How can I save batteries? Or my sanity

[cool breeze]

This post is a joke right?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

If you sit down to practice, just wrap the cord around your chair a couple times. When you're done and stand up, POP. Unplugs itself!

Yep, I'm a problem solver...

I was thinking more along the lines of wrapping it around the neck!

 

[lz4005]

I was thinking more along the lines of wrapping it around your neck!

Or, more practically, through your belt loop. You can't walk away without unplugging.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Put your bass back in the case when you are done playing. Among other things, it will protect the bass.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

LOL. I meant "the neck," not yours personally lol. Or, if you're wearing sweatpants tie the cord to the white drawstring...

 

[packhowitzer]

I use rechargeable AAs in my Line6 G50 wireless transmitter. I get roughly the same use out of them as I did when using rayovac alkaline batteries and I've never noticed a difference in sound, output or tone. I use alkaline 9Vs in my active basses though. So far I haven't found a reason to change this config. ymmv.

 

[FenderB]

I have an Ibanez SR505 with active pickups. Love it. But as hard as I try, I keep forgetting to unplug the thing and I end up draining the battery. It's not that big a deal, and I have resorted to exchanging two rechargeables to compensate for my stupidity.
But I was wondering if there is a way to have it turn off automatically, or install a light somewhere? Perhaps something like a knob with a light that reminds me to do the obvious thing that anyone else with an ounce of common sense could do anyway?
Am I the only twit who can't unplug a bass when he's finished playing, or has somebody devised something ingenious to aide memory and bypass the forgetfulness?

Hook your cord to your pants or shirt with a clip.

 

[unclebass]

I wired a small on/off toggle switch between the battery and preamp(not sure, but I think it was on the positive side) I make sure the volume is all the way down before I turn the switch on or off. No speaker popping when I flip the switch with the volume down. It's been plugged in for nearly two years with the same battery and no sign of needing replacement.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

An on/off rocker switch with a led would be easy to implement on any bass.

Off course the LED will cause a bit more battery drain.
It's figuring out if you save enough by turning off to be worth it.
Or if you forget to notice the lamp.

How 'bout a Mercury switch? Set it up so it is making contact when in playing position.
Put it on a stand (upright) or layed flat, however you store it and set the merc switch to turn off in that position.
That being said, I haven't shopped for a merc switch in decades. They may not make em anymore, cause, you know, Mercury... bad.

If you can find an old mechanical home thermostat, you might get one out if there.
Just don't break the glass.

 

[BEADG63]

I work in (amateur) sound, we use EBL 9v rechargables for all our sound needs. They hold as much as a duracell (~600 mah), and put out 8.6v which works fine for all our stuff. Battery meters on remote mics think the battery is slightly low on some of them. I use those in all my 9v music stuff too (pedals, guitars, basses). They don't self-discharge, so they work fine for low and high current draw applications (cordless mic is a high-current draw @ 250+ma). After EBL's hit the market, I never bought a duracell again. Previous 9v rechargables were 200mah, yucky, useless. EBL's work fine for smoke alarms too (charge once a year for me). In our sound booth we throw out all the batteries once a year preemptively, since they are recharged constantly. We have never had one go bad (we have about 10 of them in constant use). For home, my original set of 12 EBL's are going strong.

WRT led indicator lights, yeah they draw about 15 ma, so you would burn a battery in 40 hours with just the light, maybe that's ok for you, if so then yeah, I would do it. There are blinker circuits, like what you see in car alarms that can reduce that a lot, but not sure it is worth the trouble.

I grabbed a 4 pk. with a charger from amazon for about 25 bucks...bought it to use in my sennheiser wireless and it has been perfect for that. I keep 2 on charge in the back of the rack, just in case, but I've never had to change one during a 4 hour gig. Been meaning to try them in my active Spectors just to see...think I'll give it a try...

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I wouldn't use rechargeable batteries. They don't put out 9 volts, but I could be wrong. It is 2017.

Correct, and they don't do it for as long as an Alkaline.

 

[smogg]

Sell the 505 and get a passive bass. Problem solved.

 

[DavC]

i have 1 solution ,... and 1 possible upgrade

1 - get large rubber band , one end around 1/4 cable end , the other attach to your zipper ... you'll get a tug , ' hey , what about me ' .. !!??

2 - i have some Lithium Rechargeable 9 volts ... and the appropriate ' lithium only ' charger .. !! not cheap , but last longer when needed ...

whoops maybe 3 ...

3 - do what i did gradually = all passive basses / gtrs .. !

 

[mikewalker]

... as long as you remember to use it.

Back to SQUARE ONE

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Do you turn off the power switch of your amplifier when you are done playing?

If yes, put a post-it note near the amplifier power switch that reminds you to unplug your cord.

 

[ThePresident777]

This post is a joke right?

Either way, jokes can and will be made. I've got the hair to prove it.

 

[RickyT]

Am I the only twit who can't unplug a bass when he's finished playing

Yes.

 

[Big Hoss]

Learn to unplug.

 

[scootron]

Seriously, I had the same problem for a while after I picked up an active bass, so I started running the cable through my guitar strap, which I think is a good idea anyway. Now, when I take off the bass, I am always reminded of the cable so I don't forget to unplug it.
Simple answers are often the best.

 

[cool breeze]

Seriously, I had the same problem for a while after I picked up an active bass, so I started running the cable through my guitar strap, which I think is a good idea anyway. Now, when I take off the bass, I am always reminded of the cable so I don't forget to unplug it.
Simple answers are often the best.

Exactly.