What are the differences between active basses and passive basses?

[Robf]

This might sound funny but one reason why I’m not that into active basses is the battery. I’m very new to playing (learning?) and bought an Ibanez ATK700 as my second bass. As you would have guessed I forgot to check the battery and it leaked on the battery tabs. Just one more thing to worry about over a passive bass. I do like the ability to adjust the sound more but having two pickups is enough for me.

 

[StatesideRambler]

I will always recommend passive basses for beginners. Simplicity is paramount when you don’t yet know how to find all the notes on the neck. Besides, many beginners don’t stick with it so when the bass lays unloved long enough there’s nothing in a passive bass that will leak and zero out the resale value.

 

[Gasman]

Starting out, I would recommend a few things.

First, don’t spend a ton of money on your first bass. You may find it’s not for you and it may end up in your closet. At least until you finally sell it, which you will eventually regardless of whether you take up the instrument or not. Which brings me to...

Second, buy used. You will get much more bang for your buck getting a used bass in good to excellent condition. Like cars, basses take a big hit to price after they are bought when new. Use that to your advantage. Also like cars, more expensive basses generally have more quality in the build that results in more comfort, nicer sound, and better looks. That’s not to say an inexpensive bass won’t play or sound good, just that you generally get what you pay for. Speaking of looks...

Third, get a bass that looks good to you, not what you think others think is cool. You want it to look so good that when you see it sitting across the room, you have to get up and go play it.

Finally, with regards to active vs passive, it probably doesn’t matter much either way as a beginner. Actives have a slight advantage in a live stage setting, but also have drawbacks. Personally, I would get a passive bass if I had to choose one to be my first back when I started bit knowing what I know now. I’d find out what a few bass players play from bands you like and check out what they play if you like their sound.

Good luck!

 

[Bassheart365]

Active=Boost and cut.
Passive=Cut.

Good point. I never thought about it that way. I guess that's why, for the most part, I dime the tone knob on my passive bass.

 

[Ostie]

Also, which type of base is recommended for beginners and why?

Different strokes for different folks. Some like active, some don’t. I prefer passive, but I own a active Ibanez tmb100 and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to a beginner. Just depends on if you like the tone, and what kind of music you want to play.

 

[micguy]

Active basses, if done well, can expand tie tonal palette in your bass a bit. Note that electronics outside the bass can do that as well, but for the minor burden of a battery to keep track of, you get the controls close by.

Done poorly, they can sound harsh and add hiss.

Most of the passive basses I’ve played, unfortunately, fall into the latter category.

 

[pbass2]

Go passive and if you want an active tone later there are many pedal preamps that will help you get the tone you are looking for.

I recommend this too, unless there's a specific active bass that has a sound you really like. For example StingRays have somewhat a "signature" sound. But they don't work for everything.
What kind of music do you like? Check out what players are using in the genre you dig. If you're into lots of styles, or a genre like indie rock that can pretty much mean anything these days, then you simply can't go wrong with a passive Fender Precision or Jazz (or a clone of them). They are the industry standards, on more recordings than any other kind of electric bass(especially the Precision--they are ubiquitous for good reason, they just work-very plug and play). You can get a decent one for not much $ at all. Squiers as mentioned are a great place to start.

 

[bassliner50]

I strongly suggest passive. You have plenty variation of EQ available at the preamp section of your amp. Go passive, less distractions, less hassle possibly less cost. Get familiar with how the bass responds to your touch. Plenty tone and punch available with either passive or active . If you are beginning, you will likely have more control without going over the top with passive. More is not always more.

 

[edro]

Squier VM P, J, or PJ, and be done with it.

You're in for little money comparatively and have a damn good bass to learn on.... You may never upgrade, they are that good... They play well, sound very good, and the savings can get you on your way to a killer bass rig one day.... I have higher dollar guitars and basses but I would gig one of my Squiers in a new york heartbeat...

 

[catcauphonic]

One of the pitfalls of buying used and not really knowing what you are getting I learned from experience.
I bought a used Carvin 5 string in a jazz bass configuration, which was a pretty good deal at the time. This was about 10 years ago.
I never could dial the sound in I wanted. I kept it and bought a Lakland 5502 brand new. Had a bad set of pickups and could never get the sound right there. Lakland did me a solid and traded the pickups out and it was a real nice bass but I just never enjoyed it.
Traded it for a passive Jazz, then for a passive P and finally got the sound I wanted.
What I learned later is it is very common for gear heads to change out pickups and pots, active or passive.
In some ways I wish I had tried this on the Lakland, but I really, really like the P bass.
Turns out then Carvin, which I bought used, had active electronics and was always killing the 9 volt battery. I could get about a month's use out of it playing in church once a week and practicing a small amount of time plugged in each week.
The preamp in the Carvin had been bypassed and it was wired like with no low, mid or high, just two volume controls going out to the jack. No low, mid or high ever. I was just twisting knobs not wired to anything.
I replaced the preamp with an audere preamp and now I can dial in the sound on the Carvin. It's great for that. Just have to get rid of the crappy EMG active pickups. These ones sound awful.
Moral of my story is I like things a little simpler and passive is really just better for me.
Everyone is different. It seems less options forces me to get the tone I want out the bass from my fingers, instead of turning knobs.
Simper is better for me.

