Active bass question...

JGBass06 · #1 03-20-2011, 05:14 PM

Hey all...quick question, how often should you change the battery in your active bass? And how do you know when the battery is dead?

snyderz · #2 03-20-2011, 05:27 PM

Lots of threads on this. Most change once per year, some every 6 months. Those that leave their bass plugged in change batteries more often than that. A few just lick the battery and know if they have juice. I play only passive, and save the $10/year.

safeshow · #3 03-20-2011, 05:37 PM

some basses will be dead and some will start to distort, I change mine when this happens or before a show.

BassMystic · #4 03-20-2011, 05:37 PM

hello
I have an active 5 string from antoniosai...i use Lithium batteries...they last a very very long time...but they run about 12-15 bucks...but you should get many many months out of one of them

AmadeusXeno · #5 03-20-2011, 05:48 PM

I've found that with my active basses I start to loose some low end when the battery is getting low.

darkstorm · #6 03-20-2011, 05:54 PM

Used to change battery about every 4-5 months. Now I just change them about every 7 months.

kjpollo · #7 03-20-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safeshow

some basses will be dead and some will start to distort, I change mine when this happens or before a show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

I've found that with my active basses I start to loose some low end when the battery is getting low.

Yup- this is pretty much it. With the batteries out there nowadays, you'll probably have SOME idea the battery is dying-usually one of the 2 signs listed above- diminished low end response and/or distortion.
Its unusual for the battery to go completely dead with no warning signs. Usually that means the bass was left plugged in for an extended period of time.

I change mine once or twice a year.

MrLenny1 · #8 03-20-2011, 06:07 PM

Once a year. I always unplug when not using the bass.
If I'm giging I test them every 3 months.
Some basses have an active/passive switch which is the most prudent way to go.

thecarpenter · #9 03-20-2011, 06:09 PM

I have a Schecter C-4 and noticed the battery going dead when the tone was totally flat from the bass and needed to be adjusted at the amp.

KeithAlanK · #10 03-20-2011, 07:41 PM

Get a digital multitester and be sure.
Harbor Freight sells them for $4, and you can also use it to check cables, the wiring in your bass, caps, resistors, switches, wall voltage, all the batteries in your life, "wall-wart" transformers, etc etc.
Everyone who plays an electric instrument should have one but almost nobody does, which I find bizarre.

I test my batteries every 4-6 months, or when the sound gets a little ratty.
If the voltage reads 8 or less, I put in a new one.

rockdoc11 · #11 03-20-2011, 11:15 PM

I change mine once a year, usually (by habit) before New Year's Eve show.

I have a little card I keep in the battery compartment that I write in the date I changed the battery.

SurferJoe46 · #12 03-20-2011, 11:44 PM

Easier to remember - change them on your birthday!

I do it then and have had no sudden musical deaths at all.

funkygroover694 · #13 03-20-2011, 11:58 PM

yeah ranges usually from 6-12 months

make sure you never leave your bass plugged in if youre not playing because this will drain the battery far faster!!

Tracebassplayer · #14 03-21-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGBass06

Hey all...quick question, how often should you change the battery in your active bass? And how do you know when the battery is dead?

Just to clarify for those who may not know..
I know it may seem obvious but....

When they say "Unplug your bass" they mean unplug your guitar cable from your bass. It completes the circuit for the preamp and that's why the battery drains when you're not playing. The preamp is switched on and off by plugging in/unplugging the guitar cable.

lowfreq33 · #15 03-21-2011, 12:21 AM

I change mine about once a month. But I gig 4-5 nights a week, sometimes 4 1 hour sets. The paperwork that came with my bass says the bartolini 18v preamp is rated for 80 hours of battery life, which seems about right.

dannylectro · #16 03-21-2011, 10:18 AM

I change mine when I change my strings - about once a year. To be honest, I can't really tell if it's dying except maybe the whole sound isn't quite as 'lively'. The battery is under the pickguard, which must be removed to get to the battery, so testing is a pain.

The P/U is an EMG-P from the 80's

stepswork4me · #17 03-21-2011, 10:29 AM

There is no specific time frame. It all depends on how much you play. Batteries drain with use, ya know. I've had batteries last only 2 to 3 months when I was rehersing twice a week for 3 or 4 hours, gigging at least once a week, and practicing all the other days for at least 6 hours or so. Like the others mentioned, there would be a weakening of the sound and some distortion. I've always kept a fresh spare or two in my case.