Build Quality. The passive MM U5 – a four-string, despite its name – is built in Indonesia, enabling its relatively low pricetag, but that doesn’t mean it plays like a cheap bass. On the contrary: its alder body features a flamed maple top and binding that give it a tangibly lustrous feel under the fingers.
Yes. Thus, passive pickups, with an active preamp, and an active/passive switch will allow you to run your bass in passive mode and run the bass off of the passive pickups. FYI: You can also have an all active system (active pickups + active preamp) where you can have a switch to do the same thing as above. It will depend on the pickup in question, but generally, passive pickups will sound warmer, more organic and more nuanced than active ones. In the grand scheme of things, passive pickups are more popular. They’ve been around for longer, so that might be part of it, but the majority of players do gravitate towards them.1. Signal output. Signal output is the main difference between an active bass and a passive bass. A passive bass will keep the exact sound of the signal output. It simply picks up the signal, makes it more resistant, and transfers to the amp. Conversely, with powered preamp and pickups, an active bass can enhance the output from the bass.This is because there was a time in the '80s and '90s when people generally thought an active bass always had higher output levels than a passive bass. It's not always true though! There are some very high output passive instruments, and some surprisingly low-output active ones, and everything in between. Active vs. Passive Monitors. While there is a vast array of active studio monitors to choose from these days, it’s worth noting that the recording industry grew up with passive monitors. While one type isn’t completely superior to the other, it’s important to understand the differences. BfhUML.