I'm in a thrash metal band, and I already have a passive bass, and I'm most likely going to get an active bass soon. In a studio and live setting with this genre, when should you use these different basses?
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When to Use Passive and Active Basses
- Thread starter Bass Boy J
- Start date
There's no pne-size-fits-all answer. Use your ears and your gut. Whichever bass has the sound you need, play that one.
It's all a personal choice. No one is better. It about your sound and what you like. An active pre will often not have a tone loss turning the volume down on the bass. When I thrash, there is no need to turn the volume on the bass down.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Whenever you want to. Me, I never want to use active electronics. When I have, I was never happy.
It's not necessarily an either/or kinda thing. The combination of the bass you have, the strings you use, how you attack the strings, etc all play into things. Certain passive basses with stainless strings you'd think they were active. On the flip side, a set of dead rounds or flats on an active bass, and you'd probably think it was passive.
Many things determine how a bass sounds. The presence or absence of on board electronics is but one factor.
Many things determine how a bass sounds. The presence or absence of on board electronics is but one factor.
I know nothing about Thrash Metal, but for any bass in any genre, making a good sound is what we aim for. OK sometimes you also have to look good! I guess you have a pedal board? Do you really need a preamp with another set of EQ options?
I would buy your next bass based on what it sounds like and worry about the active/passive thing when you get it home. Then you play that bass where ever you want. If you buy an active bass, remember to always carry spare batteries and a small screwdriver, if you need to get the back plate off to change the battery, and never leave the bass plugged in when you're not playing it. You'll run the batteries down if you do.
I would buy your next bass based on what it sounds like and worry about the active/passive thing when you get it home. Then you play that bass where ever you want. If you buy an active bass, remember to always carry spare batteries and a small screwdriver, if you need to get the back plate off to change the battery, and never leave the bass plugged in when you're not playing it. You'll run the batteries down if you do.
Just buy a Thundergun.
One of the best-kept secrets in the bass world.
Passive and potent.
I know nothing of metal when it comes to playing it.
But...... I do know some things. One of those things is using active basses to get the sound you want.
For ME, I have found that using the active electronics to REDUCE unwanted frequencies helps a great deal. Ultra boomy backline? Reduce bass and low mids. Super boosted mids? Reduce them with Low and High mid controls. When the backline was soooooo boomy and not much else, I reduced the bass, split the front humbucker, pushed high mids and treble. It helped greatly.
YMMV.
Ken R
But...... I do know some things. One of those things is using active basses to get the sound you want.
For ME, I have found that using the active electronics to REDUCE unwanted frequencies helps a great deal. Ultra boomy backline? Reduce bass and low mids. Super boosted mids? Reduce them with Low and High mid controls. When the backline was soooooo boomy and not much else, I reduced the bass, split the front humbucker, pushed high mids and treble. It helped greatly.
YMMV.
Ken R
All my basses are active, and I cover everything from old-school flatwound thump to edgier overdriven rock-type-stuff. It's a lot about string choice, technicque and eq. Having the ability to adding or remove frequencies from on the bass instead of having to adjust amps is the main reason I ended up with them. My pedal board is dialed in with my bass preamp flat, so there is always a starting point, and adjustments I make are easily heard and controllable. There's more flexibility, versatility and ease of use with an active bass for me. I care zero about what is historically accurate or traditional and 100% about getting the tone I want.
That being said, there are preamps with too much control for me. Multiple toggle switches and parametrics and frequency selectors frighten and confuse me. Just give me a Treble mid and bass boost/cut and I'm good.Even a boss-only 2 band helps on my bass with flats.
As far as batteries, some of my basses have battery doors on them so changing the battery takes 5 seconds. For others, I use a plug-in battery level reader to know when to change them, usually once a year whether it needs it or not. Usually not. Personally I have always kept all basses unplugged when not playing just to avoid accidentally damaging the jack. Keeping active electronics going is just another small part of routine basic bass maintenance and should be nothing to fear nor a cause of worry.
That being said, there are preamps with too much control for me. Multiple toggle switches and parametrics and frequency selectors frighten and confuse me. Just give me a Treble mid and bass boost/cut and I'm good.Even a boss-only 2 band helps on my bass with flats.
