Battery confusion

[Empire of light]

My base has 2 9vbattery plugs in it.
I never know if the batteries are dead or not. The thing works sometimes, sometimes not.
I wish I could just play it without the batteries. I hate anything that relies on battery power when I want to use it spontaneously. Please explain these batteries .

 

[saltydude]

What bass is it?
I’m not sure I understand your question.

 

[Stumbo]

Is there an "off" switch?

Post a pic if you can.

 

[Wfrance3]

Your bass has a preamp in it, which requires power. The battery provides that power in Your case 2 batteries.
Not sure what you have, but most of the time, the preamp has an eq section that will give you control over treble, bass, and maybe even mid. You can usually cut, and boost - hence the battery. The type of bass that uses no battery, is passive. Typically there’s a tone knob, sometimes two. These are cut only. In other words, you can roll off tone, but not boost it in any way.

 

[Solarmist]

Batteries power the pre-amp, and the active electronics won't work with dead batteries.
You can check if they're dead simply by doing the taste test - touch the both battery terminals to your tongue, and see how much tingle there is.

 

[Pilgrim]

Or, if you're among the tool-using set (meaning intelligent and having opposable thumbs), check the battery voltage using an inexpensive digital meter.

Failing that, just change the batteries. Trust me, you won't go broke.

 

[GreyBeard]

You may already know this but, don't leave you bass plugged in when not in use. It will drain the batteries. I change batteries when I change strings. My SR5's are battery only but the batteries have lasted for years at a time. I probably change them more often than I need to. I had an 80's Ibanez Music Man that ate batteries. I changed the batteries once a month in that bass.

 

[abarson]

Here is the simplest tool for testing your battery health.
Keith McMillen Instruments Batt-O-Meter

The on/off switch for battery power is usually part of your patch cord jack. If you leave the cord plugged in, you will drain the batteries even if you aren't playing. Always unplug the cord when you're not playing.

And as others have mentioned, if you really dislike batteries get a passive bass. You do give up some tone shaping capabilities, but that's the trade-off.

 

[JIO]

Unplugged 9 or 18v active basses will maintain acceptable battery life for a very, long, time. If not, the bass electronics/wiring is defective. Either own and play an active bass realizing a battery is involved and needs to be maintained - or own and play a passive bass. Both sound great - I personally own both and do not judge one against the other. To me the functional difference is more maintenance for an active bass. Tonally - they both offer something worth rocking.

 

[twinjet]

Get you a passive bass with optional preamp, so you don't suddenly die mid-gig. Otherwise, carry spares.

 

[SLO Surfer]

yes. confusing.

 

[BruceWane]

With typical playing time, your batteries should last well over a year.

Don't leave your cable plugged in to your bass. When the cable is plugged in, the active circuitry in your bass is turned on. This runs the batteries down whether you're playing or not.

When you put a fresh set of batteries in, stick a small piece of masking tape on the battery compartment cover and write the date on it. If you play a LOT, like 4+ hours per day, EVERY day, put in new batteries at 6 months. Otherwise replace at 1 year.

 

[catcauphonic]

Write the install date on the battery/s with a sharpie, or a small piece of masking tape on the cover where you can see it.

Do NOT leave your bass plugged in for hours when not in use.

Change them yearly if you play less than an hour a day on average. If you just play at home alone.. run em till they fart out.

If you're playing up to 2 hours a day, including at gigs, I'd be sure to change them suckers every 4-5 months weather they need it or not.

Apply more lotion as necessary.

& Always carry a spare or 3 in your bag!

 

[JRA]

You may already know this but, don't leave you bass plugged in when not in use. It will drain the batteries.

Always unplug the cord when you're not playing.

Don't leave your cable plugged in to your bass.

Do NOT leave your bass plugged in for hours when not in use.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Make sure they're alkaline or higher quality rechargeable units. Do not use batteries labeled solely as "heavy duty".

Riis

 

[jd56hawk]

My base has 2 9vbattery plugs in it.
I never know if the batteries are dead or not. The thing works sometimes, sometimes not.
I wish I could just play it without the batteries. I hate anything that relies on battery power when I want to use it spontaneously. Please explain these batteries .

As mentioned above…

 

[mmon77]

As mentioned above…
View attachment 2907296

Wow. That's one of those "I wish I'd thought of it" tools. So simple.

 

[Wfrance3]

Here is the simplest tool for testing your battery health.
Keith McMillen Instruments Batt-O-Meter

The on/off switch for battery power is usually part of your patch cord jack. If you leave the cord plugged in, you will drain the batteries even if you aren't playing. Always unplug the cord when you're not playing.

And as others have mentioned, if you really dislike batteries get a passive bass. You do give up some tone shaping capabilities, but that's the trade-off.

I have one of these. You can even just plug it in where you plug in your instrument cable for a quick power reading. Although I did own one bass that wouldn’t work on. No big. I just had to take out the battery to check it in that one.

 

[Empire of light]

Wow, thanks for all the responses; I never expected so much feedback! Great forum, glad I posted here.
Here's a pic of my bass (can anyone tell me what each of the knobs do?)

. It's not playing through my amp, no matter what knobs I turn or with new fresh batteries. It...plays for a second sometimes? And then nothing. My electric guitar plays fine w/same cable and amp.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Wow, thanks for all the responses; I never expected so much feedback! Great forum, glad I posted here.
Here's a pic of my bass (can anyone tell me what each of the knobs do?)View attachment 2907448 . It's not playing through my amp, no matter what knobs I turn or with new fresh batteries. It...plays for a second sometimes? And then nothing. My electric guitar plays fine w/same cable and amp.

It has nothing to do with the batteries. You have a problem with your input jack. A loose connection or a cold solder joint that broke off. A technician can take care of it