Active Pick-ups with little sound?

[Pat Cash]

The other day i bought Music Man Stingray 4. I went homeand plugged it into my fender rumble 100watt amp. it gave me almost no sound, i put a new battery in and still barley any sound, all my knobs on my bass were turn all the way on. i plugged in my Ibanez which does not have active electronics and it play 5x lounder then the Stingray. I know this isnt right can someone help me.
thanks,
Pat

 

[MingusBASS]

I'm not sure how to help you out man. It seems to me you should go back to the place your purchased the bass and see what they say. Did you purchase it from a store near you or was it something over the internet or phone?

Andrew

 

[shaver]

i have a question about active electronics too, whats the point of haveing active electronics if your amp has an active jack which decreses the sound.

 

[MingusBASS]

The reason there is usually a seperate jack or a switch(active/passive) is because active basses are so much "hotter" that your amp needs more of a buffer so the amp won't clip or distort.

Andrew

 

[shaver]

but then, why not make all basses passiv, like what advantages does it have?

 

[MingusBASS]

The tone on active basses can be manipulated much more than passive instruments. You can boost or cut lows, highs and mids on most active basses where as passive usually has a tone knob. Active basses just offer different tonal options and can enhance certain techniques such as slap. I'm sure there's more but that should be a decent answer.

Andrew

 

[Pat Cash]

I got it at guitar center. Its not the far of a drive ill call them back and see whats going on then i will bring it back and exchange if i have to.

 

[JB1]

i have a question about active electronics too, whats the point of haveing active electronics if your amp has an active jack which decreses the sound.

That reduction is to compensate for the pre-amp on the bass.

Just means if you switch basses mid-gig, you have to remember to crank the amp, or adjust the volume on the active bass to match the volume on the passive one.

 

[kilgore777]

but then, why not make all basses passiv, like what advantages does it have?

You get a much stronger signal with Active electronics and (correct me if I am wrong here folks...) a wider dynamic range- you gain much more control. Play a bass with and without and you will see the difference. I would go for the Active electronics.

If you are looking for a more vintage sound (like an old Fender), passive is the way to go.

 

[shaver]

i have a passive fender jazz, i know the differences in sound, i just didnt know all the advantages of active

 

[kilgore777]

Here is a good quick, albeit not very detailed explanation:

http://www.elevation-music.com/guqu.html

 

[shaver]

ahh, thank your very much

 

[kilgore777]

Np

 

[element]

I noticed that my Stingray wasnt outputting much volume a month or two ago. I changed the battery etc, and decided to take the battery compartment out and have a look. Turned out one of the cables connecting to the compartment had come off. Still unsure how it happened, but thats a possibility for you.

 

[shaver]

yes, something like this has happend to me to, the connectors to the batter had bent so i wasnt getting a connection.