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9v battery for active bass
- Thread starter UrthCrimson
- Start date
No dude just cause you’re old-school doesn’t mean you’re right I have a new rechargeable that I haven’t even charged yet since I’ve bought it and it still zaps the crap out of me when I touch it.
A few years ago I did a test of 4 alkaline 9-V batteries of different brands, including the drug store house brand, and they all had the same capacity for low-current use. In my use, the biggest threat to the lifetime of a battery is me forgetting to unplug it. I have no reason to waste a more expensive battery on my own negligence.
I've experimented with the new lithium polymer batteries that have a built-in charger. They're nice, and put out a regulated output voltage, but shut down abruptly when depleted. And they may inject some switching noise into electronics with more primitive circuitry.
I've experimented with the new lithium polymer batteries that have a built-in charger. They're nice, and put out a regulated output voltage, but shut down abruptly when depleted. And they may inject some switching noise into electronics with more primitive circuitry.
It had been in the bass for over a year at that point, so yes it was certainly marginal. I had been waiting for it to die on me, I'm just a little surprised it happened as quickly as it did.
It never occurred to me to use my multimeter to test the battery! I will do this next time I'm dubious about the life left in mine.
The vintage Radio Shack 9V will give you sweet low mids and crisp highs.
These will give you a more basic tone. Good starting point before venturing off into the cork sniffing tonal abyss of batteries.
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I was told by a reputable source that Energizer batteries are the best.
The reason is that they don't leak or corrode over time like other batteries. He only uses Energizer batteries.
So when you go to change the battery in your bass ( or flashlight, radio, toy) you won't have a mess inside to clean out or dispose if it is a cheap enough item.
My source is a guy who runs a one-man watch repair shop. He is the only one that I trust to change the battery in my watch.
The reason is that they don't leak or corrode over time like other batteries. He only uses Energizer batteries.
So when you go to change the battery in your bass ( or flashlight, radio, toy) you won't have a mess inside to clean out or dispose if it is a cheap enough item.
My source is a guy who runs a one-man watch repair shop. He is the only one that I trust to change the battery in my watch.
I recently bought from Amazon, 9v lithium rechargeable with USB-C port. So far they've last a couple months, and I alway keep a spare, but I will also recharge them on a regular basis. All of my battery gear is now built in rechargeable.
Seriously go to the store and buy a 9 V battery I can’t believe you actually had to research that ….this thread feels kind of like a joke troll thread
What does one use on a MS bass then?
I put the old ones in the mother in law's smoke detectors...
Puhleeze, this is TB after all.
I do the same with the brand at the largest hardware chain and have for decades. I've never had one go flat in the midst of a gig, but at a dollar or so, I'd consider it to be very unprofessional if I didn't change them out every couple of gigs and save the partially used ones for other non critical devices.
PS: I've had and almost exclusively used active basses since the mid 80s.
I heard this from a sound engineer and it's truth after some testing
He said that he tested a few brands out there and only 2 brands (Duracell and GP) gave 9V in which he added is very important as it affects the frequencies from your instrument
I tried it and it turns out true cause my bass cld b heard much better after I switched my battery and it was done on the spot during a church practice session
D
@#95
Like strings, pots, pickups, body styles, bridges, pick guard materials, nut width, colors…….ect,
This has gone to personal preferences.
In the end, you will try all sorts and pick what works for you.
I prefer Duracell, tried tested and true. And pick any pro tour, go into the production office and ask for a 9v. You will be handed a Duracell.
Wow, 95 comments about 9V batteries for an active bass...
I love Talkbass
I love Talkbass
D
The ONLY thing I would be even remotely worried about is 9v batteries with slightly larger dimensions than others, like Energizer Lithiums. In addition to the slightly larger size they have a tendency to swell a bit when they get old and can get VERY firmly stuck in SOME types of battery compartments. A firmly stuck battery inside an old, brittle, plastic battery compartment is not a great combination. I would personally avoid Energizer Lithiums in instruments with tight battery compartments due to several frustrating experiences with customer's instruments but I wouldn't be too worried about using them on my own instruments if they were the ONLY available option. I'm sure this problem may apply to some other types of batteries too but Energizer Lithiums have been the only ones where I've experienced this to be an actual real life problem, on more than one occasion.
I had an Ibanez SR series active bass. It was the only bass I owned around 20 years so got plenty of use. I used good old copper top Duracells. I'd get between 12 and 18 months out of each one, but always kept a spare in my case, in case.
About four years ago I was doing a fly in gig and took the batteries out before travelling. Probably unnecessary, but anyway... Stopped and bought an Energizer Ultimate Lithium 9v at the first supermarket I saw. During setup I discovered it was too fat to fit in the battery compartment. Did a mad dash to a local corner store and grabbed a Duracell, in time for soundcheck.
Lesson learned.
About four years ago I was doing a fly in gig and took the batteries out before travelling. Probably unnecessary, but anyway... Stopped and bought an Energizer Ultimate Lithium 9v at the first supermarket I saw. During setup I discovered it was too fat to fit in the battery compartment. Did a mad dash to a local corner store and grabbed a Duracell, in time for soundcheck.
Lesson learned.
D
Different brands/types of 9v batteries may provide SLIGHTLY different actual voltages but changing between say Energizer and Duracell with absolutely NOT affect "the frequencies of your instrument".
You should ask this sound engineer to measure the voltage at the electrical wall outlets because you don't want the frequencies of your instruments to be affected by any deviations from 120v.
Actually, he should probably NEVER measure the actual voltages at the wall outlets, he may suffer a nervous breakdown due to all the frequencies being so severely affected!If your bass sounded better after changing the battery it was 99.9999% because it was a new vs old battery. Or simply confirmation bias.
Yeah, those Placebo brand batteries sound just like butter don't they?
Well, lithium batteries are the only type that frequently burst into flames.
Which'll make for a scorching set!
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