Do I need new batteries on my active bass?

[ToneMonkey]

You can diminish a brand new set of batteries in a day or so if you leave the cable plugged into your bass. Easy to check them with a multimeter.

Actually, not so easy to do. To get a true sense of battery status, you need a load. A fairly depleted battery will still measure close to 9V if you measure it without a load. Now if the battery connector has wires and they are long enough to get a multimeter lead tip in, yup. But a lot of battery compartments are insert and close. No way to measure properly with those.

Personally, I solve the problem by using rechargeable batteries and just replacing them often.

 

[John Webb]

Wow, what is that tune you are playing?

Get a passive bass.....you won't need no stinkin' batteries!

 

[Kendescending]

Here's the proper way to test a 9V battery

 

[Basslice]

1) Like Tone Monkey said, checking voltage is not going to tell you anything. You need to measure current under load. That is the difference between a voltmeter and a battery checker.

2) Your batteries should not die so fast, unless you are leaving the bass plugged in overnight when not play (and for many nights). Batteries should last months.

3) The recording was very noisy. If the HISS I hear sounds like a bad cell phone recording. If that is the sound you are upset about, and it is not your phone ,that is not a battery issue. Other than the hiss, I cannot make out any signs of trouble. When my batteries die, the volume changes and the output gets warbled and distorted. Very obvious.

 

[nickpc]

I gotta go a bit far n get 'em and provided the circumstances now, I want to be entirely sure I must go n get. That's why I want to confirm.

You will need new batteries at some point - I'd go ahead and look at getting them now, so you'll have them when you need them.

This is from the guy who once pulled a fairly new 9v battery out of his smoke detector to put into a bass.

 

[N4860]

On the topic of batteries, has anyone ever had an issue with a battery being drained quickly due after putting in conductive paint for shielding in the cavity? I recently put a couple of coats all over the inside of my control cavity and then soldered the shielding to one of my pots in the preamp and have now noticed that the battery keeps draining, as if the preamp seems to think it has a cable plugged in when it, in fact, has not been plugged in. Is there something, in particular, I should be looking for?

Sorry for the hijack, if no one has a clue, I might just start a new thread.

 

[Bonafide]

But is it using the same amount of power when not being played? (Not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer, but suspect it doesn't use as much because the output signal level will be minimal.)

It makes no difference. An onboard preamp is no different than a pedal (other than design restrictions/variance for space requirements). It's just housed in your bass instead of an enclosure. OT - there are debates to whether the onboard pre is more efficient and better sounding, but the battery function is the same (Ring/Sleeve completes the circuit, battery is on) for most modern pres, doesn't matter if you are flat, cut or boost, consumption will remain very consistent. Headroom decreases with lower available voltage but that is another issue.

 

[Bonafide]

On the topic of batteries, has anyone ever had an issue with a battery being drained quickly due after putting in conductive paint for shielding in the cavity? I recently put a couple of coats all over the inside of my control cavity and then soldered the shielding to one of my pots in the preamp and have now noticed that the battery keeps draining, as if the preamp seems to think it has a cable plugged in when it, in fact, has not been plugged in. Is there something, in particular, I should be looking for?

Sorry for the hijack, if no one has a clue, I might just start a new thread.

Use a MM to check continuity between the output jack 'ring' and your shielding or ground. If the ring has been sent to ground by accident with your new shielding install, it will complete the circuit and act as if a cable is plugged in, effectively draining your battery.

 

[mcnach]

You will need new batteries at some point - I'd go ahead and look at getting them now, so you'll have them when you need them.

This is from the guy who once pulled a fairly new 9v battery out of his smoke detector to put into a bass.

Yup. Don't wait until you need them. Buy a couple and keep them in your gigbag.

 

[cxcxcx]

You will need new batteries at some point - I'd go ahead and look at getting them now, so you'll have them when you need them.

This is from the guy who once pulled a fairly new 9v battery out of his smoke detector to put into a bass.

I thought I was the only one !!

