How long do your batteries last?

[dataBASS5]

Fellow Roscoe players, lend me your ears! (and eyes for this thread)

Quick question posed to any and all of you: How long do your 9v batteries last in your Roscoe preamps?

My 18v Bart just sucked down a pair of new 9v's during the course of one show. Did I get hosed by "Brand X" battery company!?!

Gard, do I have a problem with my bass? Does it need a check up by you guys?

Please advise! I can afford gas OR batteries for gigs, but not both.

[Gard]

Originally Posted by dataBASS5

Fellow Roscoe players, lend me your ears! (and eyes for this thread)

Quick question posed to any and all of you: How long do your 9v batteries last in your Roscoe preamps?

My 18v Bart just sucked down a pair of new 9v's during the course of one show. Did I get hosed by "Brand X" battery company!?!

Gard, do I have a problem with my bass? Does it need a check up by you guys?

Please advise! I can afford gas OR batteries for gigs, but not both.

So, what you're saying is that a fresh set of batteries died in the course of one show? Or, were they older and just finally expired?

I need a bit more info to answer your question fully - what kinda batts? how old were they? how old is the bass? has it ever shown any tendency to "eat" batts? etc, etc, etc...

Could be any number of things that cause this issue...but without the full story, it's impossible to say what it is that caused it.

[dataBASS5]

Originally Posted by Gard

So, what you're saying is that a fresh set of batteries died in the course of one show? Or, were they older and just finally expired?

I need a bit more info to answer your question fully - what kinda batts? how old were they? how old is the bass? has it ever shown any tendency to "eat" batts? etc, etc, etc...

Could be any number of things that cause this issue...but without the full story, it's impossible to say what it is that caused it.

*ahem* Terribly sorry about that. Here goes; brand new energizer (nuthin' but luv for the bunny) 9v's. Drained in 2 hours. No history of this happening before. The bass is older, one of the finest fretless SKB 3005's I've ever seen. S/N 49?? (unsure off top of my head, it's sin I know!)

I'm almost sure I just got a bum set of batteries from my local drug store. . . think it could be anything else, Gard?

Thanks for all your continuing helpfulness!

[Gard]

OK, that's a good bit more clear, thanks!



It MAY have been a bum set of batts, but that jury is still out. So, let's bring the jury in.

Get a fresh set (Energizers are just fine, although we use Duracell ProCells here now), install them in the bass WHEN YOU'RE NOT ON A GIG, plug it in for a few hours (doesn't matter if you actually play, you plug it in, it's ON), then check the batteries. If they're dead, then it's not the batteries - once I can believe, twice no way.

If it isn't the batteries, then you have most likely developed a short in the output jack. I would suggest replacing the output jack, either by us or a local repairman. If you're local to us, we'll be happy to help, if you're not, I would suggest someone local, as it is a very simple repair and would cost more to ship it than the actual repair.

Let me know if that helps out!

[b sharp]

Originally Posted by dataBASS5

*ahem* Terribly sorry about that. Here goes; brand new energizer (nuthin' but luv for the bunny) 9v's. Drained in 2 hours. No history of this happening before. The bass is older, one of the finest fretless SKB 3005's I've ever seen. S/N 49?? (unsure off top of my head, it's sin I know!)

I'm almost sure I just got a bum set of batteries from my local drug store. . . think it could be anything else, Gard?

Thanks for all your continuing helpfulness!

I have the same problem. However, mine takes about a month to drain.

What was the problem? Did you able to fixed it?

Thanks,

B

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by b sharp

I have the same problem. However, mine takes about a month to drain.

What was the problem? Did you able to fixed it?

Thanks,

B

Sometimes the output jack gets shorted to GND. Pull the jack and make sure that the casing of the jack is fully insulated from the body cavity shielding paint. Sometimes there's also a sharp solder joint that protrudes out from the switched GND connection on the jack. It can cut through and short out to the body cavity shielding paint also. Remove and re-insulated if you find that scenario.
If all that checks out, you may just have a defective preamp...

