Active input or passive?

[GUTSHOT]

First of all id like to say I used to post on here a while back, and I am trying to get more active on the forums.

Ok this is my problem, kind of embarrising that I dont know this and I have been playing for a few years now. I own a fender jazz bass copy by johnson, and a Spector ReBop 4 string that I corrently am playing, going throagh a Ampeg BA - 210 SP combo 220 watt with digital effects. The model Spector I have if you dont know has EMG-HZ pickups with a 9v TonePump Active EQ. Since the pickups are passive but with the TonePump, whatever that TonePump does I never found out.

Had my Spector for about a year now and been running it on active input on amp, I think I got myself confussed with the TonePump and should be running it out passive, because resentely I switched to passive and the sound was alot loader, more volume, and clearer unless it was just me. But please correct this long term mistake ive been making. Also if I was in wrong input all that time, should I worry about any damage to amp or bass?

[Az_Holl]

It wont hurt to use either output, but it should supposedly work better running active basses through the active input and passive basses through passive inputs.

Having said that i run my passive through the active because it sounds better :p

[bass&cookies]

it probably wont hurt it, unless your bass has a realy high output. if it starts clipping, then you should definately plug it into active. my stingray will do that to my amp if i plug it into passive.

[Napes]

In the ampeg BA115HP (probably pretty similar to what you got) the active input is a 15db cut. It might be 12...
Its just there to limit the volume since active eqs usually have a higher output.

[GUTSHOT]

Ok, thanks alot guys.

Also, can someone tell me what Spector 9v TonePump Active EQ does?, that they put in the Spector Passive basses, with the EMG-HZ pickups. I was never able to find that out, because I never got a manuel with my bass when I boaght it a little while back at guitar center, still have to print one off Spector's site. But since I have a 9V active EQ as someone was saying , I should defientaly be on active right? I am just getting confused because the pickups I have are EMG-HZ, which are said to be passive. As Napes was saying in the post before me, my active input is the same 15db cut.

I hope Im not confusing anyone here ahaha.

[Az_Holl]

Ok, thanks alot guys.

Also, can someone tell me what Spector 9v TonePump Active EQ does?, that they put in the Spector Passive basses, with the EMG-HZ pickups. I was never able to find that out, because I never got a manuel with my bass when I boaght it a little while back at guitar center, still have to print one off Spector's site. But since I have a 9V active EQ as someone was saying , I should defientaly be on active right? I am just getting confused because the pickups I have are EMG-HZ, which are said to be passive. As Napes was saying in the post before me, my active input is the same 15db cut.

I hope Im not confusing anyone here ahaha.
Its got passive pickups with an active preamp.

Most so called 'active' basses with work that way. Usually only higher-end instruements will have active pickups.

[Killer Fridge]

Ok, thanks alot guys.

Also, can someone tell me what Spector 9v TonePump Active EQ does?, that they put in the Spector Passive basses, with the EMG-HZ pickups. I was never able to find that out, because I never got a manuel with my bass when I boaght it a little while back at guitar center, still have to print one off Spector's site. But since I have a 9V active EQ as someone was saying , I should defientaly be on active right? I am just getting confused because the pickups I have are EMG-HZ, which are said to be passive. As Napes was saying in the post before me, my active input is the same 15db cut.

I hope Im not confusing anyone here ahaha.

Common misconception is that passive pickups = passive bass. This is not true (nor is that active bass = active pickups), as it is far more common for an active bass to have passive pickups with an pre-amp (the active part). If your bass takes batteries, its a pretty safe bet that it is active.

I think only the Euro and American line of the Spectors have active pickups (the EMG standards), but they are just as active as your bass. If its not clipping, then you may as well plug yourself into the passive input

[GUTSHOT]

Ya, I checked and by bass does have a 9V battery, I just got confussed because I have the HZ pickups in my Spector ReBoP, they put the EMG-HZs in the ReBops. I just made one of those mistakes thinking it was a passive bass. It seems to have a more cleaner sound on active and and more loader, more volume, but ratty when turned up on passive, so I may just stick to active.

I apprieate the help guys.:thumb: