How can I save batteries? Or my sanity

[TrevorR]

Thank you for gracing me with a respectful answer. I've come to the conclusion that there probably is no practical, electrical option (reed switch, for example) but 'mind hacks' are probably best.
Just saying "learn to unplug" is not exactly helpful. Im amazed how people think they are contributing to the world with such comments.
Anyway, thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Notes-to-self will be liberally plastered on my gear, and nasty swinging objects hanging from all the door posts in my house!
Ok, maybe not the second one...

To be honest, though, "just learn to unplug" isn't actually an unhelpful response - it's a purely practical and pragmatic one. The way you develop a habit is to repeatedly do an action. And, ultimately, the best way to do that is just to force yourself to do it. To determine to do it and to keep mentally reminding yourself to do it... Which is what "just learn to unplug" boils down to. It might not be expressed elegantly and at length. But it is valid advice. It is what you need to do, when it comes down to it.

Sure you might find some things that kinda help you remember... LEDs. Post-Its, tennis balls... but there's a problem with them which means you can't rely on them, they can only enhance the effectiveness of will power.

They quickly fade into the background.

So, put a Post-It next to the amp off switch. Great. But by the tenth time it'll probably just be a part of the front of the amp, as far as your subconscious mind is concerned. You won't look at it, you won't read it. In fact, you probably won't even notice it. If you haven't developed the habit by that point then that hack has gone and you're back to square 1. Leaving the bass plugged in...

Determination and repetition... that's the key. And, to be honest, of all the good habits you might want to develop in life, this is hardly the hardest!

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Use real non-chargeable batteries, learn to unplug, or just have the active electronics removed and go passive.

 

[TrevorR]

Use operant conditioning.

Have an assistant give you a treat and say " good boy" every time you unplug your guitar.

If you fail to unplug, the assistant scolds you in a stern voice.

After a while you become conditioned to automatically unplug your guitar.

(You could also use this method to learn not to bark incessantly when the mail carrier delivers the mail).

I tried this technique once. Worked really well. The only down side... whenever the drummer hit his cow bell, went "ting" on his triangle or played timbales I started salivating so much that I'd short out the bass!

 

[RobbieK]

I've wired a few basses with a tilt switch so it disconnects the battery when you put it in a guitar stand. but this only works if the pre is specifically designed so it doesn't pop. it was a gimmick really, but you could take the same idea in reverse for your led. have the tilt switch turn the led on when the bass is upright. this way it won't drain extra current all the time, plus it will only light when you actually need reminding. plus this is very simple and cheap to wire- an led, a resistor, and a mercury switch.

TBH, it would be simpler though, to put a blob of blue-tac on your amp's power switch as a reminder...

 

[el murdoque]

At some point in my life, I bought enough instrument cables so i have a cable from my amp to the place my pedalboard goes in all the places I play bass. I have a 18ft cable in my Gigbag to connect the bass to the pedalboard. At home, I have one more cable from my bass to the pedalboard. I play sitting down in my practice room and a 18ft cable is too long for that. The cable I use is too short to reach from the pedalboard to either the groundstand I keep my currently played bass in or the wall hangers where I keep the other basses. So there's no chance of leaving one plugged in by accident.

 

[Nev375]

I'm assuming that you remember to turn off your amp? If so, put a note on your amp to remind you to unplug.

Actually, I forget to do that too quite often.


I find it hilarious that people who have the ability and presence of mind to remember to do things are suggesting to an absent minded person to simply remember to unplug.

That's pretty much like telling a man with no legs to stand up and walk. While I appreciate the element of humor to that, for the most part it's just really stupid and rude.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

I tried this technique once. Worked really well. The only down side... whenever the drummer hit his cow bell, went "ting" on his triangle or played timbales I started salivating so much that I'd short out the bass!

That is classical conditioning, not operant conditioning. Bad dog.

 

[J_Bass]

Put a pink bracelet on the bass. Put it in your wrist when playing, leave it on the bass when you're done. It's a reminder. I don't think you're gonna walk around with that thing on your wrist.

