The Bass thread (funk, Paul McCartney, guitar)

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

As for passive/active I was just gonna stay with a passive set up... but now I don't knowwww. It's all so confusing.

passive is less hassle, and perfectly fine for most average applications, there's the potential for more 'noise' in your sound though, especially if you use lots of effects.

active electronics require some sort of power source as there's an actual preamp built into the pickups. it provides a much cleaner sound, but can border on being sterile. it's best if you want to ensure a strong signal at all times.

generally speaking actives are more predominant with metal and more technical styles, while passives are for the rest of us.

if you had your heart set on a P-Bass then go for it. i'm with ES on this one, i've known a few people with Mexican Fender basses and had no complaints (doesn't Antonio also own one?). it's not like you've gotten used to a higher quality instrument and the build quality will be immediately noticeable (if ever). just remember to try out a handful of models while you're in the store before you drop your cash. even if there is a specific model that catches your eye as soon as you walk in, try others to make sure that it's still the be all end all for you that you thought it was on entry. after all, you're the one who'll be playing it. you might want to try the J-basses as well, don't let the Jazz name fool you, it works for anything.


@Shell444 - any reason why you can't bring that Ibanez back to the store for a return? especially where you're looking for something else, they should be able to provide some store credit. the hassle of active electronics is the necessity of a 9volt battery in the body of the instrument, it has no bearing on its overall weight.


ALSO - it sounds like you made a typical beginner's mistake. you say it sounded great in the store but WAY too bright at home. did you try it out on a similar amp setup as to what you had at home? or just run it through the wicked awesome Ampeg stack in the corner of the shop? it's a common sales technique that often results in disappointment.