Quote:
Originally Posted by Michele Caramazza
I'm goin' on adding my impressions as I become more and more familiar with this amazing instrument...
Today I've spent some time playing it in passive mode. I know that Ken intend this mode to be used in case the battery fails and consider the active mode as the true voice of the instrument but I have to say that I really enjoyed playing the instrument in passive mode. Not to say that I prefer it over the active mode but it's refreshing to know that I have another tonal nuance at disposal. I hear a certain rawness in the instrument voice when played without engaging the preamp and I can totally see how this could be really nice in certain playing situations.
The lack of a passive tone control doesn't allow you to sculpt this tone but you have the controls on your amp for that.
Very nice!
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In the early 1980s we made Passive basses as well. These pickups (4-string model) were originally tested in Passive Smith Basses as well the early BT models starting around 1982-'83. The Passive model was called the 'PAS II' and had a different pickup originally from late 1980 but within 2 years, this current pickup became the only SMITH Pickups used. The 5 and 6 string Pickups of the same design came out around 1984-85.
The 'true voice' as you call it s actually the Bass 'as it is made' and then the strings amplified with this Pickup. The sound will vary with different Amps and speakers as they differ in what the reproduce, colored or un-colored sound depending and also the strings used matter as well, gauge and style.
The Preamp is actually an additional Tone enhancer or a intended to 'Shape' the sound from the pure original voice of the instrument pre-EQ.