Is the ability to run on battery power important to you? Would you absolutely not buy a pedal if it won't run on battery, or maybe you'd consider it but with reluctance? Or are you happy never to have to mess with batteries anyway?
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How do you feel about pedals that DO NOT take batteries?
- Thread starter bongomania
- Start date
When buying pedals I prefer ones that can run on a battery.
I forgot to recharge my Volto and it died during rehearsal. I would have loved to have been able to pop a 9v in my B7K. I went out and bought VT DI because it takes batteries, I'm gonna a/b them at my next rehearsal to see if the VT can unseat my B7K.
I forgot to recharge my Volto and it died during rehearsal. I would have loved to have been able to pop a 9v in my B7K. I went out and bought VT DI because it takes batteries, I'm gonna a/b them at my next rehearsal to see if the VT can unseat my B7K.
I run all my pedals off the mains but the ability to use a battery is a bonus. Wouldn't stop me buying a pedal though it if was mains only. I own 3
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I prefer not to mess with batteries.
They go dead, they get thrown into the landfills etc.
Not that power-strips/wall-warts and power-supplies aren't without their cons...
If the pedal can be either/or, that's a plus; but I have no problem with pedals needing a power supply and can't take batteries because there are so many PS options nowadays. Ironically, I can't find a PS that meets all my requirements.
They go dead, they get thrown into the landfills etc.
Not that power-strips/wall-warts and power-supplies aren't without their cons...
If the pedal can be either/or, that's a plus; but I have no problem with pedals needing a power supply and can't take batteries because there are so many PS options nowadays. Ironically, I can't find a PS that meets all my requirements.
i don't prefer them but if they sound good i'd consider buying them.. i have 30 pedals out of which 4 don't have battery slots.. the darkglass vmt, the empress tremolo, the digitech jam-man and the moogerfooger lpf.. i like all 4 and haven't needed to replace them with pedals with batteries... yet
I do like to have the option, specially for pedals that need little ma current. ODs, fuzz, are more usable with a battery slot, as you can just pick one and go.
Even if you always use a power adaptor, it's nice to have the option, just in case.
Of course batteries make no sense for delays and digital effects, they wont last long anyway.
Even if you always use a power adaptor, it's nice to have the option, just in case.
Of course batteries make no sense for delays and digital effects, they wont last long anyway.
I would never use batteries on-stage.
Question: I know John 5 uses batteries in all of his pedals...Always wondered why.. Noise supression maby?
Question: I know John 5 uses batteries in all of his pedals...Always wondered why.. Noise supression maby?
Batteries die, theres no exact time limits on when they'll die and therefore when using pedals on batteries I replace them a lot when doing gigs and practices to avoid them dying on me.
If it has a battery clip or not it doesn't matter, either way Id be using a power supply.
However, those pedals that run on lithium ions (red witch?), thats a cool idea. Id still use a mains supply but its good to see some innovation on that front. Id just want a flashing LED to tell me to charge.
If it has a battery clip or not it doesn't matter, either way Id be using a power supply.
However, those pedals that run on lithium ions (red witch?), thats a cool idea. Id still use a mains supply but its good to see some innovation on that front. Id just want a flashing LED to tell me to charge.
- Dec 10, 2008
- 2,341
- 5,822
- Disclosures
- Douglas Castro, Founder: darkglass.com
There are pros and cons to both options. My personal beef with batteries is that besides the ecological reasons (I don't know of many people who save the used batteries to then take them to the appropriate disposal centers) they can die when you least expect it but they also will change the way a pedal sounds way before they die, specially with distortions and overdrives, if a pedal was intended to be used at 9V running it at 8 or 7V can affect the sound very noticeably.
For me personally, power supplies are more reliable, provide consistent performance and don't pollute.
But I make and sell pedals that don't take batteries so take my opinion for what it's worth
For me personally, power supplies are more reliable, provide consistent performance and don't pollute.
But I make and sell pedals that don't take batteries so take my opinion for what it's worth
I love pedals without batteries! They generally have a smaller footprint (TC Electronic Ditto Looper) so they are easier to transport, and as many people use a pedal train/multi connection power thingy anyway, even for pedals that require batteries, I don't see why they would ever be looked down upon.
