most would go for the P.

Then again, not everyone is a bass geek like us. They just buy what sounds nice and feels comfortable to then
 
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#46
Like some people already said. Most bass pickups is passive and if you like the tone it shouldn't matter to much that they ain't active. Also try not to comfuse active Pre-amps and Pickups. Your Ray 5 most likely got an active pre-amp and a passive pickup.... Sounds to me like it is an active pre-amp you are looking for. I don't really know any Fender Precisions that have active pickups from factory, only ones with an active-pre amp, pickup still passive.
 
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#48
WhackJob said:
Hey Gang! So I'm looking to get a new 4 string. Right now I have some cheep Ibanez that gets ignored over my MM Sterling Ray 5. I'm really digging the punchy/punky sound the p bass gives. The only problem I see with it is that the Slandered p bass doesn't have active pickups. There is a model that is like 200$ more, but I want Talkbass' opinion. I've only been playing for a year and both my basses have actives. I only owned one bass with passives, and it was my cheap 100$ stater bass. I don't really have the knowledge to know the difference between passive and active pu's. What I've realized though is that their is a tone more tone control with active's. My main question is; is the p bass worth it for only passives?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

All those have passive pickups!
The active part is the EQ section, the preamp. But the pickups are all passive.
Forget about passive or active, listen, if you like it then it's good.
 
#53
WhackJob said:
Hey Gang! So I'm looking to get a new 4 string. Right now I have some cheep Ibanez that gets ignored over my MM Sterling Ray 5. I'm really digging the punchy/punky sound the p bass gives. The only problem I see with it is that the Slandered p bass doesn't have active pickups. There is a model that is like 200$ more, but I want Talkbass' opinion. I've only been playing for a year and both my basses have actives. I only owned one bass with passives, and it was my cheap 100$ stater bass. I don't really have the knowledge to know the difference between passive and active pu's. What I've realized though is that their is a tone more tone control with active's. My main question is; is the p bass worth it for only passives?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Your problem is that you are a new player and you went straight to active: consequently, you don't have the understanding to comfortably go to passive.

Look at all the top end players using passive - so many. If Steve Harris can live on passive pick-ups and the Fender Select P-Bass is justified with passives, you will survive with passives.


When you have worked through this decision, you will realise it is one of the least important things you will ever consider in your playing development.
 
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#56
MovingPitchers said:
Except me though. I got my perfect J. Just looking for the perfect P but in the meantime, my MIM P suits me fine
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My "perfect" P is a squier affinity precision bass body, with a maple block inlay jazz neck from a VM Jazz bass 4.
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1417285483.022329.jpg
 
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#57
Low town said:
Your problem is that you are a new player and you went straight to active: consequently, you don't have the understanding to comfortably go to passive.

Look at all the top end players using passive - so many. If Steve Harris can live on passive pick-ups and the Fender Select P-Bass is justified with passives, you will survive with passives.


When you have worked through this decision, you will realise it is one of the least important things you will ever consider in your playing development.
Click to expand...

Look there is 0 difference between passive and active basses. i know that you are all shocked!
except in rare cases, the pickups are STILL PASSIVE.
With active basses you are adding a preamp, (and EQ Boost) in front of the input of the amplifier, and preamp and EQ on the amp!
so, boost eq + boost eq will sound dramatically different at the same amp settings compared to a passive (treble cut only) system.

EQ is meant to be a side dish, not the main course!

I use both active and passives through the same rig, with only MINOR differences....

HERE is the trick: Setup your Amp eq section to work well for the passive instrument, and adjust the EQ on the Active to taste.....
 
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#58
/\/\3phist0 said:
Look there is 0 difference between passive and active basses. i know that you are all shocked!
except in rare cases, the pickups are STILL PASSIVE.
With active basses you are adding a preamp, (and EQ Boost) in front of the input of the amplifier, and preamp and EQ on the amp!
so, boost eq + boost eq will sound dramatically different at the same amp settings compared to a passive (treble cut only) system.

EQ is meant to be a side dish, not the main course!

I use both active and passives through the same rig, with only MINOR differences....

HERE is the trick: Setup your Amp eq section to work well for the passive instrument, and adjust the EQ on the Active to taste.....
Click to expand...
Aaaaaand, we're done.

...right?

...are we about done with this one?
 
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