+1 . . . I have the JO5, and the B is awesome . . . I believe it also has to do with your amp's power!
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Why So Few Passive 5'ers?
- Thread starter KevInDaBassment
- Start date
My 5-string collection is split 50/50 between active and passive. I've done side-by-side comparisons with the volume knobs at 10 and have found all of the passives to have lower overall volume, but the Bs pick up just as well as the other 4 strings.
I definitely think that 5 strings tend to have active EQ and or pickups because they are generally considered to be modern and most modern bassist prefer active controls.
I on the other hand prefer passive 100%!
I on the other hand prefer passive 100%!
Best wild guess is to aid with the low B, but not always. 
That said, I ran a DJ5 that was passive with Fralins that had an amazing B.
My Dingwall Super J5 is passive and just crushes the DJ5 in terms of Low B definition. And that is saying something.
I think the that actives can help clean up an unremarkable B. BUT...........plenty of guys are rocking basses with fantastic B's that prefer running active.
OK, my final answer is, I have no idea.
That said, I ran a DJ5 that was passive with Fralins that had an amazing B.
My Dingwall Super J5 is passive and just crushes the DJ5 in terms of Low B definition. And that is saying something.
I think the that actives can help clean up an unremarkable B. BUT...........plenty of guys are rocking basses with fantastic B's that prefer running active.
OK, my final answer is, I have no idea.
After fiddling with the setup and string gauge/brand my MIA Jazz Bass V low B string sounds as good if not better than that on the active Warwick Streamer I used to own.
I guess it is a fair amount of modern "tradition", since 5 string basses and active electronics became popular at the same time? There is no reason why you can´t build a good sounding passive bass with a low B...
I guess it is a fair amount of modern "tradition", since 5 string basses and active electronics became popular at the same time? There is no reason why you can´t build a good sounding passive bass with a low B...
Thinking again, I would say fivers have preamp because some players need to be able change eq "on the fly".
In one song, you are playing low strings and using B a lot, and next song is played on higher strings and sounds thin, so you open your bass eq. There is no time or free hand to turn around and change settings on your amp.
Of course, good fivestringer, good settings and good technique would make it sound balanced everywhere.
In one song, you are playing low strings and using B a lot, and next song is played on higher strings and sounds thin, so you open your bass eq. There is no time or free hand to turn around and change settings on your amp.
Of course, good fivestringer, good settings and good technique would make it sound balanced everywhere.
I read the OP and it got me to thinking. Nope, all of my 5'ers are active. Most are 18v even.. I am going to have to look into this. I can't answer why they are all active, other than they are. Even the 2 I built are active... Hmmmm.
I agree with the "modern" references.
Maybe 5ers are considered "modern" by most builders/players and therefore get the "modern" treatment of an active pre.
I do agree with the lacking B on passive basses (Fender anyways).
Maybe 5ers are considered "modern" by most builders/players and therefore get the "modern" treatment of an active pre.
I do agree with the lacking B on passive basses (Fender anyways).
I think it also has to do with history.
When I got my first fiver in the mid '80's, there were almost no 5-string friendly cabs, and a lot of amps had the bass control voiced too high. Add to that, the fact that 5-string basses were in their infancy, and a good B-string was HARD to find.
That lead to the misconception that you had to have onboard EQ to tweak for a good low B. I still hear guys in music stores claiming that extended range basses "have" to be active...
When I got my first fiver in the mid '80's, there were almost no 5-string friendly cabs, and a lot of amps had the bass control voiced too high. Add to that, the fact that 5-string basses were in their infancy, and a good B-string was HARD to find.
That lead to the misconception that you had to have onboard EQ to tweak for a good low B. I still hear guys in music stores claiming that extended range basses "have" to be active...
The only half way decent passive 5 string Ive owned was a passive warwick corvette. I got rid of it due to neck issues. I live in a very humid area and had to adjust the truss rod way to much for my liking.
Really most of the active basses Ive owned had a passive bypass and also sounded good passive so I wouldn't say passive basses are useless but at the same time I basses with active EQs are definelty more versatile.
Really most of the active basses Ive owned had a passive bypass and also sounded good passive so I wouldn't say passive basses are useless but at the same time I basses with active EQs are definelty more versatile.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I only play 5 string basses ... I usually have between 10 and 20 basses. About half are passive.
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IME the reason you see so few passive 5's on more expensive instruments is twofold
1) the bass purchasing public has shown their preference for instruments with an active tone control capability. builders and companies looking to introduce new instrument models have come to believe that there must be significant reason NOT to include a preamp in their 5-string, as it will come to life with a perceived disadvantage over a lesser instrument that includes a preamp.
