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Active/Passive Basses


vismund624

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Posted

What are your guys opinions on basses that have active/passive switches like the Jaguar Bass.... Should they just pick a team or do both sound good? Considering a bass that has this option, but i cant play it first.

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Posted

The option is ALWAYS a plus on a bass with active electronics. Consider:

 

Use the active EQ to get a certain sound, then just by using the active/passive switch you have 2 distinct tones.

 

If the battery dies on an "active only" bass, you are SOL. If you have the passive option, you may not have your preferred tone without the EQ working but you will still get sound.

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Passive vs. active. Two different beasts. Both have strong points, both are lacking in some areas.

 

Keep in mind that ALL basses were passive for a couple of decades, and many new basses are still passive. Actives came along and lots of people jumped on that bandwagon, but some prefer the "vintage" sound...which is passive.

 

I have both. I use both.

  • 2 weeks later...
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Posted

I've got a Brice with an active/passive pull tap, and I love the flexibility it gives me, and if the 9v dies, i wont be SOL like I would be with an active only like previously said. Its the best of both worlds, as long as your pups aren't crap

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Posted

i like the jaguar bass in particular, the switch that puts the signal in and out of phase is a fun addition to the active/passive switch. its got some raunchy tone

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Posted

 


....Keep in mind that ALL basses were passive for a couple of decades, and many new basses are still passive. Actives came along and lots of people jumped on that bandwagon, but some prefer the "vintage" sound...which is passive.


I have both. I use both.

 

 

when I started to learn Bass in 1980 I had no idea what an 'Active' Bass was, and I didn't really know (or care) for another 12 years.

 

I like the idea of having a switch or push/pull control to toggle between the 2 modes.

 

Otherwise I just like what sounds nice to me.

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Posted

 

if your battery goes done...you still have a bass to play

 

 

Yep.

 

IF I ever buy an active bass, it will have to have a active/passive switch. Personally, I don't have much use for an active preamp in my bass, as I have a much better preamp with me on the floor which I can control with my feet.

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Posted

 

I dig the active/passive switch mostly because it can save your ass in a bind, unlike an active-only bass.

 

+1. If I've got the option on the bass, guaranteed that I'll be in active mode unless I have a dead battery.

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Posted

 

The option is ALWAYS a plus on a bass with active electronics. Consider:


Use the active EQ to get a certain sound, then just by using the active/passive switch you have 2 distinct tones.


If the battery dies on an "active only" bass, you are SOL. If you have the passive option, you may not have your preferred tone without the EQ working but you will still get sound.

 

 

 

Exactly... that being said, the battery on my Active Jazz Deluxe will usually last a couple of months of heavy playing - as long as I remember to unplug it after each use - and has never failed me at a gig...

 

I really like the Active Jazz Deluxe - but have to admit that my 2 passives that are just as hot get alot of use, and I never have a concern about them...

 

 

 

 

- georgestrings

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Posted

 

i like the jaguar bass in particular, the switch that puts the signal in and out of phase is a fun addition to the active/passive switch. its got some raunchy tone

 

 

The switch puts the pups in series or parallel. This is different than in and out of phase. The cool thing about the Jag that is different than most other active basses with a passive switch is that the tone control still functions in passive mode. The Active mode has seperate bass and treble controls and the tone control always works.

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Posted

All my basses are passive. I'm horrible about keeping new batteries around. My mouse died last night and I didn't have batteries for it so I used the tab key for about an hour until I got pissed. Now my remote doesn't work. I should go up and get some. The only active bass I would want would have to be a Stingray.

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Posted

My fender Jazz Plus 5 string has active electrics that I like and a passive mode that works even on a dead battery. (Had that happen.) Only quirk is that the tone controls work differently in the two modes. (I get around seven months out of a 9 volt.)

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Posted

I prefer an active setup over passive pickups. Having said that, there's lots of great sounding passive axes. But I'm spoiled to active tone, so there I am, though I REALLY don't need mid EQ onboard the bass. Separate bass and treble is fine for me.

 

I've played active basses for years and have NEVER had a bass 'drop dead' due to a fading battery. I have heard them get progressively less output very gradually. and the Alembics begin to distort as the battery goes away. But I've NEVER had a bass go dead on me from a battery. Not that there isn't a system out there that might do just that, but I've never seen it.

 

If any of you have had this experience, for reference, could you clue me in as to what kind of pickups it was?

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