I think I’ve read correctly that the Fender Player Plus Precision will work without any Batteries installed (in Passive Mode)? If so, with Batteries installed and a lead connected if I just switch to Passive Mode in between sets for instance will this disable the battery or is it still in use somehow and draining power?
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Fender Player Plus Precision - Active/Passive Mode Battery Query?
- Thread starter Baker69
- Start date
I thought as much. Very often the sound guy forgets to mute the channels at the end of a set and we all know what then happens when we take the lead out of the bass! I thought if I could just switch to passive mode I could leave the lead in and this would also save on the batteries in the bass.
Switching the preamp on or off while the bass is plugged into an amp or PA will cause a loud click, pop or thump sound through your amp or PA' that's why it's usually not done. Batteries in active basses will last for hundreds of hours of playing time.
I wish they did last that long, I have a bass with a John East MM Pre and I have to change the batteries about every 12 weeks and similarly on my Sire P7.
At the moment I have to switch off my wireless transmitter unit before removing it from the bass in order to save battery power and this is a noiseless operation.
I suppose if there was a way of doing it someone would have already designed a solution.
At the moment I have to switch off my wireless transmitter unit before removing it from the bass in order to save battery power and this is a noiseless operation.
I suppose if there was a way of doing it someone would have already designed a solution.
@Baker69, the Fender you mentioned sounds like one bass of mine, in that it's Active/Passive and doesn't need the battery for Passive mode. So it's likely that a separate Battery On/Off switch can be installed like I put in my bass for noiseless battery switching.
For those passin' thru playing the home game, the following solution only works on a bass (or guitar) with Active/Passive modes and cannot have battery powered pickups. A quick test will have to be performed to determine if the Battery switch will work silently when in Passive mode. Do the following simple 5 minute test before ordering/installing a switch.
Test:
With bass in Active mode (and with amp volume low), connect/disconnect the battery. You should hear pops/thumps (this is expected, as @Crater mentioned).
Now, put the bass in Passive mode and connect/disconnect the battery. No pops/thumps should be heard. Turn amp volume up to make sure of no pops/thumps.
Done testing. If you heard sounds in Passive, you can't use the switch. If no sounds in Passive with volume up, you can use the switch.
So, we've ensured the bass is quiet while switching the battery in Passive mode. Just add a 2 position toggle switch as a Battery On/Off switch between the negative (-) battery connector and the ring contact of the output jack.
Here's a portion of my bass's schematic showing Batt switch placement. Push/Pull shown in Passive, Battery switch shown Off.:
Why are there no pops/thumps when in Passive? Notice on the schematic that in Passive, the preamp is disconnected from the main signal path. Any pops/thumps generated by the preamp from battery switching are blocked at contact 'f' of the Push/Pull switch.
Operating instructions:
When changing from Active to Passive - While bass is Active, first switch bass to Passive (ensures quiet battery switching). Then switch battery to Off.
When changing from Passive to Active - While bass is Passive, first switch battery to On (battery comes on quietly). Then switch bass to Active.
Obviously, during songs, don't worry about the battery when switching between Active/Passive modes. During breaks or whatever, just ensure the bass is in Passive before switching the battery off.
Anyway, just throwing this out. Not necessary, just a convenience as this question comes up alot. It's not a 'one switch' idiot proof solution. The idiots can just keep walkin'
. But it's an easy solution for folk with more brains and situational awareness than a small garden salad.
Maybe an owner of the Fender Player Plus Precision can do that quick test and let us all know the results.
FWIW, if someone owns a bass with Active mode only (no Passive mode), the above solution won't work. That solution requires a 3 position on-on-on toggle. A 3 position rotary switch may work, I haven't worked it up to say for sure.
Sorry about the long post. Just tryin' to preemptively answer questions.
For those passin' thru playing the home game, the following solution only works on a bass (or guitar) with Active/Passive modes and cannot have battery powered pickups. A quick test will have to be performed to determine if the Battery switch will work silently when in Passive mode. Do the following simple 5 minute test before ordering/installing a switch.
Test:
With bass in Active mode (and with amp volume low), connect/disconnect the battery. You should hear pops/thumps (this is expected, as @Crater mentioned).
Now, put the bass in Passive mode and connect/disconnect the battery. No pops/thumps should be heard. Turn amp volume up to make sure of no pops/thumps.
Done testing. If you heard sounds in Passive, you can't use the switch. If no sounds in Passive with volume up, you can use the switch.
So, we've ensured the bass is quiet while switching the battery in Passive mode. Just add a 2 position toggle switch as a Battery On/Off switch between the negative (-) battery connector and the ring contact of the output jack.
Here's a portion of my bass's schematic showing Batt switch placement. Push/Pull shown in Passive, Battery switch shown Off.:
Why are there no pops/thumps when in Passive? Notice on the schematic that in Passive, the preamp is disconnected from the main signal path. Any pops/thumps generated by the preamp from battery switching are blocked at contact 'f' of the Push/Pull switch.
Operating instructions:
When changing from Active to Passive - While bass is Active, first switch bass to Passive (ensures quiet battery switching). Then switch battery to Off.
When changing from Passive to Active - While bass is Passive, first switch battery to On (battery comes on quietly). Then switch bass to Active.
Obviously, during songs, don't worry about the battery when switching between Active/Passive modes. During breaks or whatever, just ensure the bass is in Passive before switching the battery off.
