Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,794
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
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Forgot to check battery before gig
- Thread starter john_g
- Start date
It's a Corvette and in of some Corvette models the battery is located behind the driver's seat.
Jeez, some of ya'll just ain't know nuffin....
Back in the day, we sold a lot of BOSS pedals. We'd check the batteries via the 'tongue test', and they'd really give you a jolt.
So we put a meter to several new ones and they all read 9.5vDC or better. Wow!
We inquired about it to BOSS US Service, who pointed out they had no idea how long they might sit on the shelf before being sold, and they did their best to ship them 'a little warm' so as not disappoint their customers.
Did they ever!
So we put a meter to several new ones and they all read 9.5vDC or better. Wow!
We inquired about it to BOSS US Service, who pointed out they had no idea how long they might sit on the shelf before being sold, and they did their best to ship them 'a little warm' so as not disappoint their customers.
Did they ever!
it's pretty normal for fresh 9V battery to read at 9.6V. that's how it works, it's nominal voltage vs actual voltage. the fresh AAs are not 1.5V either (with rechargeables it's more complex, generally they have a lower voltage).
it's actually funny that in US rechargeable batteries for hand tools are sold with the maximum voltage specified and in EU they have to use the nominal voltage, so the same DeWalt battery is sold as 20V in US and as 18V in EU.
That’s what I used to do, too and then this year I had a battery start to die on stage before the 4th
At first I thought it was a bad cord or maybe the amp was unhappy sitting in the sun on a very hot day. I should have just changed the battery at the next song break instead of trying different cables first. At least now I know how that bass sounds when the voltage gets too low, the volume starts suddenly dropping, then coming back up, then dropping…but it doesn't get distorted.
I've always brought spare batteries. Now I also check the voltage every month or so before heading out to a gig just in case. I wish the manufacturers would state how low the voltage can go rather than making us guess. Even better would be a low battery warning LED when plugging in, I own preamps for my DB that do that.
I write the date on my batteries when putting them in a bass.
I always keep an extra battery, or two in my bass case. It’s happened twice to me in my life that I put a brand new battery in a bass and it was already dead and distorting.
I’ve started using active preamps with an active/passive switch so in case of emergency the instrument can operate with no battery at all. In fact, I’ve found this to be a useable sound that I like even.
I always keep an extra battery, or two in my bass case. It’s happened twice to me in my life that I put a brand new battery in a bass and it was already dead and distorting.
I’ve started using active preamps with an active/passive switch so in case of emergency the instrument can operate with no battery at all. In fact, I’ve found this to be a useable sound that I like even.
Out of the 4 basses I have, 3 of them have active passive option, if battery dies I’m good. My StingRay is the only one that would be a problem IF I WAS NOT PREPARED BEFOREHAND! My one bass that has an Audere pre in it, has an LED in it that lets you know when it is time to change the battery, and it still has A/P switch.
Its the autocorrect version of Stingray. Me fail english? Thats unpossible.
Thats what Im going to do from now on, its a good tip. I do like this kind of thing too:
Keith McMillen Instruments Batt-O-Meter
Though it looks like its out of production and didnt get great reviews.
I have a couple of basses with active/passive option like my G&L L2000 and its definitely a good thing to have.
We have a big Christmas gig coming up and I am taking two passive basses this time. Dont even want to think about it.
I practice and rehearse with my gig bass. I play everyday for at least an hour. Like someone else said, I write the date of change on my batteries. Mine get changed every couple of months. Never had a problem. It's like turning the gas off on your motorcycle if you aren't going ride.
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I have an Ultra with an 18V system (two batteries), and on Saturday I switched it on for a particular song and they were dead. But I don't know how long they have been dead because I usually play in passive mode and passive mode works fine without batteries or with dead batteries.
This thread has given me the idea to put tape on the batteries with the date I changed them though, I'm going to go do that now!
This thread has given me the idea to put tape on the batteries with the date I changed them though, I'm going to go do that now!
I know on some active basses, unplugging the bass between sets, prevents premature voltage loss. But still.. twice a year I change 'em!
Once had an Epiphone El Capitan that took a 9v. The best OD sound I ever got was the last 30 seconds of that 9 volt's life.
I think (and who am I?) that all active basses should have a passive switch (and some do) in case the battery dies.
We're glad the gig and the battery incident worked out for you...............can you share the band's joke?.....while you changed batteries.
We're glad the gig and the battery incident worked out for you...............can you share the band's joke?.....while you changed batteries.
IME battery awareness should just be a habit and part of basic maintenance with active basses. We all know when strings were changed should be the same with batteries and spares (plural) should just be in the case at all times. I'm certainly not going to limit my tonal options by going all-passive just in case I forget to keep my gear prepped. Changing batteries on a schedule is certainly a good and practical idea.
I have one if these. It works on my bass with the Sadowsky Preamp, but not on the one with the Aguilar pre. But it has terminals on the side to check the battery externally. I use it every year when I change batteries, not only to get an idea of how much the old battery still had in it, but also to make sure the new one is good.
I have one if these. It works on my bass with the Sadowsky Preamp, but not on the one with the Aguilar pre. But it has terminals on the side to check the battery externally. I use it every year when I change batteries, not only to get an idea of how much the old battery still had in it, but also to make sure the new one is good.