[VroomVroom]

Yet another good thread in this forum - I love it!

Here's hoping it was the stoopid bunny. Duracell all the way. Interestingly, I did some research on Duracells, as Roscoe isn't alone in using the Procell batteries (Sadowsky and MTD use 'em as well). Turns out, they're no different than the coppertops. The Procells are marketed for "industrial & professional" use, and are only sold in quantities of 12 and up.

This site has the specs and discharge characteristics of each. Interestingly, they do say that the Procells have a high initial charge, but the graphs don't seem to differ between the two. If you're bored:

http://www.medicbatteries.com/durace...l-battery.aspx

Anyway, to answer your initial question - I replace batteries every three months, just on principle - basses, tuners, and stand lights. No doubt it's a bit wasteful, but my OCD/AD kicks in and I never want to have a failure on a gig. Plus, as all good Californians, I do properly recycle the old batteries. I like to think there's some executive at Duracell who thanks me for helping him make his boat payment each quarter.

[b sharp]

First of all thanks to JOME77 and VroomVroom for the response.
Ok, I will try the easiest way first:

1. Change with new batteries (procell) and observe. Usually it takes within a month or less to drain.

2. Check for grounding later.

I'll post the result - see you in a month or less??

Cheers!

B#minor7



Gadget:
Beautiful Roscoe SKB5 - Bart pick - Aguilar pre amp.

[CrashClint]

I have come across this problem on two other older Roscoe basses, the first one Mike installed the preamp from a Gibson Tobias in his Roscoe and got the wiring wrong so the battery was on all the time. The second one, was bought used and someone had butchered the wiring and when they installed the jack they didn't put shrink tubing or electrical tape around jack before they reinstalled it and it was shorting against the shielding, this one had the football shaped jack plate.

As for the Roscoe basses I have owned, I have never had batteries last less than two plus months and my basses get played no less than an hour every day plus at church and gigs where the bass is plugged in for 3-4 hours. Mrs. Crash can verify how much I play mine daily. I buy my batteries at Batteries Plus. I buy Duracell Procells. It is the same Duracell you buy at the store but it comes in a 12 pack box and only cost $1.50 per battery. Now my X2 Wireless eats some batteries, only get about 8 hours on a battery, but it makes my Roscoe sound just like it was plugged directly into my amp.

[Gtrslngr]

I put new Duracells in my LG3005 last November. I play regularly and I even left if plugged in over night once. I removed the 2 duracells before playin at church last weekend and they both still measure right around 8v. I decided to leave the in for the weekend and received nothing but compliments on bass tone. I never had bats last a anywhere near a full year before getting my LG3005. What is the minimum suggested voltage? I'm still loving my GK MB2 500 and Avatar 210 too.
Peace,
Mike

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by Gtrslngr

I put new Duracells in my LG3005 last November. I play regularly and I even left if plugged in over night once. I removed the 2 duracells before playin at church last weekend and they both still measure right around 8v. I decided to leave the in for the weekend and received nothing but compliments on bass tone. I never had bats last a anywhere near a full year before getting my LG3005. What is the minimum suggested voltage? I'm still loving my GK MB2 500 and Avatar 210 too.
Peace,
Mike

Mike,
It's really more about available current (amps). Your batteries can measure 9VDC (w/o a load) but when a load is applied it could pull the voltage down quickly. IMO it's better to just change your batteries at 6 month intervals and unplug it when it's not being played. I change mine each year when the time changes (DST).

[CrashClint]

One thing I have learned on the 18 volt systems, Demeter seems to draw the least amount from the Batteries, followed by Audere then Bartolini. Though I have heard and messed with the Aguilar in a few basses, I have never installed one in my bass because they are too mid aggressive and I prefer a mid that is more passive aggressive.

I have wired the Glockenklang parallel with two 9v batteries and they seemed to last a good while.

[Basso Gruvitas]

CRAZY!

I put a pair of Duracells in my fretless and they last about a year. I usually swap them out about 2x/year to avoid them pooping out on stage.

Your story is Definitely not typical.