Anyway, just throwing this out. Not necessary, just a convenience as this question comes up alot. It's not a 'one switch' idiot proof solution. The idiots can just keep walkin'
. But it's an easy solution for folk with more brains and situational awareness than a small garden salad. Maybe an owner of the Fender Player Plus Precision can do that quick test and let us all know the results.
FWIW, if someone owns a bass with Active mode only (no Passive mode), the above solution won't work. That solution requires a 3 position on-on-on toggle. A 3 position rotary switch may work, I haven't worked it up to say for sure.
Sorry about the long post. Just tryin' to preemptively answer questions.
@fig good to see you back. I hope it’s a regular occurrence.@Baker69, the Fender you mentioned sounds like one bass of mine, in that it's Active/Passive and doesn't need the battery for Passive mode. So it's likely that a separate Battery On/Off switch can be installed like I put in my bass for noiseless battery switching.
For those passin' thru playing the home game, the following solution only works on a bass (or guitar) with Active/Passive modes and cannot have battery powered pickups. A quick test will have to be performed to determine if the Battery switch will work silently when in Passive mode. Do the following simple 5 minute test before ordering/installing a switch.
Test:
With bass in Active mode (and with amp volume low), connect/disconnect the battery. You should hear pops/thumps (this is expected, as @Crater mentioned).
Now, put the bass in Passive mode and connect/disconnect the battery. No pops/thumps should be heard. Turn amp volume up to make sure of no pops/thumps.
Done testing. If you heard sounds in Passive, you can't use the switch. If no sounds in Passive with volume up, you can use the switch.
So, we've ensured the bass is quiet while switching the battery in Passive mode. Just add a 2 position toggle switch as a Battery On/Off switch between the negative (-) battery connector and the ring contact of the output jack.
Here's a portion of my bass's schematic showing Batt switch placement. Push/Pull shown in Passive, Battery switch shown Off.:
View attachment 7222520
Why are there no pops/thumps when in Passive? Notice on the schematic that in Passive, the preamp is disconnected from the main signal path. Any pops/thumps generated by the preamp from battery switching are blocked at contact 'f' of the Push/Pull switch.
Operating instructions:
When changing from Active to Passive - While bass is Active, first switch bass to Passive (ensures quiet battery switching). Then switch battery to Off.
When changing from Passive to Active - While bass is Passive, first switch battery to On (battery comes on quietly). Then switch bass to Active.
Obviously, during songs, don't worry about the battery when switching between Active/Passive modes. During breaks or whatever, just ensure the bass is in Passive before switching the battery off.
Anyway, just throwing this out. Not necessary, just a convenience as this question comes up alot. It's not a 'one switch' idiot proof solution. The idiots can just keep walkin'
Maybe an owner of the Fender Player Plus Precision can do that quick test and let us all know the results.
FWIW, if someone owns a bass with Active mode only (no Passive mode), the above solution won't work. That solution requires a 3 position on-on-on toggle. A 3 position rotary switch may work, I haven't worked it up to say for sure.
Sorry about the long post. Just tryin' to preemptively answer questions.
@Baker69, the Fender you mentioned sounds like one bass of mine, in that it's Active/Passive and doesn't need the battery for Passive mode. So it's likely that a separate Battery On/Off switch can be installed like I put in my bass for noiseless battery switching.
For those passin' thru playing the home game, the following solution only works on a bass (or guitar) with Active/Passive modes and cannot have battery powered pickups. A quick test will have to be performed to determine if the Battery switch will work silently when in Passive mode. Do the following simple 5 minute test before ordering/installing a switch.
Test:
With bass in Active mode (and with amp volume low), connect/disconnect the battery. You should hear pops/thumps (this is expected, as @Crater mentioned).
Now, put the bass in Passive mode and connect/disconnect the battery. No pops/thumps should be heard. Turn amp volume up to make sure of no pops/thumps.
Done testing. If you heard sounds in Passive, you can't use the switch. If no sounds in Passive with volume up, you can use the switch.
So, we've ensured the bass is quiet while switching the battery in Passive mode. Just add a 2 position toggle switch as a Battery On/Off switch between the negative (-) battery connector and the ring contact of the output jack.
Here's a portion of my bass's schematic showing Batt switch placement. Push/Pull shown in Passive, Battery switch shown Off.:
View attachment 7222520
Why are there no pops/thumps when in Passive? Notice on the schematic that in Passive, the preamp is disconnected from the main signal path. Any pops/thumps generated by the preamp from battery switching are blocked at contact 'f' of the Push/Pull switch.
Operating instructions:
When changing from Active to Passive - While bass is Active, first switch bass to Passive (ensures quiet battery switching). Then switch battery to Off.
When changing from Passive to Active - While bass is Passive, first switch battery to On (battery comes on quietly). Then switch bass to Active.
Obviously, during songs, don't worry about the battery when switching between Active/Passive modes. During breaks or whatever, just ensure the bass is in Passive before switching the battery off.
Anyway, just throwing this out. Not necessary, just a convenience as this question comes up alot. It's not a 'one switch' idiot proof solution. The idiots can just keep walkin'
Maybe an owner of the Fender Player Plus Precision can do that quick test and let us all know the results.
FWIW, if someone owns a bass with Active mode only (no Passive mode), the above solution won't work. That solution requires a 3 position on-on-on toggle. A 3 position rotary switch may work, I haven't worked it up to say for sure.
Sorry about the long post. Just tryin' to preemptively answer questions.
Thanks for your very comprehensive reply! Will study it in detail and give it some thought.
