SUB pickup question

[pepperman]

Hey all!

I've got a passive SUB5 coming my way and, as I am an electronics idiot, I thought I'd ask if there were any pickup differences between the active and passive instruments. You hear the terms 'active pickup' and 'passive pickup' tossed around and was wondering if there is a difference. More windings in a passive, etc...

Or, is it the same pickup in both instruments, just the other electronic bits are different? I'm a curious guy...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Narcosynthesis]

Active or passive usually refers to the electronics, I think the pickup itself should be the same either way (someone please correct me if I am wrong here)

Passive electronics is where you need no power for the bass to run, so the pickup gives out a voltage, then the electronics (usually only a volume and tone control) only has the option to cut the signal, so you can use the volume from max down to nothing, or use the treble control to roll off treble from the signal.

Active electronics use a powered preamp, so the pickups signal is then put into a circuit which gives you a lot more control an doptions with what you do - you can both boost and cut the sound, and a lot more control over eq bands than just a treble knob (ie you can have bass and treble, or bass, mids and treble, or more if you really wanted) - I think of active electronics like having a pedal built in to the bass to give you more control straight from your fingertips

Passive is the simplest, and needs no batteries or anything to run, Active can be set up more complicated and does need a battery

David

 

[Rano Bass]

The pickup is the same in SUB5's passive or active, the active just has an EQ inside the control plate and a battery to juice the preamp, not the pickup.