As far as batteries, some of my basses have battery doors on them so changing the battery takes 5 seconds. For others, I use a plug-in battery level reader to know when to change them, usually once a year whether it needs it or not. Usually not. Personally I have always kept all basses unplugged when not playing just to avoid accidentally damaging the jack. Keeping active electronics going is just another small part of routine basic bass maintenance and should be nothing to fear nor a cause of worry.
G&L L-2000s are one of many basses that can switch between passive and active. Might be worth looking into something that covers multiple bases.. (or basses if you prefer)
I usually play in passive mode and when I want a little more boost, or want a brighter tone I'll switch to active or possibly kick on the treble boost switch. I've been able to mimic a lot of my other basses with the G&L... a bass that will end out being left to my kids when I keel over.
I usually play in passive mode and when I want a little more boost, or want a brighter tone I'll switch to active or possibly kick on the treble boost switch. I've been able to mimic a lot of my other basses with the G&L... a bass that will end out being left to my kids when I keel over.
I haven't had a passive bass in decades. I'm not against them, I just haven't had one, and haven't found myself lacking anything because of it either.
More importantly, what is the sound you want? There are bassists whose tone you love; what instruments are they playing? What does the rest of their setup look like?
I come from a different era of metal. Every time I heard a player whose tone I loved it turned out they were playing basses made by some company in Germany. I bought one and it is my go-to for every style of music. That may not be the sound as much anymore, and definitely might not be the sound you want, but try figuring out what it is you do want, and then seek that.
Scale length: 34", 35", multi-scale?
Pickups: P, Jazz, MusicMan, humbuckers?
Strings: Round, flat, or half? Nickel or Stainless?
Tonewoods: Alder, Ash, Basswood, Mahogany, etc?
These are just some basic questions to ask. Scale length and pickup type and placement can have a profound effect on your tone. Active electronics can only work with what's being fed into them, so I'd be sure to have these components locked down first.
Enjoy the journey!
More importantly, what is the sound you want? There are bassists whose tone you love; what instruments are they playing? What does the rest of their setup look like?
I come from a different era of metal. Every time I heard a player whose tone I loved it turned out they were playing basses made by some company in Germany. I bought one and it is my go-to for every style of music. That may not be the sound as much anymore, and definitely might not be the sound you want, but try figuring out what it is you do want, and then seek that.
Scale length: 34", 35", multi-scale?
Pickups: P, Jazz, MusicMan, humbuckers?
Strings: Round, flat, or half? Nickel or Stainless?
Tonewoods: Alder, Ash, Basswood, Mahogany, etc?
These are just some basic questions to ask. Scale length and pickup type and placement can have a profound effect on your tone. Active electronics can only work with what's being fed into them, so I'd be sure to have these components locked down first.
Enjoy the journey!
Most often these days I'm reaching for my VM jag bass with passive pickups and an active bass boost, so I guess it's active..I don't think many people could even hear the difference with the pre turned down.
It's a great sounding bass.
It's a great sounding bass.
it's what all/most of the players said, above: doesn't matter.
i'd use the ax that helped my playing become the easiest path to victory!
When I put some EMG actives in my P Bass years ago when they were all the rage, I noticed quite a difference and I really liked what I heard.
But, as soon that I rehearsed with the band it seemed they lacked the strength and tone like they did at bedroom level volumes.
I did record some demos with them and yes they sounded great! Smooth balanced tone and low noise!
I eventually went back to passives and noticed how much more lively they sounded.
So my opinion is actives are better for recording and passives are better for live playing.
But, as soon that I rehearsed with the band it seemed they lacked the strength and tone like they did at bedroom level volumes.
I did record some demos with them and yes they sounded great! Smooth balanced tone and low noise!
I eventually went back to passives and noticed how much more lively they sounded.
So my opinion is actives are better for recording and passives are better for live playing.
It doesn't matter. There are no rules for which gear you need to use to play thrash. I would associate a lot of metal bass with EMG pickups, which means going active for the traditional EMG tone. Don't think you need X gear to play a certain genre though. Active pickups will sound a lot hotter and grindy which most will associate with heavier sub genres of metal.
