Do 'Active PUps' need a different fx input?

[Auke Haarsma]

Short question: I'm building a little booster for an active bass. I don't have the instrument myself, so I need to know beforehand, do the active pickups need a special input section or can I just use the normal "fx in block"?

Thanks

[petemoore]

  Actives...have active components, so...your circuit input won't see any inductance from the source as with passive pickups, inputs will tend to respond differently...
  Most active systems have hot output already, adding a [nother] booster may or may not provide useful results.

[Auke Haarsma]

Ok, I understand that. The bassplayer needs a little boost (bit more treble?) for a sort solo-kinda thing. What would you recommend?

[tommy.genes]

Some effects, particularly discrete fuzzes, actually interact with the varying impedance of passive pickups in order to create their sound. If you use "active" pickups or an onboard preamp, you are placing a buffer between the pickup and the effect so that interaction can not occur.

For example, I built a Bazz Fuss that sounded great right after my bass (which has an active Seymour Duncan Basslines pickup, but no onboard preamp) but sounded dramatically worse in a buffered effects loop. I rectified this problem using the "pickup simulator" from AMZ-FX (http://www.muzique.com/lab/pickups.htm).

As for what effect would make a bass stand out for a solo, a basic volume boost would be a help. A little grit or appropriate EQ hump (typically more of a mid/treble boost than a just a treble boost for bass) that makes it stand out in the mix is good too. You might have to experiment, perhaps with a graphic EQ, to determine what EQ profile works best for your bass player's equipment and band setting.

Perhaps the only thing you need to aware of regarding active pickups, if you want a truly clean boost, make sure your circuit has sufficient head room so that the hot(ish) signal from the bass doesn't overdrive the pedal input, which would introduce distortion.

-- T. G. --

[Auke Haarsma]

thanks for your reply!

I'll go for a clean bright boost and ask him what he likes/dislikes.

(nice link btw!)