Active bass circuits

[Gus]

Someone I work with wants to add an active preamp to their J bass.
They don't have much money and they asked me some questions. I don't want them to buy something that is of no use.

I am not a fan of the active basses.

So I looked at the different active bass circuit schematics I could find and found there seems to be three types
Gain, fender like tone stack, gain ( fender tonestack preamp like)
Gain, active two or three band like from the national semiconductor app book( Ampeg B15/B25 passive, Polytone active like)
Alembic, Wal SVF like.

I think they play more conventional bass in a band no lead bass stuff.
I am guessing the gain fender tone stack gain might be the best for them but am unsure.

Anyone have some real life on stage feedback?

 

[AnalogPackrat]

What were their reasons for wanting to go active? More output? More EQ control? More "clarity?" I only noodle with bass and prefer simple passive setups. I have one active bass (Ibanez Doug Wimbish signature neck thru that I got used for cheap). It is hissy and I find it harder to get a tone that I like.

 

[Newmarket]

Start from first principles - why do they want to go "Active" ? Noise ? Tone ?