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jerimy77

Active member
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
29
Location
Atlanta, GA. USA
I was wandering? As my back up bass and for alternate tunings I use a SUB 4 Ray with the passive pick-up. My primary bass is the Sub 4 active, what would be you guys best recomendations for a hotter pick up without boring a whole and making the bass active..... In a project bass I built I installed the EMG active setup in that bass with great success but it had more electronic space so I didnt have to do any carpentry work on it, so I would like to stay passive if at all possible. I know I won't get the same sound but darn close would be acceptable...... I would sell the bass and get another but I'd rather hang on to it, it plays way to awesome to pass on...
 

jerimy77

Active member
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
29
Location
Atlanta, GA. USA
What problem are you trying to solve?

I guess I am realy trying to get the passive Bass to sound more like the active bass, so I don't have to keep hit'n the pad button on my amp. I am a very lazy man.... To kind of offset it I have been running the active bass volume on 4 or 5, and running the passive on 11 "Spinal Tap Style". that helps but still not realy that close in the sound category. Could it be a resistor issue in the passive bass's electronics?
 

Caca de Kick

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
1,363
Location
South Seattle
No, you're simply going to have a volume difference because of the preamp.

Simply sell off the passive SUB, and buy and active one.
 

the unrepentant

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
1,191
Location
Bangor, UK
yeah, either sell the passive and buy an active, or buy an aftermarket preamp. I won't go into detail, as this isn't the right place, but they are available (pm me if you like). The pickups aren't the issue though, it is very rare that a bass will have active pickups.
 

lowendgrowl

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
47
Easy solution....... Buy a Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver D.I. Set the level higher, adjust the tone you are looking for, and click the switch when you use the passive bass. They sell for about $200 new, or less used. This way you can adjust tone, and get a little more volume without the trouble of tearing into your bass.
 
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