Question about pedal power and supply

[Al Kraft]

While I see some familiar names from the effects forum here, I wonder if the most common answer there would be more along the lines of "I have too many pedals to even consider batteries", or "Volto is the only battery option I'd consider".

 

[agedhorse]

While I see some familiar names from the effects forum here, I wonder if the most common answer there would be more along the lines of "I have too many pedals to even consider batteries", or "Volto is the only battery option I'd consider".

This is one reason why I did not ask this question over there. I'm more interested in the average player using a few pedals or a smaller pedal board. I can see once you get a number of pedals it becomes impractical (not to mention uneconomical) to use batteries.

 

[Das Jugghead]

This is one reason why I did not ask this question over there. I'm more interested in the average player using a few pedals or a smaller pedal board. I can see once you get a number of pedals it becomes impractical (not to mention uneconomical) to use batteries.

In light of the above I must disclose that I have the following pedals on my board and I do not use batteries:

Line 6 Wireless (Kind of not a pedal? No batteries)
Boss TU-3 Chomatic Tuner (9 Volt)
Decimator II (9 Volt) and possibly/probably leaving the board during the next rendition
Zoom B3n (No batteries)
MXR M81 Bass Preamp (9 Volt battery)

Even if all I ran was a tuner I would run it with a wall wart or a One Spot

I have not gigged out that much in the past two years (long story) but I jam nearly every weekend with one or more groups and I have a full time hard rock/prog rock band in full rehearsals. I just could not see using batteries or having to constantly check them/change them. I just do not want the potential headache.

 

[BurningSkies]

There have been a few discussions about pedals and pedalboards lately and it SEEMS as though most players aren't really using batteries anymore but instead are using either a stand alone power supply or a multi-output (and sometimes multi-voltage) power supply integrated into their pedalboard.

These days, how important is it that a pedal operate from a 9V battery (acknowledging that some simply can not) and is it worth paying more for a pedal that can support battery operation (even if it means <20 hours of battery life)?

As a follow-up, how many of you guys would suggest that the days of using 9V batteries is coming to an end?

I'm looking for comments from a player's perspective, one who uses amps and cabinets and not somebody who mostly uses them at home with their studio.

I'm sorry I'm late to this game. At this point, I'm not using batteries anyway. If I end up having a power-related failure, I'm defaulting to a spare 1-Spot. Nearly all the pedals on my board at this point have no option for a 9v. I don't want to de-mount any pedals to change batteries and have to-rewire things. We carry cases of 9v's on hand for IEM packs. but I even have that wired to my board instead.

How much gigging am I doing? About 100 shows a year, the largest this year being 4000+ the smallest being to about 100. Theaters, clubs, festivals. 3 of us have boards and they're in use regularly.

Here's what I'm working with:

 

[agedhorse]

Interesting and somewhat unexpected responses.

Follow-up question for those of you using the Subway PRE-DI, who uses a battery and who uses an outboard power supply of some type?

 

[BurningSkies]

*also, good effects design says that you don't need batteries for that 'low voltage' feel. The Frazz on my board has a Voltage control that rides between 4.5 and 9v. I run around 5.5. The Truetone CS12 has a few outs that have voltage control pots on them.

 

[maisbass]

Interesting and somewhat unexpected responses.

Follow-up question for those of you using the Subway PRE-DI, who uses a battery and who uses an outboard power supply of some type?

I use an outboard power supply for my Subway DI.

 

[BurningSkies]

Also, I couldn't figure out where to put the batteries in this effect:

 

[AdamR]

Not a ton of pedals but enough that I wouldn't want to buy batteries. Im running a Voodoo labs power supply.

 

[honeyiscool]

This is one reason why I did not ask this question over there. I'm more interested in the average player using a few pedals or a smaller pedal board. I can see once you get a number of pedals it becomes impractical (not to mention uneconomical) to use batteries.

