active and passive inputs on amps?

[sLapshock]

what does active and passive inputs on amps? i know it for the type of pickup but is it really necesarry, some bass doesnt have this option. does it mean the more the better?

 

[fretless6]

what does active and passive inputs on amps? i know it for the type of pickup but is it really necesarry, some bass doesnt have this option. does it mean the more the better?

Active input on amps are attenuated. Usually somewhere around -10dB. It's to ease on the "hot" output of active pickups/preamps, to prevent unwanted distortion and provide for better signal to noise ratio. Just plug in according to your basses output, be it active or passive.

 

[sLapshock]

but why does some bass amp doesnt have active and passve pickup. like the peavey microbass. im using active pickup.

 

[fretless6]

but why does some bass amp doesnt have active and passve pickup. like the peavey microbass. im using active pickup.

That's like asking why some guitars dun have tremolos. It's just cos they don't.

 

[squidospyder]

but why does some bass amp doesnt have active and passve pickup. like the peavey microbass. im using active pickup.

Hey there... I remember once upon a time i was just as inquisitive as you are now

Peavey microbass amp has controls (as stated in the manual, and if i remember correctly) that only 'cut'. That means the volume control you see on the amp is actually more correctly called a 'trim', as opposed to 'gain' you see on some amps (amps that have this control will also have master volume). In theory, microbass with all controls all the way up will actually be at 'zero'. You cut what you think is too much, especially the 'trim'! All in all, its actually in the circuit design, and as i'm into this brain frying things, what i can say is, as with all amps, turn everything down and raise the controls till you get what you like. Some amps have cut and boost for eq, set that to zero (centre) 1st then adjust in small increments.

Yep as mentioned before, two inputs give players a choice whether to 'pad' down the input signal so that it doesn't start clipping right away when the signal reaches the preamp stage. Clipping = distorted sound you get when a circuit runs out of something called 'headroom'; not all clipping is bad though. You may like the soft clipping on a tube-fronted bass amp to give you more growl. Something like dobermans before they pounce at your neck and make you bleed to death, that kinda tone. Some amps also have gain control together with two inputs, others have only either one, some have none - just one input.
(The epitome of confusion: i remember the time when i first played through a trace elliot head at youth park many years back... I got stuck right at the input stage haha... I didn't know better back then I met the baby again at esplanade but this time i can tackle it...)

Cheers and keep making music!