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Post subject: Active Preamp- the dull down effect
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:21 pm
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I've tried a lot of both passive and active basses out there. I won't get into the merits that active basses have- they can certainly be useful in certain situations. However there is one thing I have consistently found with just about all active basses: it makes the tone sound somewhat generic.

Case and point. I went to my local shop and played 4 basses: american standard jazz, american standard precision, american DELUXE jazz, and american DELUXE precision.

The passive jazz and precision sounded quite different with their own unique sonic characteristics (I have an american standard jazz myself that i love.)

However, when I compared the two active basses with the EQ flat, I noticed they sounded rather similar. Actually, quite similar. It was not a fenderesque sound at all. THey were louder, sure, and had the capability of adjusting the EQ without going to the amp. But it bothers me just how much the preamps colored the sound with the EQ completely flat. It just seemed to take the life out of it!

I had a similar experience with the Jaguar bass. As soon as I turned the active preamp on with the eq flat, it just sounded louder and more generic. The jazz bass tone was gone.

This is a phenomenon I've seen in other basses as well. I recently played an Ibanez bass with the preamp removed, and I found it to be a far more dynamic and sonically interesting instrument than it's active counterpart.

Now, I realize fender's preamps are not the greatest out there. Bartolini makes fantastic preamps, and Aguilar has some great ones that are quite transparent. So, if people are forking over almost 2000 bucks on axes, why isn't fender investing in decent preamps? At the very least I feel they should offer a passive bypass switch to let the real character of the pickups shine through.

Believe me, I understand the merits of and active preamp. But is it really worth losing the unique characteristics of the pickups? My suggestion, if you have an active fender bass, get a good preamp, have a bypass switch, or both. Trust me, you'd be amazed by the tone you'll get.


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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:48 pm
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I could not agree with you MORE completely!

One of my favorite quotes ever follows.

"BATTERIES BELONG IN FLASHLIGHTS."

Who said that? Bill Lawrence said that!

Bill Lawrence is right.

YEP! Active electronics do have their place. They sure do record well.

When playing live active basses to me are a handicap. There is nothing organic, or dare I say spiritual, in that clean big booty deep fakey sound. Far more importantly there is nothing in an active bass's tones that makes ANYONE'S heart cry.

To really move someone in a live environment you need passive ALNICO pickups, some CTS pots and a Sprague Vitamin-Q cap with some really good strings like TI EB344's.

"Batteries DO belong in flashlights...or in studio basses!"
Who said that? Brother Dave said that. And DON'T any of you kids coming up forget it! You just can't beat Alnico, Vitamin Q's , CTS 250K pots, Thomastik-Infeld EB344's and HUMAN FINGERS plugged into a smoking Ampeg Classic. Sorry Pick Players. I'm just not feeling you right now.


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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:25 pm
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I agree that Fender is behind the 8 ball when it comes to preamp. BUT, that said I replaced the preamp that was in my American Deluxe Jazz FMT with a Sadowsky preamp.

HOT DAMN! That bass is a killer now! And it only needs one 9V to boot!

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:00 pm
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Yes, Sadowsky preamps are pretty good. However, I still recommend having some way to go to passive mode. You could always install a push/pull knob to switch between active and passive.

I'm sure you love the tones you can get with the active preamp, but I think you'd be surprised by what your bass would sound like passive. The SNC pickups especially have a lot of interesting dynamic and harmonic qualities that get covered up by even the best and most transparent preamp.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:52 pm
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anubis16 wrote:
Yes, Sadowsky preamps are pretty good. However, I still recommend having some way to go to passive mode. You could always install a push/pull knob to switch between active and passive.

I'm sure you love the tones you can get with the active preamp, but I think you'd be surprised by what your bass would sound like passive. The SNC pickups especially have a lot of interesting dynamic and harmonic qualities that get covered up by even the best and most transparent preamp.


FYI, the Sadowsky preamps do have a push/pull for active and passive.

_________________
1972 Fender Jazz
Fodera Monarch Standard Special Madrone
Roscoe Century Custom 5
Bacchus Craft Series 5 String Jazz
Crews Maniac Sound Jackson 5 Fretless
Delray Bass Co. Custom P-Bass
NS Design Omnibass Electric Upright
Breedlove Solo Acoustic Fretless


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Post subject: active electronics
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:24 pm
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Location: Springfield Missouri
Yea, I m leaning towards ditching my active electronics and going passive. I ve had problems with two fender preamps now, and while they sound good to me when they re working, it s not worth the frustration, when I m in the middle of a bass solo at a gig, and 2 of my strings go dead.
It s happened for 2 years now, and I m fed up. The only tonal complaint I ve had is the highs are way too shrill unless you cut em way back. Of course my Hartke cabs have horns, etc.. but I almost have to cut the treble all the way, when I m wanting that warm buzzy fender sound.
I kinda wish I could find someone to trade with, instead of selling my
active bass and taking a big hit on the price. (mine's a 97' American
Jazz deluxe) .


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:56 pm
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A few things. First of all, no need selling your active bass just because you don't like the active electronics. It's actually pretty easy to convert an active bass into a passive bass. And most passive basses have a "tone control," which does exactly what you want: cut off the treble.

Fender preamps..... suck, to be totally honest. They do a LOT to color the sound, and they're not reliable. There are good preamps that are pretty transparent out there, but expect to pay close to 200 on one of them.

I think you'd be amazed how better your bass will sound passive. The fender preamp really does dull down the tone of the pickups, and if you're mainly using the preamp to take down the highs, then you can accomplish the exact same with a tone control.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:36 pm
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Active pre's can be good, but as you say, the more transparent ones are the best, if I wanted an active Jazz, an Audree Jazz plate would be the only option, when flat, sounds like your pickups. 8)

Unless I want a really moden tone, an active/passive switch is a must.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:54 pm
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Yes, the audere is a very good preamp. It also has that cool "mode" switch.

Another good preamp is the East retro-J. It's pretty damn transparent.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:58 pm
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I have a Bart one in a bass, can't say weather its transparent or not, because its stock, and the pickups are custom for the bass, but I'd like to try it in other basses.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:06 pm
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I don't know whether Barts are transparent or not, but they're designed to work really well with their pickups. And I have to say they do a pretty damn good job at that.


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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:33 pm
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There's a good reason Barts are used by so many boutique builders.

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