Active Passive?

M

Martthebass

Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
127
Reaction score
0
I'm sure the Active-Passive bit has been done to death, but one thing I've noticed is that on the Thumb BO and previously on my active 'Vette I found myself using the passive sound more often than active manipulation.

So...........firstly, am I weird? and secondly, does the true passive 'vette sound much different to the default passive on the active 'vette?
 
I keep my eq on the bass flat now. I'd probably keep the passive knob popped out, but I'd just pop it back in everytime your hand brushes past.

Amp also flat eq... I get my monitoring tone through (minimal) adjustment on EBS Microbass... and a pre-eq DI signal sent to the PA, with a bit of fiddling around by the sound guy! I've had no complaints yet... and sounds awesome to me!
 
I don't like the sound of passive basses - be it fender or my thumb NT or Streamer

Even if I have the controls set flat, I still have it on active instead of passive - I've noticed that this way it has a cleaner tone with a slightly extended low end an high end - almost like you can actually hear the extra headroom the preamp gives it...
 
I use the passive for Jaco tone. Otherwise, Its to hollow compared to the fullness of my prolines active mode.
 
Not sure of how the whole thing works really. I assume on the Thumb, that the passive switch by-passes the eq, but the pups are still active. While on the $$, as the pups are already passive, you're getting a true passive sound. I can't really hear any difference between the switch in or out, with the eq set flat... on either bass. Maybe that's just me... if you all insist otherwise, I'll listen a bit closer!
 
I play my Thumbs mostly passive:

I get slightly more growl out of it. I haven't done a good A/B comparison between active and passive pickups, so I cannot comment on that. However, I'm planning on putting passive pickups in my Thumb BO, which I hardly play these days, Because I'm mainly playing my NT. :D
I'm really curious how a passive Thumb will sound.
 
saxonbass said:
Not sure of how the whole thing works really. I assume on the Thumb, that the passive switch by-passes the eq, but the pups are still active. While on the $$, as the pups are already passive, you're getting a true passive sound. I can't really hear any difference between the switch in or out, with the eq set flat... on either bass. Maybe that's just me... if you all insist otherwise, I'll listen a bit closer!
Click to expand...

That's my experience as well. /Pat
 
To me, the Vette standard passive sounds the same as an active one with the knob pulled in passive mode. As for the Thumb bass, for me a large part of the appeal is the power it packs and the clarity thanks to the obp. I love my Jazzman in either mode :)
 
Martthebass said:
..So...........firstly, am I weird? and secondly, does the true passive 'vette sound much different to the default passive on the active 'vette?
Click to expand...

If your Corvette has passive pickups, the sound is the same (assuming that woods are the same too, of course).


I think that MEc electronics are the weakest link in Warwick basses, and on all the Warwick I've had it was almost always defeated.
Even if set flat, it sucks so much sound

Actually I removed it on my Thumb NT, and I've installed a custom made 3 way electronics.
It's a real top class electronic package, nevertheless the straight sound of my EMG equipped Thumb is so good that I don't use it 8)
 
After 20+ years of Fenders I've just got myself a $$5 fretless - and I can see ( or hear ) why you guys keep raving about Warwicks :D

I tend to keep my amp eq'ed flat and get a "zinging" bright tone with the bass in active mode, a bit like Percy Jones - punchy but clear.

For the Jaco tone I agree with Doc it's got to be passive although I can still get a smooth Jazz ish tone active.

Having played passive for so long I am obviously thrilled by the novelty of active tones - but hell it's got attitude :twisted:
 
I played the streamer LX on pasive only. But both my thumb and streamer stage II sounded better as active. I am very happy with MEC 3 band electronics.
 
Sea Bass said:
After 20+ years of Fenders I've just got myself a $$5 fretless - and I can see ( or hear ) why you guys keep raving about Warwicks :D

I tend to keep my amp eq'ed flat and get a "zinging" bright tone with the bass in active mode, a bit like Percy Jones - punchy but clear.

For the Jaco tone I agree with Doc it's got to be passive although I can still get a smooth Jazz ish tone active.

Having played passive for so long I am obviously thrilled by the novelty of active tones - but hell it's got attitude :twisted:
Click to expand...

One more of us, one less of them............. :lol: (just kidding guys)
 
Players who gravitate towards single-coil pickups typically insist on active electronics because they crave a brighter and more dynamic tone.

Humbuckers (non-soapbar) deliver a much greater signal to begin with, so it's not necessary for them to be active, and those same players are likely looking for more of a deep and warm tone anyway. Although having an active preamp is still nice, because passive preamps are not very useful in tone shaping.
 
One thing I have noticed is the 2 band (identical?) MEC set up on my Thumb BO4 is far more 'hissy' than on my old active Corvette 4. Is this

1. Due to pickup position?
2. Battery?
3. Weird?

It aint too bad to live with, just stops me from pushing the treble thats all.
 
always keep my basses passive.. they sound more natural.. i cant get on with active preamps.. both my warwicks are always run passive, if i want to shape my eq i use my amp and an EQ pedal..
 
I'm gonna have to agree with nick bear. I tell myself that it could be useful to have the functionalty of the active (2-band) preamp on my Warwicks for "on the fly" adjustments, but ultimately I do all of my EQ shaping via my bass driver and my head. This would be especially true if I had a 3-band preamp because my SVT has a second mids channel that I don't even use, why have a 3rd (or 4th) one on my bass?
 
Mr Rabble said:
I think that MEc electronics are the weakest link in Warwick basses.
Even if set flat, it sucks so much sound
Click to expand...

+1 Mr. Rabble.

I've put the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp in my Corvette ProLine and Std, both with active MEC pickups. The FNA came with a Seymoure Duncan Basslines 3-band preamp and a MEC passive humbucker pickup and it sounds very MM like.

I like to have a mid-control on the bass, and i use it a lot.
 
Depends on what Im playing musically... Personally I find that a passive bass sits better in a mix than an Active when playing with bands. I play all passive at the moment but Im solving that with an EBS preamp which should be arriving soon..
I also tend to run my amps relatively flat and the same goes for basses and active preamps, so its not a huge thing for me.. but I have noticed on the Thumb where ive gone from Passive to Active that it sounds heaps better in active form.. Just depends on the bass really.
 
FMJ said:
Depends on what Im playing musically... Personally I find that a passive bass sits better in a mix than an Active when playing with bands. I play all passive at the moment but Im solving that with an EBS preamp which should be arriving soon..
I also tend to run my amps relatively flat and the same goes for basses and active preamps, so its not a huge thing for me.. but I have noticed on the Thumb where ive gone from Passive to Active that it sounds heaps better in active form.. Just depends on the bass really.
Click to expand...

FMJ... you won't be disappointed with the EBS pre-amp. I run everything flat and get all my tone from the EBS. It's a bit TOO versatile, if anything, you'll be fiddling with it for hours!
 
Sweet, I'll look forward to it.. Im buying it completely unseen.. Hopefully they've ordered it this time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top