How often do you...

[gibsonpenguin]

How often to you change the batteries for
active pickups? I have an Ibanez SR300 and it uses active pickups. It sounds good, but i dont want the batteries to die in the middle of a gig or anything...

 

[Rush-2112]

but i dont want the batteries to die in the middle of a gig or anything...

Always keep a spare 9V in your case, and you'll be fine.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Depends. It REALLY helps to have a passive switch on the bass (ala the Duncan preamps).

 

[wideload]

I don't play much anymore (just church twice a week), but whenever I change strings, I replace the battery (2-3 times yearly). I then use the old one for my in-ear receiver til it dies. ALWAYS have a sleeve of 9V in my toolbox!

 

[ezstep]

June and December, before all the Christmas gigs begin.

 

[CPplaysBASS]

I don't use active anymore, but when I did, there was a gradual volume drop over time as the battery got older before it completely went ... I changed mine maybe three times a year, using the bass in question maybe 8-10 hours a week.

Just always unplug the bass when you're not using it ... if the jack is plugged in, the bass is "on" even if the amp is off (turn the amp off first before unplugging).

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

How often to you change the batteries for
active pickups? I have an Ibanez SR300 and it uses active pickups. It sounds good, but i dont want the batteries to die in the middle of a gig or anything...

Just so you know, your bass has passive pickups. It's the on-board electronics that are active.

 

[sonic assassin]

you need to learn the feeling of a full battery against your tongue. from there you can gauge how full it is.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Nice

 

[baddarryl]

1.2 volts is the general failure rate for 1.5v batteries.

 

[Solarmist]

you need to learn the feeling of a full battery against your tongue. from there you can gauge how full it is.

Best way ^

I have two Ibanez SR's that I change the battery three times a year playing 3 to 5 hours a night - every night. They don't just abruptly stop - they fade.

 

[JTE]

Once a year. That's been my habit since I got my first StingRay around 1979. Only once did an active instrument fail on me on stage, and that was the one time I used a Neveready Energizer instead of a Duracell. I've currently got five active basses, and I've owned three others. StingRays (pre EB), Guild Pilots w/EMG, Duncan/Bailey pre-amp, three Laklands, and a DeArmond Ashbory.

Just change them on a day you'll remember. I use the day we jump ahead with Daylight Savings Time in the spring.

jte

 

[spade2you]

I've had some that last several years. I check about twice a year when I deal with the weather change. As long as you leave the basses unplugged, they should last a long time.

 

[Jeff K]

Every 6 months when the time changes. Easy to remember that way.

 

[groove pump]

If you happen to have one of those oh-so-handy little multimeters around, you can check the voltage of your battery now and then. If the battery gets weak to the point that your signal starts to audibly fizzle, you can check the voltage there so that you know how low your battery can run before needing a swap.

That's just a nice way to get good use out of your batteries and avoid pitching ones that are still useful. Our pals are right on though, in terms of always keeping at least one or two fresh spares handy for the gigs.

 

[themarshall]

2-3X a year, when I change strings or do seasonal set up adjustments. I also check/change the smoke detector batteries then since I'm thinking batteries.

 

[ggunn]

1.2 volts is the general failure rate for 1.5v batteries.

I don't know of any active instruments that use 1.5V batteries.

 

[stflbn]

Every 6-months in both of my active basses.

 

[JTE]

You can make a little probe to measure the voltage while the battery is still in the bass. Use a T/T/S 1/4" plug, and solder a wire to the ring and one to the sleeve. Plug in, and put your VOM on the two wires.

jte

 

[grr2]

I have an SR305 and I kinda waited too long and the battery went dead, and I hadn't changed it for a little over a year so I'm going to try to change mine out about once every 6 months now.