Passive playing

[Desmund Nichols]

I've noticed that lately, I've been playing my bass in passive mode. I really just prefer the natural sound of the bass. I just pull the volume knob out and play. Ive had my bass for 6 years, and all of a sudden and i have a set bass eq which i normally play. But lately, I've just been going passive, or playing with the series/parallel switches. And I must say, I rather enjoy it. The natural sound is rather beautiful.

[danilo ninkovic]

I think,playing Smith bass in pasive mode is not recommended for long time. Set bass eq on zero position,I think it's the same .

[Desmund Nichols]

Originally Posted by danilo ninkovic

I think,playing Smith bass in pasive mode is not recommended for long time. Set bass eq on zero position,I think it's the same .

Actually, if you compare the sounds, even with the bass EQ on flat, it still produces a different tone. I always thought playing in passive is a good thing, because you arent using the battery.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Desmund Nichols

Actually, if you compare the sounds, even with the bass EQ on flat, it still produces a different tone. I always thought playing in passive is a good thing, because you arent using the battery.

The battery is engaged as soon as you plug the bass in. If the Volume DID released the battery, then you would hear a loud POP using the Volume switch from passive to active. It is the cable plugging into the Jack that activates the battery so it is always being drained, even if you cut the cord off and just put in an un-wired plug in there!

Passive playing has zero bleed thru from the circuit even if set all flat. The sound is probably 99% or so the same set flat but in passive, it is 100% by-passed.

Playing all passive is fine, forever with no problems if that's what you like. IF you wanna go only passive and never use the circuit, then take the batteries OUT of the bass. Then, pushing down the volume knob will be the same as an on-off stand-by switch.

[Ronen Tat]

Originally Posted by Desmund Nichols

Actually, if you compare the sounds, even with the bass EQ on flat, it still produces a different tone.

The difference you're hearing is probably just the preamp gain. You can adjust it to match passive to active (with all controls set flat) with a mini screwdriver.
On the older 9V version look for a little blue plastic cube on the Mid control board. On the newer 18V version it's even tinier, white color, on the main middle board.
If set properly you will not hear a difference.

As always, I could be wrong

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ronen Tat

The difference you're hearing is probably just the preamp gain. You can adjust it to match passive to active (with all controls set flat) with a mini screwdriver.
On the older 9V version look for a little blue plastic cube on the Mid control board. On the newer 18V version it's even tinier, white color, on the main middle board.
If set properly you will not hear a difference.

As always, I could be wrong

All basses shipped new from here have the volume matched between the passive and active modes without any gain added. If it is different between active and passive modes when set flat, it was changed after we shipped the bass.

[Joshua Phelps]

I like using the passive mode sometimes because it makes me appreciate the active that much more when I push that knob back down

[Ronen Tat]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

All basses shipped new from here have the volume matched between the passive and active modes without any gain added. If it is different between active and passive modes when set flat, it was changed after we shipped the bass.

I guess that goes without saying...

By "properly" I meant the proper way to match volumes.
If one wants some gain boost when preamp engaged that's what it's there for.
No absolute proper way...