Active/Passive Pickups

[4 Strings]

Simple question; will passive pickups work with an active circuit?

Building a Fenderbird, the pups I'm hoping to use are passive but I also have my eye on an active circuit.

All help appreciated.

[Ou7shined]

Simple answer; 95% of the time, yes.

[neepheid]

The active circuit ought to say in its specifications if there are any restrictions. Like EMG-BT/BQ systems vs. controls - the systems are designed for active EMG pickups only because they include a volume and blend control which only works properly with active pickups (wrong pot values for passive pickups), the controls on their own (you sort out pickup switching/blending/volume and present the resultant signal to the EQ circuit) are fine.