voodoobassman Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 [quote name='Hot Tub' post='536263' date='Jul 9 2009, 10:43 AM']TBH, what I'd really like is a little miniature switch for ON/OFF. That way the bass can be left plugged in all the time. I mean, how hard can it be? Why don't the manufacturers do this?[/quote] Yeah. I used to have a Fender Active Jazz Bass Special which had a active/ passive switch. Very useful and also great for instantly altering the tone to a Precision-like donk when the song needed it. Don't know why they don't put them on all actives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 [quote name='chris_b' post='536310' date='Jul 9 2009, 11:38 AM']+1. But, why would you have your bass plugged in when you're not using it?[/quote] Maybe it's just me - but I frequently sit down intending to have e.g. a three hour practice session (I'm just a "bedroom" player). Maybe half way through I go to make a cup of tea... then maybe the phone goes... after that maybe I get distracted by something else I needed to do. Before I know it, it's been a few hours and I wander past and notice the amp etc. is still on (because it has a bloody big light indicating so), so I quickly turn it off and continue whatever it was I've ended up doing. Next day I return and realise the cable was still in the bass. Easily done - and frequent. I could put a sticker on the amp reminded me to unplug the bass, or the sodding bass could have a light on telling me it's draining the battery while it stands idle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 [quote name='Hot Tub' post='536263' date='Jul 9 2009, 10:43 AM']TBH, what I'd really like is a little miniature switch for ON/OFF. That way the bass can be left plugged in all the time. I mean, how hard can it be? Why don't the manufacturers do this?[/quote] My two Westone Thunder IIA's (see sig photo) both have active/passive switches. In fact, all my basses are active aside from the Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 [quote name='Stingray5' post='536825' date='Jul 9 2009, 09:05 PM']My two Westone Thunder IIA's (see sig photo) both have active/passive switches. In fact, all my basses are active aside from the Jazz.[/quote] I rarely use my Thunder III in active mode, since I prefer its passive tones. But the active circuitry stays on as long as there's a jack plugged into the bass - the active/passive switch is just a bypass, so I just got into the habit of unplugging. I think the active circuit has to stay on because if you switched the power on manually you'd hear a thump through your amp. If the batteries are on the way out I find I get plenty of warning from the bass's tone and I always carry a couple of spare PP3's. I have to replace the batteries every year or so - Westone claim around 200 hours' use per set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinman Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 Cheap alternative: Thread your lead through a belt loop so you can't take the bass off/put it down without unplugging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 [quote name='Hot Tub' post='536263' date='Jul 9 2009, 10:43 AM']TBH, what I'd really like is a little miniature switch for ON/OFF. That way the bass can be left plugged in all the time. I mean, how hard can it be? Why don't the manufacturers do this?[/quote] Fodera do I believe. But really... is it that hard to unplug it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmesa Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) Not done this lead thing for ages, but I have a good habit of putting batteries the wrong way into my Stingray. Blown the f**king thing twice now. *Yes, I'm an idiot. Edited July 10, 2009 by jmesa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 [quote name='Krysbass' post='537172' date='Jul 10 2009, 01:00 PM']I rarely use my Thunder III in active mode, since I prefer its passive tones. But the active circuitry stays on as long as there's a jack plugged into the bass - the active/passive switch is just a bypass, so I just got into the habit of unplugging. I think the active circuit has to stay on because if you switched the power on manually you'd hear a thump through your amp. If the batteries are on the way out I find I get plenty of warning from the bass's tone and I always carry a couple of spare PP3's. I have to replace the batteries every year or so - Westone claim around 200 hours' use per set.[/quote] You may be right. Now maybe I'm being thick here (not hard for me ) but I am able to use my Thunder II basses, in the passive position only, without any batteries being installed. So is that still using the active circuitry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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