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Powering active pickups

EvilLandshark

EvilLandshark

Guest
Apr 3, 2013
29
1
35
Kamloops
#1
I would like to apologize in advance if this sounds stupid or is posted in the wrong place.

I picked up a one spot power supply for my pedal board the other day. It came with a 9v battery clip adapter which got me thinking. Could I hypothetically run a one spot with said 9v adapter to the battery clip on my active bass? Is there any reason it wouldn't work? Or any potential problems with running it for an extended period of time?
 
#2
All you need to do is short your battery snap, and use a stereo cable, with the power going in on the ring terminal.

There are two potential concerns. Firstly, it would be wise to be sure that your power supply has short circuit protection, so that there will not be any damage as the cable slides into the jack on the bass. Second, you will want to be sure that you have clean power that is free of ripple and other hum/noise-causing artifacts. If the power supply is clean enough for a pedal power supply, it should be clean enough for a preamp, but if there is any trouble, you could add a few capacitors for filtering.
 
#3
You know, maybe I'm crazy, but when I'm playing bass or guitar, I don't want a cable hooked up directly to an AC line, even if it's a 9v power supply. Recipe for electrocution. And the lack of electrocution potential of active basses is one of their most attractive features that you'd be defeating. And even if I'm just paranoid, it's one more cable hanging out of your bass that you don't need and will have to adapt your bass to, and one more thing that can come unplugged or break during a gig, and once that happens, your bass is dead.

Bad plan. Just don't.
 
#4
Ok thanks Jimmy. I didn't really want to have to make any modifications. I just saw the battery clip and thought it might be possible to just plug it in and go.

I'm still new to bass playing, even newer to active electronics, and very very new to electronic modifications.
 
#5
JimmyM said:
You know, maybe I'm crazy, but when I'm playing bass or guitar, I don't want a cable hooked up directly to an AC line, even if it's a 9v power supply. Recipe for electrocution. And the lack of electrocution potential of active basses is one of their most attractive features that you'd be defeating. And even if I'm just paranoid, it's one more cable hanging out of your bass that you don't need and will have to adapt your bass to, and one more thing that can come unplugged or break during a gig, and once that happens, your bass is dead.

Bad plan. Just don't.
Click to expand...

This is really nonsensical. You are not exposed to anything that could cause electrocution. There is absolutely no increase in risk.

External power supplies for basses are catching on now, and several companies offer power supply boxes. Personally, I think it is silly, because 9V batteries are the perfect power supply for preamps, and you only add hassle and the potential for something to fail, when you use an external power supply. Nonetheless, it is safe to do so.
 

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