active bass vs passive bass
Electronics – Active vs. Passive Passive basses have simple electronics and have a more “pure” sound. They have at least two basic features that are controlled by the knobs on your bass: volume (one volume knob for each pickup) and tone.
10. Mar 26, 2008. #3. My SWR Interstellar Overdrive actually bypasses one side of the preamp tube and uses IC chips on the active input. The manual says you can use the passive input with most active basses though. At least in the case of my amp, the active input is designed to keep the hotter active signal from overdriving its analog Active basses put the EQ knobs etc. right on the bass. This makes it handy to change tone while playing. How many controls are there depends on the bass. Active basses drive long cables better without losing signal or tone. Active basses often (but not always) have higher output which reduces hum pickup. An active bass can have a very 'passive' sound quality depending on the pickup/preamp combo. I've played Fender Active Jazz basses in the past and they have a very 'active' sound to my ears, which I liked. As a contrast, my Lakland 44-02 is a pretty high-output 'active' bass that still sounds very organic. I tend to treat preamps as a 'spice'.This week we're looking at Active Basses vs Passive Basses. Which one is best? Or more importantly, which one is best for YOU!?Visit Talkingbass: https://www
It is certainly possible to either remove the preamp altogether or to add a bypass switch. On your bass as is it might take more than simply adding a switch to get the passive sounds you want as you would not have any tone control. That could be added or a preamp with that feature like Sadowsky put in. Mar 9, 2016 #3.Apr 29, 2001. Omaha, Nebraska. My impression is that the passive tone control rolls off a wider range of treble frequences--everything above a particular frequency--whereas the active treble control generally cuts the same rather narrow range that it boosts. But yes, you can definately hear a difference. Mike.