Why are so many Ibanez basses active?

Hard to figure out the people at Ibanez but I'm guessing because active basses are their bread and butter.
However, if you want an Ibanez and it has to be passive, I'd recommend this.
Priced right at $500 and they have a 5-string model, too.
That's the active_passive switch on the top horn.

 

If it's that much of an issue, maybe bypass the preamp, or replace it altogether with passive controls? If DIY isn't feasible, any guitar tech should be able to do it easily.
The pickups are passive; it's just the preamp that's active.

 

Take the pre out. There's probably $20 for some decent pots and a cap. Maybe an hour in time to do it. Can be reversed easily enough later if you change your mind or want to sell it.

 

This might seem crazy, I don't know, so bear with me, but...maybe check out some of the countless other passive basses?

 

This, or look for a used bass. I have this passive MIJ SR 600 from the early 90s. It has a fantastic neck too.

 

To me, this is like asking why Fender does a lot of P and J basses. It's just in their blood. But if you want a passive affordable Ibby, your options new are the short scale TMB30 and the GSR180.

I do think Ibanez should do a passive/active switch on all of their basses, from the cheapest to the most expensive. And then save the 3 way EQ switch for higher level, pro basses.

 

What's wrong with active? My mid-tier 1405 has an active / passive switch but no tone roll-off.

Riis

 

Yes

 

Any good marketer will develop a market. They make decent active basses at a good price.

 

They cater to a ‘modern’ tone crowd. Their lower tier offerings are usually passive.


There’s a few on their website

Lower priced lower number model numbers are usually passive

 

They have models that have a EQ bypass to make em passive.

The SR655 comes to mind, as I have played that one.

Either way though, I can get any sound I need out of my active basses..

YMMV

T$

 

I personally always enjoy the high frequency hiss when I boost treble on my Ibanez. I can’t imagine not wanting that!

 

Obviously actives sell better for them. They wouldn't be apt to spend the extra on preamps if they were not making money on it.
Embrace it if you want an Ibanez- active is not the devil.

 

I have found that the preamps on low end Ibanez models sound terrible. More than once I have picked up an Ibanez at a guitar shop, played it for a bit unplugged and really liked the feel, then plugged it in and just put it right back. To me replacing or removing the pre would be essential, because the low end models also lack a bypass foe the preamp. The cheap ones just sound so brittle and bad.

 

Maybe so they dont have to overlap and compete with Squier?

 

Spend around 600, and they usually have passive switches.

 

Yeah, it seems to me that, with this tactic, Ibanez will never be successful.

 

My guess would be that for the mass produced budget lines, an inexpensive active circuit might help sell more units.
Passive basses have a more limited old school / niche appeal and good quality pickups needed to really do it right aren’t cheap.

 

While it's true you catch more flies with honey, it's indisputable that you sell more basses with shiny poopie.

And I mean that most alliteratively