CaptainBlackarm16 Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 [color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Hi Folks,[/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Im after bit of advice, I have a lovely OLP 5 string bass that is passive. Now the pickup is original and completely coated in wax, it has one volume and one tone pot.[/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Im after making the bass active, I have a few 9V connectors hanging about, but I was wondering, do I NEED a preamp to make my bass active? Or can I just solder a 9V connector and battery somewhere to make the thing active?[/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] HELP![/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#1D2129][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] Thanks!! [/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) The term "active" can refer to one of two things; The first use refers to an active pre-amp - typically (although not always) this is a tone control circuit that allows the levels of different frequencies to be raised as well as lowered and also to act as a buffer between the pickup and the outside world. The second use refers to active pickups, these differ from passive pickups in that they incorporate a built in pre-amp of their own. Pickups are essenially coils of wire running side by side - to achieve a decent signal level requires quite a few coils of wire but coils create inductance and wires running side by side create capacitance, this in turn creates a "band pass filter" which attenuates high and low frequencies. To get around this, active pickups use less turns of wire but require their own pre-amp to bring the signal level up to a useful level (I hope that all makes sense). So, if you want an active bass you will need to either switch your pickups to active pickups, install a preamp or both. Edited August 28, 2016 by darkandrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBlackarm16 Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 [quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1472420092' post='3121044'] The term "active" can refer to one of two things; The first use refers to an active pre-amp - typically (although not always) this is a tone control circuit that allows the levels of different frequencies to be raised as well as lowered and also to act as a buffer between the pickup and the outside world. The second use refers to active pickups, these differ from passive pickups in that they incorporate a built in pre-amp of their own. Pickups are essenially coils of wire running side by side - to achieve a decent signal level requires quite a few coils of wire but coils create inductance and wires running side by side create capacitance, this in turn creates a "band pass" filter which drops high and low frequencies. To get around this, active pickups use less turns of wire but require their own pre-amp to bring the signal level up to a useful level (I hope that all makes sense). So, if you want an active bass you will need to either switch your pickups to active pickups, install a preamp or both. [/quote] So there is no way of me soldering a 9V connector to the pickup/pot to create an active circuit/pickup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Basically, no. What pickup configuration do you have? Is it a single "MM" type pickup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBlackarm16 Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 [quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1472420378' post='3121046'] Basically, no. What pickup configuration do you have? Is it a single "MM" type pickup? [/quote] Its just a single MM pup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) To switch to an active pickup would need something like this: http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/mm-models.html These include the pickups, the pots (you need different values for active pickups) and a TRS jack socket to act as a switch to switch everthing on when you plug your lead into it. The tone control included with this is a fairly simple one that lets you roll off the higher frequncies in the same way that your current one does - if you want to have more control over your tone you would also need to add an active eq to it. I should add that the "Hz" range of EMG pickups at the bottom of the page are actually passive and not active. Edited August 28, 2016 by darkandrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBlackarm16 Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 [quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1472421088' post='3121057'] To switch to an active pickup would need something like this: [url="http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/mm-models.html"]http://www.emgpickup.../mm-models.html[/url] These include the pickups, the pots (you need different values for active pickups) and a TRS jack socket to act as a switch to switch everthing on when you plug your lead into it. The tone control included with this is a fairly simple one that lets you roll off the higher frequncies in the same way that your current one does - if you want to have more control over your tone you would also need to add an active eq to it. I should add that the "Hz" range of EMG pickups at the bottom of the page are actually passive and not active. [/quote] Not got that type of money lol, thats why i was looking for a cheap alternative because its only a back up bass that cost about £120 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Cheap alternative is a Behringer BDI21 , saves you messing about with the bass and gives you a DI solution too. It is possible to fit an Artec preamp, these are cheap, around 10 quid second hand. This will need a rout for the battery box. Search for a thread in the forum called "pimp mah olp" it will tell you what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 [quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1472421088' post='3121057'] To switch to an active pickup would need something like this: [url="http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/mm-models.html"]http://www.emgpickup.../mm-models.html[/url] [/quote] These won't work for OLP, the string spacing is narrower than a MusicMan and I think the case is also smaller. Nordstrand make a great olp replacement but it is passive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 (edited) [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1472466431' post='3121244'] Cheap alternative is a Behringer BDI21 , saves you messing about with the bass and gives you a DI solution too. It is possible to fit an Artec preamp, these are cheap, around 10 quid second hand. This will need a rout for the battery box. Search for a thread in the forum called "pimp mah olp" it will tell you what to do. [/quote] Good solution if you don't want to mess around inside the bass. Artec pre-amps are great value for money but the pots are pretty crappy and tend to get really scratchy really quickly. If it were me I would fit a Stinger pre-amp from Retrovibe. These are clones of the original and much revered Musicman 2 band eq. Cracking bit of kit. Edited August 29, 2016 by BassBunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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