Passive or Active, Z 5 string with Powerbucker and Musicman

[JimBeed]

So is the only advantage to active making it possible to adjust the various parts of the tone more? and the disadvantage being changing battery every so often? and well would active still do anything to passive five string pickups of them types, and would a active set up be possible with the original four control holes that can be cut? apart from a small one for a switch for either pickup or both, not going into the parallel and stuff, bit much i think for what id want, maybe.

 

[line6man]

EQ is only one side of having a preamp.
The main advantage (for me at least) is being able to run a low impedance output.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

EMGs are the odd ball of the bunch because they don't allow for the sound to be passive, EVER.  The preamp is built into the pickup.  Most add on active preamps allow some sort of passive mode.  The only drawback to some of them is it's like a pedal.  The bypass is never a true bypass, and even to run in a passive mode, the active preamp must still have power.

 

[JimBeed]

hmmm my passive p bass gives me good sound so think active would be one step too many than needed for me, thanks anyways

 

[line6man]

EMGs are the odd ball of the bunch because they don't allow for the sound to be passive, EVER.  The preamp is built into the pickup.  Most add on active preamps allow some sort of passive mode.  The only drawback to some of them is it's like a pedal.  The bypass is never a true bypass, and even to run in a passive mode, the active preamp must still have power.

Not true at all.
An active/passive switch is set up to remove the preamp from the circuit in passive mode.
I don't see why it would be an issue that the preamp still be receiving power in passive mode? The batteries should last so long anyways that it wont matter.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I can't argue with the schematic of the active/passive switch, but I've seen too many with or without a switch, with a dead battery, produce no sound.

 

[line6man]

I can't argue with the schematic of the active/passive switch, but I've seen too many with or without a switch, with a dead battery, produce no sound.

Well that's the issue then, you are referring to basses without a passive option.

I honestly think it's completely and utterly ridiculous that any bass with a preamp be built without an active/passive switch, regardless of how much of a priority you put on passive functionality.

When you get into 25K volume controls placed after the output of the preamp rather than 250K/500K volumes placed before the preamp, you are going to lose the volume control in passive mode, because trying to run a high impedance output from passive pickups through such a low value pot would kill most all of the output, but even with no control over your volume, it's better that you at least have a signal so you can get through a gig if your battery dies or something.
Some preamps are voiced to color the sound, even when set flat, either to put their signature sound on the pickups, or sometimes to make up for the pickup's shortcomings, so trying to run certain pickups/basses passive can sound like crap, but again, it's better to have something to get you through a gig if a battery dies or something.

I should note however, that I have extremely high expectations from my electronics though. As you guys should have seen from the way I choose to wire my basses.
I may be a bit biased as to what a bass should be.