On board active electrics...going full circle.

[NancyJohnson]

Well, it's started.  This inevitable urge to simply go back to passive basses.

 

I suppose getting handy with the soldering iron over the last few months on other basses, I've decided to start putting the basses that have had retro-fitted active electrons installed, back to passive.  I'm just sick of batteries, and the disparity from bass to bass.  Obviously the Spector is the only one that came with the preamp installed as stock, so that will be unaltered.

 

Bliss.

[HeadlessBassist]

I know what you mean. I've been out playing my Status basses, GB Spitfire and even my regular American Elite Jazz regularly on jobs for a few weeks, and the other day I sat down and got my Fender American Original Jazz out for the first time in a while. There's a simplicity and naturalness to the tone of a really good passive bass that's both refreshing and hard to beat. Yes, sometimes we need some active preamp shove, but that pure simplicity of a good passive bass is so satisfying.

 

Interestingly enough, my new walnut/graphite Jazz build is going to start out passive with the Fender Pure Vintage 66 pickups and the initial plan is to see how I like it passive. There is the possibility of a John East Jazz preamp lurking in my mind, though...

[BigRedX]

IMO most on board electronic don't offer anything that couldn't be done better, and more electrically efficiently elsewhere in the signal chain.

[Chienmortbb]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

IMO most on board electronic don't offer anything that couldn't be done better, and more electrically efficiently elsewhere in the signal chain.

Buffer?