P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

d1dsj

d1dsj

Cornographer
Hey folks, need a bit of help please. I have an active Jazz type which is great as the active circuit gives the singles a good kick up the backside and there is a passive pull switch too. Now I have the opportunity to get a traditional P bass type that has passive pick ups. My understanding is that a P bass already has a good bit of thump and actives aren't necessarily required.... Would you agree? The bass is a good 2 hour drive and I don't want to waste my time on a 4 hour round trip.

Just for the record I'm only just getting into bass although I've had one sitting here for a few years. I've sold my 2 modern type basses (Sandberg basics) as I much prefer the Jazz type and like the idea of having a P style. I started a 3 piece band playing the usual blues rock covers ala ZZ, Gary Moore, The Black Crowes, Paul Rogers etc and thought a Jazz and P would at least sound a little more authentic and give me more versatility. Do you bass players even take a couple of basses to gigs? Or am I really just wasting money on a second bass and should I just try to get what I can out of the Jazz?

Cheers.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

I brought two basses to my gig last night, but I only played one. I just like having a spare, in case something goes wrong.

In your case, I'd play a P before actually going to buy one. It is a much different feel than a jazz*, and despite the hype from P lovers, not everyone likes them.



*Caveat: If a P has a jazz neck, then it doesn't feel that different. My main gig bass for the last year has been a P with a jazz neck.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

I am from the opposite school of thought. i.e. Jazz Bass with a P neck.

I freely flip between active and passive instruments. It is true that the traditional split coils pickup of the P Bass pumps out more output than a typical Jazz Bass. It is also true that the ride is different. Each neck shape lends itself to some moves that the other does not. For some of the music that you name-checked, a passive P Bass with flatwound strings nails the bottom end.

I suspect that the smartest compromise for obtaining a bunch of classic bass guitar tones from a single American-made instrument would be an EBMM Sterling or Stingray HS model.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

I dig the classic jazz bass sound, but mainly out of the bridge pickup. I dig the p bass sound as well. I found my solution for getting both sounds in the Fender deluxe p bass. I prefer the older styles with the humbucker (side by side) sized pickup, as opposed to the new deluxes with the noiseless pickup. There are other companies that make a similar instrument.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Thanks for the replies. The bass in question is another Sandberg, an older P style with just the passive split pick ups and a more traditional bridge rather than their own design high mass one and it do s hav flat wounds on at the moment.... Something I hadn't tried yet. As you guys have pointed out, I have read that a typical P not only sounds different but feels different but this bass is supposed to have a more Jazz size neck which is slimmer and narrower at the nut.

From what you have said I think I'm going to take the plunge and drive up there in the morning, well in a few hours time actually and give it a whirl. I'll report back later, many thanks for the info it has helped with my decision!
 
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Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Well I drove the 4 hour round trip and all I can say is wow, I absolutely love it. As I said above the neck is very close to my Jazz and the playability is almost identical, weight wise it's slightly lighter than the Jazz. It's got a what Sandberg call a soft core aged finish where the Jazz has a hardcore finish. Sound wise I can't believe how punchy, growls and crisp it sounds even through the little PJB briefcase. I got it for a steal as the guy was really into the Fender brand and preferred the beefy necks on his Fender Ps and I'm sure they will sound even more full and phat than this so I can understand.

Many thanks with your help and info, I'll post a few pics later once I've cut my lawns and done my chores..... Got to keep the better half happy :bigthumb:
 
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Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Excellent! The classic passive Precision sound is one that fits anything from blues and old style rock through heavy rock and metal.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

I love the Jazz neck on a P body.

If the P has the traditional P or the P+J config, I usually prefer to go with a noiseless/stacked vintage voiced humbucker bridge and a slightly hot P. Passive.

If you can customize or order the body... I would go with a Music Man style humbucker in the sweet spot on active elctronics. Ash body, your choice of a neck.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

SnakeAces said:
I love the Jazz neck on a P body.

If the P has the traditional P or the P+J config, I usually prefer to go with a noiseless/stacked vintage voiced humbucker bridge and a slightly hot P. Passive.
Click to expand...

+1 and +1.

For a PJ bass, my first choice for a J pickup would be a dual in-lin coil (split-coil) J pickup, rather than a stacked pickup. I just like the sound better.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

SnakeAces said:
I love the Jazz neck on a P body.

If the P has the traditional P or the P+J config, I usually prefer to go with a noiseless/stacked vintage voiced humbucker bridge and a slightly hot P. Passive.

If you can customize or order the body... I would go with a Music Man style humbucker in the sweet spot on active elctronics. Ash body, your choice of a neck.
Click to expand...

Now I have a classic P type and the Jazz I've already decided that my next and final bass will indeed be an ash bodied P with a M type bridge and P neck pick up. I'm going to try and get an ebony board and make it a 5 string and of course it will be another Sandberg. I definitely won't be going for any kind of aged finish, this one will a perfect condition and probably a blackburst or White. But that's going to be a while away but don't tell the better half!
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

BlueTalon said:
:haha: :haha: Snort! :haha: :haha:
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing...I think three of mine were all my "final" basses.

Reminds me of a friend who used to introduce his wife as his "my future ex-wife."
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Everyone should have a P-bass sound in there. Passive ones with flats have a great tone that fits in so many styles of music- it might not be your only bass, but sometimes that sound is perfect.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

When I got the bass I thought the guy said he had just restrung it with flats but I was wrong it has a new set of EB round wounds on. As they are fresh I'll leave them for now and get some flats for the next change. What make flats would you guys recommend? I think the bass currently has 50 - 105's on at the moment.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

See what the neck can take.

50-105 is heavier than I would go unless there were a likelihood of using a Hipshot D Tuner device.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Actually FF I would be happier going a bit lighter but not having much experience and knowledge of playing bass I have no idea. If I remember correctly I did put a set of Trace Elliot branded 40-90's on the blue Ken Taylor I sold which were comfortable to play and with those big old humbucker type pick ups the bass was still pretty strong. What gauge would you recommend bearing in mind I still play mainly 6 string so haven't gotten anything like the hand and finger strength yet although it is getting easier now. Cheers.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

40 or 45-100 steel flats.

I'm going to have to end this conversation. Your recent purchase had me GASsing for a Sandberg with an MM style pickup.
 
Re: P bass - passive or active? What's your preference?

Flats for a P? Rotosound 77 45-105. :)

I do think the trifecta is a P-Bass with Flats, Jazz Bass with Rounds and an active 5-String, perhaps with Steels.
 
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