If I routinely used a pedalboard, I wouldn't particularly care one way or the other. But mostly I'll put one pedal between the bass and the amp's input, so I prefer boxes that can run on batts.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,621
- 18,706
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
As a pseudo staunch environmentalist... I actually prefer no batteries.
You know that most people just throw batteries away and they have can have a nasty effect. Not cool...
Sometimes I don't need to run much in way of pedals...@ my core I only need a compressor and a tuner and when I only need them I use the Pedaltrain Volto.
http://www.pedaltrain.com/products/power/volto.php on a Nano board. With the Nano you can get 3 pedals on comfortably and more if the are small and you put them tight.
Also Doug is correct...Consistency...I'm a big fan of it and you cannot and will not get that with a battery.
You know that most people just throw batteries away and they have can have a nasty effect. Not cool...
Sometimes I don't need to run much in way of pedals...@ my core I only need a compressor and a tuner and when I only need them I use the Pedaltrain Volto.
http://www.pedaltrain.com/products/power/volto.php on a Nano board. With the Nano you can get 3 pedals on comfortably and more if the are small and you put them tight.
Also Doug is correct...Consistency...I'm a big fan of it and you cannot and will not get that with a battery.
Batteries are not particularly important to me. The opposite (making a pedal that only takes batteries) is a bigger deal for me - not that I have many but my Analogman peppermint fuzz doesn't make my board often because I am nervous about the battery dying.
If you can make a pedal smaller and have it not take a battery, I am allllll for it. I run off of AC power anyway.
If you can make a pedal smaller and have it not take a battery, I am allllll for it. I run off of AC power anyway.
Most of my pedals do not run on a battery. I pretty much always use my pedalboard so It`s not important to me.
There are pros and cons to both options. My personal beef with batteries is that besides the ecological reasons (I don't know of many people who save the used batteries to then take them to the appropriate disposal centers) they can die when you least expect it but they also will change the way a pedal sounds way before they die, specially with distortions and overdrives, if a pedal was intended to be used at 9V running it at 8 or 7V can affect the sound very noticeably.
For me personally, power supplies are more reliable, provide consistent performance and don't pollute.
But I make and sell pedals that don't take batteries so take my opinion for what it's worth
But you do have a car, right?
Environmental concern isn't an on or off thing. Not using batteries & owning a car/driving is still better than using both.
I don't use batteries for pedals, even when I just used a tuner I had a mains supply. Until last week I didn't even own a bass that took a battery. The mains supply works out cheaper in a short period of time, if nothing else.
- Dec 10, 2008
- 2,341
- 5,822
- Disclosures
- Douglas Castro, Founder: darkglass.com
100% agreed! The main problem with batteries is the disposal of them. I use rechargeable batteries for stuff I can't get away without, like my kitchen and bathroom scales, etc.
I actually don't. I live in downtown Helsinki so I can get around very easily using public transportation
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Frankly, the requirement for a battery is a significant negative in any article I consider using or buying, bass-related or otherwise. I avoid them if at all possible. As Hank said, trying to do one's best for the environment isn't a black or white decision. A battery not used is a small gift of omission to the next generation. We have become so used to everything having a battery that it's discouraging. I went to buy an outdoor thermometer a few years ago at K-Mart. The ones they were promoting/featuring were the digital sort that have an indoor readout and an outdoor sensor, both of which require batteries.......20 bucks for the unit and another 10 or so in batteries......so for 4.99 I bought a good old mercury model (still not overly green but waaaaaay better than the electronic item) and stuck it to my window....it's still there and working like a charm.
Except maybe in a tuner, so that I can carry it and don't need to worry about also taking a power supply with me, I don't see the need for batteries. For ecological reasons of course (even tough it's not that hard to dispose of them properly), and because it's way too risky to have a battery die one stage! And it costs also so much more to have to constantly replace all the batteries rather than buying one power supply once...
nope, public transportation all the way
nope, public transportation all the way