2) you have to have a lot of things designed and implemented consistently right if you want to play the passive low B game. neck and pickup construction, as well as physical placement of the pickup(s) is criticatal to getting a passive 5 into the arena where it can kick some pre-amp tweaked tone booty
in a passive bass there's no place to hide shoddy designs or workmanship, and some wood choices that may work just fine for an active bass are no longer a consideration when active tone shaping goes away
IMO most companies consider a passive bass as an afterthought, and don't spend the time in their mad scientist cave working out the subtlest of nuances that combine together to make a passive bass great. it's a lot of work to get it all right, and the temptation to shortcut to the easy road and simply toss in an active preamp is always lurking at the door. in the end it's worth it to show-off a great passive bass for all its glory. I feel priviledged to now have two distinct models of passive basses, one a more traditional styled 4/5-string model, and the other a 24-fret 4/5/6-string
all the best,
R
1) the bass purchasing public has shown their preference for instruments with an active tone control capability. builders and companies looking to introduce new instrument models have come to believe that there must be significant reason NOT to include a preamp in their 5-string, as it will come to life with a perceived disadvantage over a lesser instrument that includes a preamp.
2) you have to have a lot of things designed and implemented consistently right if you want to play the passive low B game. neck and pickup construction, as well as physical placement of the pickup(s) is criticatal to getting a passive 5 into the arena where it can kick some pre-amp tweaked tone booty
in a passive bass there's no place to hide shoddy designs or workmanship, and some wood choices that may work just fine for an active bass are no longer a consideration when active tone shaping goes away
IMO most companies consider a passive bass as an afterthought, and don't spend the time in their mad scientist cave working out the subtlest of nuances that combine together to make a passive bass great. it's a lot of work to get it all right, and the temptation to shortcut to the easy road and simply toss in an active preamp is always lurking at the door. in the end it's worth it to show-off a great passive bass for all its glory. I feel priviledged to now have two distinct models of passive basses, one a more traditional styled 4/5-string model, and the other a 24-fret 4/5/6-string
all the best,
R
One of the very best 5's I have ever owned, and I still play an Alembic Essence 5, is a Squire Affinity Jazz 5, Tobbacco Sunburst and $200 delivered to your door.
I recently bought a new unused 2013 Fender MIA Jazz 5 pick ups, harness with CTS pots and scratchplate and it went straight into the Affinity with perfection.
That cost $129 on ebay.
For $340 which includes shipping, it is a wonderful passive 5 bass I am proud to play tht sounds terrific in both my Hartke and Marshall rigs.
I recently bought a new unused 2013 Fender MIA Jazz 5 pick ups, harness with CTS pots and scratchplate and it went straight into the Affinity with perfection.
That cost $129 on ebay.
For $340 which includes shipping, it is a wonderful passive 5 bass I am proud to play tht sounds terrific in both my Hartke and Marshall rigs.
Rodent's passive 5's are catching the attention of some pretty serious players.
The old Fender Roscoe Beck fivers, were another example of a highly flexible passive ERB.
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of a passive Dingwall ABZ 5-string, ordered sight-unseen. Based on clips I've heard and some time spent playing active models unplugged (to get a sense of the string tension, etc.), I'm pretty optimistic.
i'm not totally sure that the Dingwall tone will float my boat, but I have no concerns about the B string, or about the range of available tones, thanks to the clever 4-way switching.
All of these examples serve to prove that active fivers are more a matter of convention and preference, than necessity.
The old Fender Roscoe Beck fivers, were another example of a highly flexible passive ERB.
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of a passive Dingwall ABZ 5-string, ordered sight-unseen. Based on clips I've heard and some time spent playing active models unplugged (to get a sense of the string tension, etc.), I'm pretty optimistic.
i'm not totally sure that the Dingwall tone will float my boat, but I have no concerns about the B string, or about the range of available tones, thanks to the clever 4-way switching.
All of these examples serve to prove that active fivers are more a matter of convention and preference, than necessity.
As an update on how I solved this dilemma for myself....
I will be receiving a used Ibanez SR305 today that I hope is in good shape when I get it. If she checks out on the feel and construction side, I'll be replacing the pickups with SGD soapbars and a Bartolini NTMB 3-band preamp with Active/Passive option. Best of both worlds! All of this and it will STILL be cheaper than a new SR500...will more than likely sound much better too.
I will be receiving a used Ibanez SR305 today that I hope is in good shape when I get it. If she checks out on the feel and construction side, I'll be replacing the pickups with SGD soapbars and a Bartolini NTMB 3-band preamp with Active/Passive option. Best of both worlds! All of this and it will STILL be cheaper than a new SR500...will more than likely sound much better too.
Because active 5 string basses sound better. If you really want a passive 5 string bass, buy a Fender and get an outboard preamp. I bought a 5 string P bass and when I used it with an Aguillar outboard preamp it sounded good. I have also used the Sadowsky outboard preamp in the past and liked it as well.
FWIW, there are a few members who prefer the CAP pickups. You may like it better with the factory pickups.
Worth checking out. I have no experience with the SR series, but the stock Ibanez preamp is definitely the greater weak point in the ATK and BTB models I've spent time with.
