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Battery Quality

warwick.hoy

warwick.hoy

Aug 20, 2006
6,879
227
Spokane, WA.
Disclosures
Beta Tester: Source Audio.
#1
So I bought two 99 cent Walgreens generic 9v's today. I haven't decided if I'm comfortable putting them in the Warwick, or the Sansamp BDDI.

I did a forum search and really couldn't come up with any definitive answers. I can't really tell if this has been hashed and rehashed. So....sorry if it has. (shields up :D) I guess I'm just looking to be a little more educated in battery quality.

I'm sure there are schools of thought that you should put quality batteries in quality gear, but is this truly the case?

I was originally about to purchase 12 of the same generic 9vs for under 5 bucks (B1G1), but thought I should wait and at least try them before I have 12 batteries laying around (I can't think of anything other than music gear and our smoke detectors that take 9v). So I just bought two to try out.

Should I be concerned about leakage with generics?

Is there any reason to not put these batteries in my gear?

My intuition says not to worry, but I wanted to get some opinions beforehand. If I find that they work out I may be headed back to Walgreens for a good deal on batteries.
 
#2
If they are heavy duty batteries/dry cell batteries then no. It won't ruin the bass they just won't last long. If they are alkaline then they are fine.
 
#8
My bass get's 1000+ hours of a set of batteries, so I just stick duracels in and forget about them.More expensive batteries ARE better, so in this case I think its worth it. I wouldn't save more than a couple of $ a year using cheaper ones so whats the point?

My wireless gets cheap batteries - they last a couple of show and them I dump them. In this case keeping track of how long a battery still has to last is hassle. Good batteries do last longer, but for the extra price, I can change the cheap batteries every show and still come out ahead. I also KNOW that the battery will do the show, rather than trying to squeeze another show out of an expensive battery.

I've no problems using cheap batteries when I know I'm going to be changing them frequently anyway, and I think it's acutally going to save me some cash.

Ian
 
#9
i_got_a_mohawk said:
You are worried about putting them in gear, but not in smoke alarms?
Click to expand...

Just intended that as a figure of speech

IanStephenson said:
My bass get's 1000+ hours of a set of batteries, so I just stick duracels in and forget about them.More expensive batteries ARE better, so in this case I think its worth it. I wouldn't save more than a couple of $ a year using cheaper ones so whats the point?
My wireless gets cheap batteries - they last a couple of show and them I dump them. In this case keeping track of how long a battery still has to last is hassle. Good batteries do last longer, but for the extra price, I can change the cheap batteries every show and still come out ahead. I also KNOW that the battery will do the show, rather than trying to squeeze another show out of an expensive battery.

I've no problems using cheap batteries when I know I'm going to be changing them frequently anyway, and I think it's acutally going to save me some cash.

Ian
Click to expand...

I was really intending on getting a stockpile of backups going. I like redundancy on anything that can fail be it at rehearsal or a show. Cords, Batteries, I'm trying to be a little more professional before I start looking for a band. I think most folks share the "carry a backup" sentiment.

I was unaware that Heavy Duty batteries (which these are) weren't alkaline. (thanks for not hazing me for being ignorant.) So that really answered my question. Basically the 2 dollars worth of batteries I bought are backups to the backups. Now I'm not too worried about putting them in my bass, or smoke detectors, but they will prolly just sit in the gig bag in case someone else runs out of juice.

On that note has anyone found lithium 9-volts? They seem to not exist.
 
#11
A little off subject, but ALL active basses should have a low battery indicator! This is such a no-brainer I just don't get it. I believe that you can buy this little PCB from a few sources, with a single LED that flashes only when it is time to change.

The instrument should also have a battery compartment with a snap-open battery door and a drop-in battery, as my Ibanez does. No tools needed and no fussing with those horrible 9V battery connectors, especially if you are in a hurry!
 
#12
It makes no sense at all to put a cheap generic battery into an expensive bass that is completely dependent on the power source to work!

Cheap batteries are more prone to leakage and unreliable life/performance.

Spend a couple of bucks on a Duracell and then forget about it. I make a point to change the battery in my active basses whenever I change strings (every 3 months or so on average) and then it's a non-issue. I don't want to be thinking about that at all when I'm getting ready for a gig.

I trust Duracells because the company I work for, NBC Universal, actually did a comprehensive test of all the name brand batteries on the market a few years ago. The test included Eveready, Panasonic, Kodak, Sanyo, and a bunch of others.

They did this because they buy tens of thousands of them every year for security radios and all kinds of electronic devices used every day.

In every test the Duracells were the most reliable and stable.

One less thing to worry about.
 
#13
rpatter said:
9 volt Lithiums? I used to be able to get these in the photo dept of Meijer (grocery/department store), but they are only available online now. Definitely an order of magnitude better than Duracell.

Invalid Link Removed

Ralf
Click to expand...

Any worries with lithiums in gear?

Sparkdog said:
It makes no sense at all to put a cheap generic battery into an expensive bass that is completely dependent on the power source to work!
Click to expand...

I'm starting to think this way too. $1500 bass, $.99 battery. It doesn't add up.

These HDs I bought, I'll probably keep around to pass out to other folks on the occasion they have a dead battery and no backup. That way I'm out a dollar, and they can think twice about having no backup.

Thanks for all your constructive help guys. I really appreciate it. You all rock. :bassist:
 
#17
Gio S said:
A little off subject, but ALL active basses should have a low battery indicator! This is such a no-brainer I just don't get it. I believe that you can buy this little PCB from a few sources, with a single LED that flashes only when it is time to change.
Click to expand...

Maybe Eric Johnson could tell you the best sounding battery:rolleyes:, but I think they don't have the 'low battery' indicator because the LED uses battery juice, draining it faster when it's already low, and how frustrating would it be when the stupid warning LED doesn't have enuf power to do its job?...I can almost hear the echoes of "***?!?" across the great divide, pre-gig ("why do they have this if it doesn't even work??, blah blah) Plus, I don't think instrument makers are eager to point out in their marketing that 'costly' batteries need to be replaced in their instruments or you could end up S**t creek at the worst possible moment.
I think a bypass switch is the best solution.
BTW I've had several of the premium-priced batteries leak and crud into my various equipment well before the silly 'expiration date' arrived (now even soda pop expires, too....) I wouldn't 'stock up' on something like batteries.... you could get stuck with a substandard run of manufacture (not unlike bass manufacturers...coff)
 
#18
i_got_a_mohawk said:
You are worried about putting them in gear, but not in smoke alarms?
Click to expand...

This made me laugh really hard. :D Truthfully, I wouldn't want to skimp out on my bass's batteries or my smoke alarm's; both pretty important things. As a complete and mindless follower of the you-get-what-you-pay-for cult, I'd go ahead and spend the extra buck for some batteries I know will work when I need them to. All just IMO, though.
 

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