Active Bass Guitar Cable Question

[JimmyM]

Alot of the gigs we play I will double on other percussion instruments, sometimes in the middle or before a tune but cannot do it while holding my bass. I want to keep the amp on and have to do the least amount of fidgeting with cables as I sometimes have a few seconds to put the bass back on and start the bass line in the middle of a tune.

Well in that case, just leave it plugged in. Those batteries run down so slowly you probably won’t notice a difference.

 

[brianrost]

I’m probably going to forget to unplug it due to 25+ years of never doing it. Have to get used to the new way.

If it’s in between sets on a gig, it’s no big deal. If you play it at home one day and then don’t touch it again for a week, yeah, gotta unplug that sucker

P.S. For home practice I usually just use a passive bass, but I’ve actives on and off since 1982 so I seldom forget to unplug.

 

[phangtonpower]

I don't know if active pre will do this, but when I used to play active pickups they would distort before the battery ran out.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I forget it all the time. Seems to depend on the bass you use. I had a G&L that was dead after some days, I have a MusicMan that doesn’t seem to care or maybe detects that the bass isn’t connected although the cable is plugged. Other players report that their G&L lasts forever even with a plugged cable, other MusicMan owners complain…
An unsolved mystery or a conspiracy of the passive player’s union? They converted me to a 99% passive player.

Depends if your Music Man is 2 Band, or 3 Band EQ.

The 2 Band draws a very small current, and the battery will last several years - it will even last for many months if left plugged in.

The 3 Band draws significantly more current, and will need to be changed every year, even if you're meticulous about unplugging it.

 

[Wood and Wire]

There are a lot of active bass detractors who point out the risk of a battery dying in mid gig and the kind of tragedy than can result as primary reasons for playing passive basses exclusively.

Don't these people check their parachute before getting on a plane?

 

[logdrum]

I use passive also because I like how the pre-amp responds to a passive tone circuit. I use actives because of the tone shaping I can do before the amp.

 

[Nev375]

This is going to sound like a wise ass answer but it's not. After you run down your battery a few times, remembering to unplug it should become easier.

You underestimate the power of my attention deficit disorder. After a few years of trying to learn to unplug and god knows how many boxes of batteries I gave up and went back to passive. Active isn't for everyone.

 

[logdrum]

I also unplug my active basses. I learnt that lesson when I lived close to the Pacific ocean in a rental in Solano Beach. No air conditioning so I always have a window open. And I had some oxidation on the plug when I kept a practice bass plugged for months. Agedhorse said that keeping things plugged can lead to oxidation and you do not even have to be near water for that to happen. I have had an active bass for so long. it does not have a battery box so it is PITA to change the battery, so yeah I am very conscientious in unplugging it

 

[SharpCat]

You need to unplug it so you can plug in and play your other active bass next time. What, don’t have another active bass? There’s the real problem—insufficient basses.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I didn't realize they've become hard to find - I've had one for years. Just be sure to put in a fresh battery from time to time.

View attachment 5262068

I’ve had mine for years and it’s still a great tool.

As a side note, these threads always blow my mind. Maybe I was taught the right way or maybe it ls just the way I am, but I cannot for the life of me understand how unplugging an instrument when not in use is hard to do. It’s like saying you can’t remember to flush the toilet after you use it or you can’t remember to swallow your food after you chew it up. I guess I’m lucky because it just seems natural

 

[LowActionHero]

Why do you want to leave it plugged in? How long does it take to plug in a cable?

I unplug passive instruments too.
The risk of (me) or someone tripping over the cable and knocking over the stand is too great.

I have really clumsy dogs...

 

[Geri O]

You need to unplug it so you can plug in and play your other active bass next time. What, don’t have another active bass? There’s the real problem—insufficient basses.

This is the answer, y’all.

Close the thread!….

 

[Geri O]

Depends if your Music Man is 2 Band, or 3 Band EQ.

The 2 Band draws a very small current, and the battery will last several years - it will even last for many months if left plugged in.

The 3 Band draws significantly more current, and will need to be changed every year, even if you're meticulous about unplugging it.

I would check that 3-band preamp for problems. I’ve owned both 2-band and 3-band MMs. I observed no difference in the battery draw of the 2 basses.

 

[mdlewis]

I unplug passive instruments too.
The risk of (me) or someone tripping over the cable and knocking over the stand is too great.

I was going to write this, but you beat me to it. Two incidents, one serious resulting in an expensive guitar repair got me into this habit.

 

[HolmeBass]

I unplug passive instruments too.
The risk of (me) or someone tripping over the cable and knocking over the stand is too great.

I have really clumsy dogs...

This. A million times.

The habit of always unplugging an instrument when you won’t be playing it for while has many benefits, even for passive basses. It is a good habit to get into.

 

[jbhaugh]

Alot of the gigs we play I will double on other percussion instruments, sometimes in the middle or before a tune but cannot do it while holding my bass. I want to keep the amp on and have to do the least amount of fidgeting with cables as I sometimes have a few seconds to put the bass back on and start the bass line in the middle of a tune.

in that scenario I wouldn’t worry about it.

it takes a lot of hours (like hundreds) to run out a 9v in most active circuits.

if you want security, just mark on your calendar to change the 9v every 3 months and I guarantee in the scenario you describe you will never have an issue. Don’t leave it plugged in on the stand for days at a time, though.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Why do you want to leave it plugged in? How long does it take to plug in a cable?

I’ve always unplugged when my bass isn’t on me, whether live or just at home. Just knowing how clumsy I am, I can’t imagine how quick I would trip over that cable and knock my bass down.

 

[eddododo]

Probably the most practical solution is to buy a two pack of batteries and keep it in your case- no matter what solution you have, you will have to build the habit. Flipping a switch is as much of a novel behavior as unplugging the cable, so the best thing you can do is leave a sticky note on your amp by the power switch, and be prepared for when you inevitably forget.

that said, I hate having to unplug my cable, and I typically build a switch or use a pushpull to kill power, but I’m also very comfortable with the electronics and soldering required. There are also solutions like using a stereo cable with a little stomp box or plug-in with a switch- the basis powered on by a mono plug sleeve, connecting the lugs of what would be the ring and sleeve of a stereo jack. Having a switch that disconnects the two cable parts would kill power, but it’s pretty elaborate if you don’t have experience doing things like that, and then you need to have a special cable that you really don’t want to mix up with anything else, since it can cause problems as other devices also use this switching practice of a mono cable+ stereo jack.

 

[Jefenator]

This doesn't have to be complicated; passive or active, just unplug after the practice / reharsal / gig is over and you'll be good to go.

If you feel you must routinely plug & unplug your active bass in the middle of a set for whatever reason, IME the Neutrik "silent" plug usually helps avoid the THUMP. (I still wouldn't recommend it for battery saving - I like it sometimes as a quick solution for instrument swapping.)

The THUMP isn't always a huge deal. The more my amp is cranked or run thru the PA, the more careful I am to avoid it.

 

[dabbler]

Fur another option, check out my post here:

https://www.talkbass.com/posts/19713840/

Also read my second post after the guy refill posted after me.