Okay I'm a little confused!

[coastie72]

I know the difference between passive and active, I understand the tone controls. What I don't get is the difference in the parallel and series setting. I understand the concept I just don't know how it works in regard to the pups on my bass. I know that switching from one to the other there seems to be a huge change in volume. I really don't understand why that would be? When switching between passive and active there is also a huge difference in volume, that I better understand. Someone help me out here! Thanks!

[Grand Wazoo]

Have a read through the link below giving you a general explanation about series vs parallel

GuitarNuts.com - Series vs. Parallel Wiring

[Manfloozy]

The quick answer is that in series you are adding each pups signal to the other, in parallel you are splitting the difference... Think of it like taking an average in math. That is a super simplified version, but it helps me to think of it that way.

Also, with the EQ completely flat the bump from passive to active is far less noticeable, if that helps any.

[Big Poppa]

if you have your active vol set near flat there is a very very slight difference but when you boost freqs you get higher level

[coastie72]

Thanks guys, this is not a complaint at all, just trying to better understand the workings of the electronics on BP's Monster TrucK Ths is a help and I appreciate it. Man I love this bass!

[Grand Wazoo]

if you have your active vol set near flat there is a very very slight difference but when you boost freqs you get higher level

Sorry BP what do you mean by the volume set near flat? Do you mean like 90% full?

thanks.

[Duarte]

I always think of it as 2 light bulbs wired in series or parallel.

2 bulbs in parallel will be full brightness, with the same current through each.

2 bulbs in series will be much dimmer, with half the current going through each.

So, parallel = brighter tone, series = darker tone.

That's just my thang I think of.

[Big Poppa]

I meant tone flat....

[keko]

I always think of it as 2 light bulbs wired in series or parallel.

2 bulbs in parallel will be full brightness, with the same current through each.

2 bulbs in series will be much dimmer, with half the current going through each.

So, parallel = brighter tone, series = darker tone.

That's just my thang I think of.

Oposite my friend!

Bulbs are spending electric current, but pickups are producing Voltage and some low level AC current/signal)!

So, when in parallel, each coil produces fragile AC voltage during the string streaming in magnetic field over pickups pole pieces. Output level is the same and sound character is mixed from both pups position, right?

In serial mode, coils of pups are "pushing" Voltage through double wire (coil) and produced Voltage will be higher than in parallel mode almost double, but not exactly, 'cause electronicaly we talking about impedance, not resistors!
Of course sound will be colored from both pups too, but maybe slightly more powerful and higher in low-mid range!

Sorry, for my bad English (not my native, have big trouble to explain), but I hope guys you'll understand the point!

[drTStingray]

It was once explained to me that the signal travels vertically over the pole pieces in parallel but horizontally and vertically around the pole pieces in series - my reference was to an SR5 with single H - the series cuts through thick mixes better - I guess because of the enhanced output (with EQ boosted) and the pumped up mids??

[Duarte]

Oposite my friend!

Ha! Yeah, I realise that it actually works the other way round for pickups - only, the way I think of it is that the Parallel creates a brighter tone for pickups and a darker tone in series. Musch like the differences in the bulbs...but the circuit is of course the other way round!

Of course, my way of thinking about it doesn't account for the increased volume of series wiring in pickups, so I end up just confusing myself and others

[patpark]

series is louder,

parallel is cleaner, slightly less output.

[oli@bass]

just play the damn thing and use whatever setting fits the song!

[shakinbacon]

I know the difference between passive and active, I understand the tone controls. What I don't get is the difference in the parallel and series setting. I understand the concept I just don't know how it works in regard to the pups on my bass. I know that switching from one to the other there seems to be a huge change in volume. I really don't understand why that would be? When switching between passive and active there is also a huge difference in volume, that I better understand. Someone help me out here! Thanks!

passive means no external power source necessary

active means a power source is necessary (9V battery for example)

One isn't better overall over the other. However, active has some benefits that makes me prefer it:
1) equalization boost
2) gain
a) can use fewer windings of wire in the pickup to get a certain tone, but this gives less signal strength. Signal can be made up for with gain. Thus decoupling tone from volume in a passive pickup
3) buffering
a) allows you to drive longer lines without EMI pickup
b) less filtering of high frequencies due to capacitances

There are passive designs that can sound better than active. Especially if the preamp is poorly designed and has noise and distortion issues. EBMM preamps are some of the best in the business so I don't think you'll have any issues like that.

[Manfloozy]

A tidbit regarding the EQ in active mode: if you boost 1 band of EQ, cut another. This isn't a requirement but can help minimize the volume change and can have favorable results IMO/IME.