Pass the cable through the belt slots on your pants, the things that hold the trousers belt. Then connect it to the bass. When you are done, you have to take the cable off in order to leave.

 

[Biggbass]

I used to leave my bass plugged in after sound check, thru the gig, & between sets.
Then one night a band mate tripped over my cable and pulled my Fender J bass off the stand resulting it in landing hard, face down on an uncarpeted wooden surface stage....bam!
I was surprised the neck didn't snap. Since then I only plug in when I'm playing it, otherwise it's unplugged and in the case. I don't even use a guitar stand for my bass
anymore...at gigs I put it in a Sadowsky gig bag when it's not in play.

 

[Plutonium244]

To be honest, though, "just learn to unplug" isn't actually an unhelpful response - it's a purely practical and pragmatic one. The way you develop a habit is to repeatedly do an action. And, ultimately, the best way to do that is just to force yourself to do it. To determine to do it and to keep mentally reminding yourself to do it... Which is what "just learn to unplug" boils down to. It might not be expressed elegantly and at length. But it is valid advice. It is what you need to do, when it comes down to it.

Sure you might find some things that kinda help you remember... LEDs. Post-Its, tennis balls... but there's a problem with them which means you can't rely on them, they can only enhance the effectiveness of will power.

They quickly fade into the background.

So, put a Post-It next to the amp off switch. Great. But by the tenth time it'll probably just be a part of the front of the amp, as far as your subconscious mind is concerned. You won't look at it, you won't read it. In fact, you probably won't even notice it. If you haven't developed the habit by that point then that hack has gone and you're back to square 1. Leaving the bass plugged in...

Determination and repetition... that's the key. And, to be honest, of all the good habits you might want to develop in life, this is hardly the hardest!

The way I remember to unplug is a) habit of doing it and b) fear of what happens when the battery dies mid-set. It's not hard to remember. Putting it in the guitar stand is the reminder.

 

[Kice]

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?

Move your bass to a holder or bag far from the amp when you're done with playing. That'll kinda force you to unplug it if you don't wanna tow the amp behind you.

 

[Wooly John]

I have the same battery drain problem with my SR505 - even uplugged the battery drains - I take the battery out after I finish playing and put it back in before playing again - a hassle but better than replacing the battery every time I play.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Already mentioned... Years ago I had a customer that had me to install mercury switches in his guitars so that they went silent when he put them on a stand...


Moonshine

 

[SLO Surfer]

Do you remember to turn your amp off when you're done playing? If so, tape a note on or near your amp's power switch that says something like, "UNPLUG!!!"

 

[mellowinman]

Rig the bass so that if you forget to unplug it, you are jolted with 60,000 volts of electricity. Make sure the amperage is low.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

All of the "solutions" require remembering to flip a switch or whatever. Just learn to unplug the bass when you're finished. That is the solution. When you borrow someone's bass or get a new bass, instead of hacking it up to put a switch and LED in (which will lower its value), just unplug the bass. If you truly can't remember due to a condition, get a passive bass. But I don't think that's the case.

If you put the bass back into its case or gig bag after using it, it will be protected better and you will have to unplug it.

 

[RustyAxe]

If you can't remember to unplug there's little chance you'll remember to flip a switch.

 

[tjh]

... a piece of tape with "UNPLUG Bass" placed just above your amp shut off, or in a very conspicuous place that YOU WILL NOT MISS will go a long way to solving the issue ... and it is free ... even a note placed in your guitar stand if you use one ...

... with borderline dementia, I have learned the importance of constant visual reminders

... OR, just see post #94 in this thread for even better advice ... ok, so I wasn't about to read the whole thread before I replied ..

 

[waveman]

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?

this is the reason I only buy basses with passive pickups. I am just too forgetful, and it's bad for the wallet and environment.

 

[madbass6]

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?[/QUOTE

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?

Just unplug the dam thing...