Active Passive?

[Son of Bovril]

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?

Fair enough, it doesn't make sense to have three preamp stages in the chain if you are getting what you want from the first one or two...

I think bases like the Thumb and SSII with the harder darker & more exotic woods tend to sound better in active mode, as they don't have the low end bloom in passive mode that ash or alder (and even maple to an extent) have, and to my ear tend to sound a bit thin without the preamp headroom

This might also be to do with the fact that these bases use active pups, I've noticed my Streamer jazzman is litterally exactly the same if it is flat in active mode or switched to passive. The thumb as I said earlier just seems to have a slightly wider tonal spectrum when in active mode, even if set flat - but that could just be my ears?

Hey saxonbass:

I use the EBS Microbass II as well, playing it straight into a poweramp live or straight into the desk for recording. really brings out the growl of my thumb and is SUPER versatile - I love the fact that it has an FX send and return. do you usually use both channels combined or switch between them? I tend to run my bass flat (or just with a mid boost) and eq on the EBS

 

[saxonbass]

Hey saxonbass:

I use the EBS Microbass II as well, playing it straight into a poweramp live or straight into the desk for recording. really brings out the growl of my thumb and is SUPER versatile - I love the fact that it has an FX send and return. do you usually use both channels combined or switch between them? I tend to run my bass flat (or just with a mid boost) and eq on the EBS

I started out using two switchable channels - then I decided I didn't need to switch - may be different if you want two distinct sounds - like a slapping option, or an extra drive/boost. I've now set up as an A+B, for a single outrageous, growly tone I use for monitoring through my combo.... I'd send it straight to a power amp if I could... but have the combo EQ flat... or switched out (when I use my Ashdown). I use the DI pre-EQ and that goes to the PA for FoH sound. The effects loop is icing on the cake... I keep eyeing it up, but don't use it at the moment.