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Johno_85

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Joined
Oct 9, 2020
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11
Hello & greetings from England! This is my first ever post! I’ve looked on the interwebs & am getting mixed results.

Now I know the bass as an active preamp (9V battery etc), but can anyone answer me the question of: are the pickups active or passive? :confused:

Thank you!
 

Golem

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Aug 30, 2005
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2,278
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Having seen the real innards and some wiring drawings for various MMs, I have never seen power delivered to the PUs.
 

tbonesullivan

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Aug 24, 2012
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2,413
Location
New Jersey
Passive. I'm not sure how many companies besides EMG make bass pickups with a preamp built into the actual pickup.
 

Johno_85

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Oct 9, 2020
Messages
11
Thanks guys! Much appreciated! Active circuitry, passive pickups! Question answered! =D
 

brash47

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Mar 25, 2018
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187
I would say.....passive.....passive aggressive!!

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
 

Johno_85

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Oct 9, 2020
Messages
11
Another question if anyone wouldn’t mind? I’ve used basses with active pickups in them for years, (Fender, Sadowsky) on the amp setting would you push the pad button in (-15dbs) or not with these?

Thanks!!!
 

drTStingray

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Aug 25, 2007
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Kent, United Kingdom
I don't with a normal Stingray but anything with 18 volt electronics (eg Bongo or Stingray Special) I would. The reason is you would need to set the input at a level to avoid it clipping - a normal Stingray, unless played incredibly aggressively, doesn't clip at reasonable input levels - I've found with basses with 18 volt electronics they will clip earlier - so using the pad button can help then.

Presuming the Ray 34 is very similar to a Stingray I wouldn't use the pad button but experiment for yourself and see what suits you.
 

Johno_85

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Joined
Oct 9, 2020
Messages
11
I don't with a normal Stingray but anything with 18 volt electronics (eg Bongo or Stingray Special) I would. The reason is you would need to set the input at a level to avoid it clipping - a normal Stingray, unless played incredibly aggressively, doesn't clip at reasonable input levels - I've found with basses with 18 volt electronics they will clip earlier - so using the pad button can help then.

Presuming the Ray 34 is very similar to a Stingray I wouldn't use the pad button but experiment for yourself and see what suits you.

Thank you very much, Is the first time I’ve had a bass with passive pickups, Every day is a school day, thank you for the information most kind of you
 

Johno_85

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2020
Messages
11
Might be a good idea to use the pad, I play aggressively with a pick, Jason Newsted style.
 
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