 

[Sid Fang]

Doesn't sound like a bad battery to me - but then again, I've learned the hard way that different active pickup/preamp circuits react to failing batteries differently.

 

[Sid Fang]

Yup. Don't wait until you need them. Buy a couple and keep them in your gigbag.

When I started gigging active basses, it never even occurred to me *not* to have a spare battery with me. And I did need it once, in the middle of a set - see previous post about different circuits failing differently. I was used to a circuit that gradually descended into tone suckage as the battery drained. But some act pretty normal up to the point where they start self-oscillating.

 

[N4860]

Use a MM to check continuity between the output jack 'ring' and your shielding or ground. If the ring has been sent to ground by accident with your new shielding install, it will complete the circuit and act as if a cable is plugged in, effectively draining your battery.

Thank you, I will take a look at that this evening.

 

[SteveC]

gotta unplug EVERY time you're done playing.

 

[Bassamatic]

You can't use a multi-meter for testing batteries because you have to test them under load. The battery tester has a resistor inside to load the battery.

When I started using a battery powered pedal and active bass I got one of these cheap battery testers for my gig bag. I've never understood why the bass manufacturers don't have a simple battery test circuit built-in. A zener diode and an LED. Would cost them 20 cents.

 

[Sid Fang]

When I started using a battery powered pedal and active bass I got one of these cheap battery testers for my gig bag. I've never understood why the bass manufacturers don't have a simple battery test circuit built-in. A zener diode and an LED. Would cost them 20 cents.

View attachment 4032425

If the circuit's engaged all the time, it would suck the battery down faster, so you need to add a switch to your bill of materials. Which I suspect still comes out to less than $0.20 in parts...

 

[Bonafide]

I've never understood why the bass manufacturers don't have a simple battery test circuit built-in. A zener diode and an LED. Would cost them 20 cents.

Audere preamps have an LED indicator when you plug in. It's a great feature and provides confidence going into a gig with a bass (like a Jazz) that might require the removal of the plate for a battery change. I suspect some incentive is Audere does not offer a passive option (emergency chute).

 

[Hans Gruber]

Listened with headphones, have you tried switching cables?

That's my first hunch. Also I sometimes use a fan while in the room but that also adds a lot of electrical noise depending on what pickups are on my bass. Could be lights, dimmers, etc.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

If your shopping for a battery tester here is one made for testing batteries while they are still in your active guitar, bass or pedal by simply plugging it in. It also has connections on the side to test a 9 volt externally.

I bought mine from Sadowsky online but I don't see them on their website anymore.

https://www.amazon.com/Meter-Guitar...TTERY+TESTER+FOR+GUITAR&qid=1603827007&sr=8-2

 

[Matty Koff]

I've an active jazz bass that runs on two 9v batteries. I recently changed my batteries, that is on august 1st week 2020. I practice approx. 45 mins everyday. In that ime, I'll have the preamp on for 10-15 mins. My bass is sounding like this now. Should I change the batteries?
I handle and maintain my bass very carefully. Is everything alright with the electronic part of my bass?
Do let know guys. Thanks!
Edit: I DO NOT LEAVE MY BASS PLUGGED IN. I ALWAYS UNPLUG MY BASS AFTER USING.

That isn't the sound of a dying battery. A dying battery gives a weak signal or none at all, or it clips and distorts. Those "Sqeuals" are harmonics from hitting the open strings. Hit them softer they'll be less apparent. Or lightly rest your index finger right by the nut, as kind of a mute/damper but not so hard that they don't have any sustain or that you're fretting a note. Those harmonics will go away.

This is part of why people use scrunchies, or why there are gruv gear fretwaps on the market. I mainly notice this on the Low B of my 5 strings. If I mute right by the nut.. I get a solid Low B, if I hit them open, especially with new strings, I get a bit of that harmonic. I can use my left hand to help eliminate the harmonic, but the fretwrap takes a lot less effort. I just try to angle it where it is resting slightly in front of the nut on my B string, and try to keep it off my D and G strings as much as possible.