Well you know what I generally feel about actives - if I played bass again I'd definitely go for actives. Definitively maybe.*
But for me...I don't much care what the bass sounds like initially. When I record a bass, I just D/I it and build the sound entirely after the fact.
*disclaimer: now that I think of it, the best bass tone hands down came from my buddy who played a Rickenbacker, erm, 4008? Anyway the one that Lemmy from Motörhead used, onto an old 100W single-channel Marshall tube head (I think it was the old JMP) and thru a 15" speaker (I think it was a Peavey Black Widow). It was _not_ driven mind you, no Motörhead-sound, but incredibly punchy and focused yet really made your guts tremble.
If I did start playing bass more I might be tempted by that rick punch. Or maybe a generic maple-neck P-bass...those are punchy as well. Both anyhow much better sounding than Jazzes or the modern basses; all the others lack the primal thud of the 4008 and P-bass.
My current bass (Yamaha SGR) has Jackson pickups and from what I recall they sound good enough.
Dee
"When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"
Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal
Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.