The moral of this story is 'ask questions when buying used'

 

[MynameisMe]

The moral of this story is 'ask questions when buying used'

Doesn't seem to work at most music stores.

 

[2F/2F]

Also, which type of base is recommended for beginners and why?

A base for what?

 

[Iwanttoplaybass]

Different strokes for different folks. Some like active, some don’t. I prefer passive, but I own a active Ibanez tmb100 and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to a beginner. Just depends on if you like the tone, and what kind of music you want to play.

Maybe jazz,blues,jamming..not metal or something else crazy

 

[Iwanttoplaybass]

Starting out, I would recommend a few things.

First, don’t spend a ton of money on your first bass. You may find it’s not for you and it may end up in your closet. At least until you finally sell it, which you will eventually regardless of whether you take up the instrument or not. Which brings me to...

Second, buy used. You will get much more bang for your buck getting a used bass in good to excellent condition. Like cars, basses take a big hit to price after they are bought when new. Use that to your advantage. Also like cars, more expensive basses generally have more quality in the build that results in more comfort, nicer sound, and better looks. That’s not to say an inexpensive bass won’t play or sound good, just that you generally get what you pay for. Speaking of looks...

Third, get a bass that looks good to you, not what you think others think is cool. You want it to look so good that when you see it sitting across the room, you have to get up and go play it.

Finally, with regards to active vs passive, it probably doesn’t matter much either way as a beginner. Actives have a slight advantage in a live stage setting, but also have drawbacks. Personally, I would get a passive bass if I had to choose one to be my first back when I started bit knowing what I know now. I’d find out what a few bass players play from bands you like and check out what they play if you like their sound.

Good luck!

If I will learn playing,I will play in a small band

 

[Mugre]

O,i'm a lefty so this is an aspect.

If you're a true beginner, consider learning righty for all the obvious reasons. There's challenge enough for both hands on most instruments and somehow lefties get by on ALL the other instruments where there is no lefty option: piano, cello, woodwinds et. al. Meanwhile, the other 95 percent of the bass wall at Guitar Center opens up to you; when your friend buy a Fodera, you can try it out; when you get invited to sit-in unexpectedly it doesn't matter if you have your bass or not and when you get that record deal and the producer says, "You know what would really light up this track? My 63 precision that belonged to Duck Dunn.", you're not stuck with you Schecter Stilleto.

I know this is possible because I'm a lefty who plays (badly) 5 different instruments. There's even a club around here called "Lefties who play righty."

These are just nuggets for thought. Whatever you do, enjoy your bass journey, active, passive, lefty or righty.

Mugre

 

[mcarp555]

Have you started seriously playing yet, or will this be your first bass? I know that this has likely been mentioned to you already, but if you're just starting out, I'd strongly consider learning righty - will potentially make your life much easier in the future.

Given how many people I know that are left-handed and play right-handed, I'd have to imagine that how you learn makes more of a difference than what your dominant hand actually is. Just think of all those left handed pianists!

No. Simply no. There are plenty of LH basses, and you should never try to change your natural inclination. Please don't give out unwarranted information to beginners. If he's more comfortable playing LH, then that's what he should do.

Pianos are also not "right-handed".

 

[Iwanttoplaybass]

No. Simply no. There are plenty of LH basses, and you should never try to change your natural inclination. Please don't give out unwarranted information to beginners. If he's more comfortable playing LH, then that's what he should do.

Pianos are also not "right-handed".[/QUOT

No. Simply no. There are plenty of LH basses, and you should never try to change your natural inclination. Please don't give out unwarranted information to beginners. If he's more comfortable playing LH, then that's what he should do.

Pianos are also not "right-handed".

You gave me hope))

 

[bassdude51]

An active bass is like having 2 separate EQs for doping up your bass sound. One at your finger tips on your bass and another one at your finger tips on your amp.

A passive bass does not have an active EQ but you still have the one on your amp. Although you can roll off the highs on your bass with the passive tone knob. It will only roll off the highs. It has no effect on bass.

Now, I've heard that an active bass is the way to go if you are plugged direct into the sound board when playing live.

You can get an active Indonesian made bass for next to nothing.

You will have to figure out through reality what is best for yourself.

 

[Tommy V]

as you've seen, this place has no shortage of opinions and contradictions.. lol
hit up a few shops in your area and see what's available in your price range.
strum and pluck some strings, and see if anything makes you smile.
then come back and bounce your choices off of us, so we can give you more specific opinions and contradictions..
and, no matter what, remember that playing an instrument is supposed to be fun, no matter how serious some of us make it sound.

 

[2tonic]

If you do go active remember to unplug your bass when you're not playing because the on/off switch for the bass/battery is in the output jack in 99.9997% of active basses.

Professor Corey, and I, believe you made this statistic up.

Accuracy is paramount in science, and the true figure is closer to 99.9998%, once you factor out the group which only operates on dedicated outboard power supplies.
Please refrain from injecting your future posts with such wild speculation and "guesstimates".
TB is NOT the place for colloquialisms and folklore!


That is all.