+ 1, unplug it, sort of like leaving your iron on at home, pull the cord out of the wall to make sure, or sell your bass and just play passive .....
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how do you remember to turn off/unplug your active bass?
- Thread starter topo morto
- Start date
I'd say leave a note or some kind of post-it on the amp or even the bass itself
It will initially bother you so much that you won't forget to unplug, eventually you'll be able to remove the note and unpluggin when done playing will become accustomed to it
It will initially bother you so much that you won't forget to unplug, eventually you'll be able to remove the note and unpluggin when done playing will become accustomed to it
I will assume this is a serious question. There are so many people here who are wary of active basses because of this issue that it should be a serious question even if it wasn't. If you have a long time habit of throwing a passive bass on a stand without unplugging it when you are done for the night then flipping off the amp and lights, and leaving the room it can be hard to break. It is just so much a part of you. My first car was Plymouth with the parking brake release on the left side of the car below the dashboard. Operating that release became completely habitual in the years I owned it. My next car was a Toyota that had its hood release in exactly the same spot. One night after I first got it I came out of a restaurant and popped the hood release on my new car six times before I could concentrate enough to stop myself from doing that. No alcohol had been consumed either. Releasing that lever was part of the ritual of starting the Plymouth and it took a while to retrain even my very much younger brain.
Like many others I put my bass in a gig bag when I am done so problem solved. If you just put yours on a stand and walk away I would suggest putting something on the stand in its place when you pick it up to remind you to unplug when you are done. Could be anything but how about a dust cover for the poor bass? When you take the bass off the stand drape the cover over the stand and then when you are done and you go to replace it the sight of the cover will remind you to unplug.
Ken
Like many others I put my bass in a gig bag when I am done so problem solved. If you just put yours on a stand and walk away I would suggest putting something on the stand in its place when you pick it up to remind you to unplug when you are done. Could be anything but how about a dust cover for the poor bass? When you take the bass off the stand drape the cover over the stand and then when you are done and you go to replace it the sight of the cover will remind you to unplug.
Ken
Looks like he forgot to unplug his warp drive, and now can't escape from the Klingons. See? Happens to the best of us.
No, because I have never had a passive butt that doesn't need cleaning. It's not a question of not knowing what needs doing - it's a question of habit.
Get pen and paper. Write "I will unplug my bass when finished playing" 1,000 times. That should help you remember. Sheeesh. Lol.
I tend to find that strong emotions help me remember things... I'm hoping someone can insult me in a really shaming, cutting way to burn it into my soul...
Wow! Tough group! Really it is all about habit. You are just going to have to make it 2nd nature. I like the idea thatyou put it in it's case after playing rather than leaving it on a stand. I do this already because I have small children and I don't want them knocking my basses over on accident.
I actually have two active basses and I very rarely unplug them and for some reason they dont eat batteries as often as I thought.. but definitely a good practice to unplug..
So when you get this whole "unplug" thing figured out, don't forget to plug it back in when you're ready to play.
It's not hard, but it might take a little concentration.
It's not hard, but it might take a little concentration.
Well, I remember to unplug my Spector because if I do I only buy a new battery every six months. if I don't, I buy a new battery every three weeks.
The burnt hand teaches best.
The burnt hand teaches best.
i'll add one snarky comment: loop and tie the cable around your ankle before you plug in... when you put your bass back in the stand and walk a way you have a 50/50 chance of the cable yanking out when you walk away.
seriously... maybe move your stands across the room from where you plug into your amp maybe that will help. also a wall hanger... your more likely to notice or remember at eye level.
seriously... maybe move your stands across the room from where you plug into your amp maybe that will help. also a wall hanger... your more likely to notice or remember at eye level.
Or maybe i can pass the cable through the sleeves of my coat, like mum does to stop the kids losing their gloves? Ace idea!
Or maybe just a piece of velcro would be easier, around the cable and the wrist/ankle/neck/#@*- !!
Then again, I spent ages with my active leaving it plugged in on the stand, and now and again...DEAD!
So I bought a passive!!
