My projects are generally inspired by classic designs, but with a twist. I like to build things like basses on guitar bodies, non-standard scale lengths, and occasionally originals, and experiment with materials, finishes, and electronics. One of my great interests is driving the cost out of luthiery by sourcing parts and materials from the hardware store. I prefer to build more guitars than simply more-expensive guitars.
Active tone controls offer one thing that no passive control can do - boost. You can get them in one, two, or three bands. The latter can come with mid-frequency controls, which gives you nearly as much tone-shaping as your amplifier. Who doesn't want more of everything?