I had a late eighties mexi precision with a passive EMG select pickup that one of my sons sort of "took over"...i just let him use it, and bought my first Dano...he gigged the precision in a "punk" band for a while.
Well, 5 or 6 years later...he moved out, and didn't take it with him...he doesn't really play anymore (sold his amp to another sibling), so I sort of "re-possessed" it.
I set it up with Fender 7250's, and cleaned it up...it was a real mess. Case was so dirty, I had to vacuum it out.
It sounds cleaner and punchier and more responsive than any of my other basses...literally a "magic" kind of bass. Tons of highs and high mids.
For me, it seems like I buy different basses, but it all comes down to the fact that a passive precision sounds best, even before it's plugged in. Doesn't matter if it's a mexi, long as it is well set up. Love the EMG Select pickup, also (cost $29.)...I don't care for the active "real" EMG's...
It felt like an old friend gigging on Saturday night...