Are these Pick-ups Active / Passive?

NZ Bassman

NZ Bassman

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Hi - I am looking at possibly buying this Rock bass on a popular NZ buy/sell website - it is at a very good price ($NZ)
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=519073859
The seller says the pickups are active, but looking at the photo it only shows 3 knobs which would be probably be volume / tone / balance? I don't think they are active pick-ups.... but I am not a rock bass expert
Does anyone own one of these and know if the pick ups are active or not?

thanks in advance!
 
IIRC that is the basic streamer model with the "vintage humbuckers" all passive. probaly vol/vol/tone controls. nice, but not as nice as the current series with the 2 piece bridge. But 200 bucks is a steal for these. you cant get a squire with a corkscrew neck for 200 bucks
 
I don't know if this still applies, but it used to be Silver logo passive, Gold logo active.
 
Passive Vintage Humbuckers on a Rockbass Streamer STD.

Passive electronics with Vol Vol Tone.

;)
 
thanks for your replies - I also can't see any fret markers... I assume they are on the side of the fretboard?
 
Yes, side dots are installed, but no front on fret markers.

;)

It's an early model with the one piece bridge. Try and find out the year (last two digits of the serial number) if you can.
 
I asked the seller if there was a 9v battery compartment on the back and he said there is.... but I still think the pickups are passive.
The bass didn't sell so it has been re-listed... I'm tempted to buy it and flog off my Ibanez Ezpressionist, but I am worried that by doing so I will be 'downgrading' my bass?
 
Even the old RB's are very good for the price, the new ones are just better. Dunno about the Ibby in terms of quality, maybe you would be side-grading more than down-grading. The ibby does have a few things the Rb doesnt, active EQ, string through body option. Probably more up to personal preference more than wether one is "better" than the other. If you like it more that the ibby its better, for you. If not, then its not.
 
NZ Bassman said:
I asked the seller if there was a 9v battery compartment on the back and he said there is.... but I still think the pickups are passive.
The bass didn't sell so it has been re-listed... I'm tempted to buy it and flog off my Ibanez Ezpressionist, but I am worried that by doing so I will be 'downgrading' my bass?
Click to expand...

I can categorically tell you that unless he's installed an aftermarket pre amp it's totally passive ;) They are absolutely MEC Passive Vintage Humbuckers.

:d

There is an electronics compartment... where the passive electronics are installed (3 pots and a capacitor!), but there isn't any battery in there (unless as I said he's installed an aftermarket pre amp).

;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Eberbachl said:
I can categorically tell you that unless he's installed an aftermarket pre amp it's totally passive ;) They are absolutely MEC Passive Vintage Humbuckers.

:d

There is an electronics compartment... where the passive electronics are installed (3 pots and a capacitor!), but there isn't any battery in there (unless as I said he's installed an aftermarket pre amp).

;)
Click to expand...

yeah that's what I thought... probably stick with the Ibanez until I get a full time day job - I don't have a day job at the moment (apart from band gigs at the weekend) so I need to watch my finances a bit!
 
Up to you ;) If you can't afford it you already know what to do.

If you can afford it, don't discount it because it's passive - the Streamer STDs are great basses, and 200 bucks is a steal if it's in good condition.

Seriously, check this dude out - crank your speakers and listed to the tone on this. These basses just sound plain good!

:d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWn7_kACCbI

They guy needs to be told it's all passive though so he doesn't stooge someone else! :)
 
Eberbachl said:
Up to you ;) If you can't afford it you already know what to do.

If you can afford it, don't discount it because it's passive - the Streamer STDs are great basses, and 200 bucks is a steal if it's in good condition.

Seriously, check this dude out - crank your speakers and listed to the tone on this. These basses just sound plain good!

:d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWn7_kACCbI
Click to expand...

WOW - wonder what amp he was running that through, cos that sounded great....

Yeah, until my finances are looking a bit better I'll have to hold off... only thing I don't really like about the Warwick basses is the way the tuning pegs are on an angle and not straight like other makes - just looks a bit weird to me

The guy who fixed my amp has a good reputation here and he said he could also fix the eletronics in my bass, so I will more than likely take it to him to fix 8:
 
NZ Bassman said:
*snip.....only thing I don't really like about the Warwick basses is the way the tuning pegs are on an angle and not straight like other makes - just looks a bit weird to me.....*snip*
Click to expand...

The angled tuners are the bomb! Regardless of how they look (personally I love the look), they work great! SO much easier than straight tuners.

Ergonomic city!

:D
 
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