Which one do you have?

[Aspidites]

Both

 

[SteveC]

I have both, but prefer my passive Pbasses, by leaps and bounds. To me, the tone is more "honest", for lack of a better term. Plus, no batteries to worry about, less wiring connections that can fail, etc. Peace of mind at a gig is a good thing. As Forrest Gump said: "one less thing, that's good".

I tried to think this, and I tried a passive P and J. I have found that Bartolini electronics and lupus are a part of my sound. No denying it, so I sold my jazz and got a Lakland with Barts.

 

[SixString]

Where is the "both" option?
I use an active/passive switch so I can have either, at my choosing.

We're talking pickups right? Not preamps? I have an active/passive switch too but thats for my preamp. Or do they make active/passive switches for pickups?

 

[bassist4dalord]

I'm a passive guy. Passive everything. Active preamps intimidate me; they require far too much fiddling for my tastes, and, quite frankly, too many options. I find them dizzying.

They sound great in the hands of other players, but they're just not my thing.

Give me a passive Fender over an active Ibanez any day of the week.

 

[BoulderBassist]

I have an 83 Jazz a 77 Ric a custom Fretless and one of the original 83 Ibanez Muscian with active circuit. I also have a Sadowsky outboard pre-amp DI which has been way more useful than i originally thought. I think that about covers most tones I need except I miss my first good bass which was stolen, a 71 P. I really don't think there's a right or wrong in this discussion. Just what you like and what really suits the band and the piece you're playing. Just one bassists personal opinion.

 

[Need2KnowBasses]

The main difference between an active or passive bass is the an active bass gives more control over your tone. When first learning about bass gear I assumed a bass advertised as active would have active pick ups but I soon learned this is not the case. Most active basses just have a two or three band preamp. Some basses have active pick ups as well as a preamp. I recently purchased Invalid Link Removed and I love it.

 

[levis76]

I used to play actives but I got tired of buying/changing batteries so I'm a passive (aggressive) player now.

 

[bluesdogblues]

Me too always prefer passive bass. Not judging the active basses players, but I personally don't like active basses sounds & tones.

 

[Muddslide]

Passive everything. Nothing but passive, all the time.

Same here. I expended considerable time, money and energy in years past mucking around with active this, active EQ, et al. Was a waste of my time.

Come to find out, I was going the loooong way round fiddling with active pups, components and outboard gear just to ty to nail the passive P-bass tone essentially.

Actives are great for people who dig them, and more power to them! Personally I dislike them for my playing and have no need for them.

 

[nocontrols]

Same here. I expended considerable time, money and energy in years past mucking around with active this, active EQ, et al. Was a waste of my time.

Come to find out, I was going the loooong way round fiddling with active pups, components and outboard gear just to ty to nail the passive P-bass tone essentially.

Actives are great for people who dig them, and more power to them! Personally I dislike them for my playing and have no need for them.

It's good to know what you like but sometimes it takes an uphill climb to get there.

And then there are people who say "both" because they are like sonic chameleons and switch back and forth, depending on the needs of their current gig. I've never been able to do this... I'm too opinionated. I am too focused on my own tastes to not know what I want or to want a bit of everything.

 

[mongo2]

My answer is:

Yes.