I like that a Zoom multi-effects unit can often run of Precharged NiMH AA batteries, which are the only batteries I like to use these days because they last a while, are easily charged, and don't lose charge when not used for a while. I don't use active basses. I don't even like active acoustic-electric instruments. I'm actually selling my Taylor acoustic-electric guitar so I can buy the non-electric acoustic version of that guitar, and then I plan to install a passive pickup in it. I know I'm a bit extreme in how much I try to stay away from disposable batteries, but I wonder if we're not far away from a world in which, say, a digital effects unit could have a small lithium battery that charges when it is plugged into the wall (maybe w/ USB), and give some hours of use when not plugged in. That could be really popular for those tuner-only players.

I use batteries at my gigs. After all, I use my Shure wireless unit and have for years now. But that thing is lithium. It seemingly works forever. I've not been able to put down my Bose QC35 II headphones since I got them, and that battery seems to last forever, too. Plus, if I forget to charge any of these things, I just plug it into my USB charger and even the 25 minutes from my house to the gig gives me enough juice to not have to worry. It'd be really cool if a basic multieffects unit could have a built-in battery that could give 8-10 hours. I'd love it. I wish more gear were phantom powered, too. Mixing boards these days have more 48V capable channels than in the past, and that's a great way to get power to small processing units like preamps and active DIs.

 

[ThisBass]

Only by ear. If I can hear it, than it's unacceptable.

Some remaining AC ripple which overlaps a DC can introduce noise which is clearly audible. You may want look for a stabilized supply that can suppress ripple as well. That's not so difficult doing a choice if you are more impressed by quality numbers of the product rather then offered sales price numbers.

 

[mikeyjm2]

Follow-up question for those of you using the Subway PRE-DI, who uses a battery and who uses an outboard power supply of some type?

Outboard for me. Using a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I use a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS. It's nice to have the option for a 9v battery, just in case I want to add a pedal without messing around with an additional plug. I would hardly call it necessary to include support for a battery. If it does, I would like the battery compartment accessible with no tools required.

 

[_Some Dude]

I use a TU-3 with a battery in it.

I occasionally use a fuzz with a battery in it.

I carry a One Spot as a backup, but I rarely use it.

 

[fauxtoe]

Interesting and somewhat unexpected responses.

Follow-up question for those of you using the Subway PRE-DI, who uses a battery and who uses an outboard power supply of some type?

Outboard power supply for me. I've used the 9v battery option once for a few days, and that was only while I was waiting on my shipment for the power supply.

 

[walterw]

Also, I couldn't figure out where to put the batteries in this effect:
View attachment 3167631

why not? i bet you could fit four or five 9Vs on there under that lid

(anyway yeah, no batteries for me on any of my pedalboards, not in a long time)

 

[JimmyM]

Also, I couldn't figure out where to put the batteries in this effect:
View attachment 3167631

I loved those things! Got no desire to own one, but man were they cool!

 

[figuredbass]

I use two old Boss pedals, a TU-12 tuner, and a homemade mute switch in a Boss BCB-3 pedalboard. It's been so long since I've used batteries with the pedals that I've permanently shorted the ring and sleeve of the input jacks to leave them permanently turned on in order to eliminate potential problems (e.g. noise) from the input jack/plug (-) power connection.

 

[JimmyM]

I use two old Boss pedals, a TU-12 tuner, and a homemade mute switch in a Boss BCB-3 pedalboard. It's been so long since I've used batteries with the pedals that I've permanently shorted the ring and sleeve of the input jacks to leave them permanently turned on in order to eliminate potential problems (e.g. noise) from the input jack/plug (-) power connection.

Man, that's some serious OCD stuff

 

[BurningSkies]

I loved those things! Got no desire to own one, but man were they cool!

That's an original Japanese issue machine...if you look at the directions they're in Japanese. I bought it from a guy about 10 years ago, sent it to my tech for a good going through. We used it non stop for about 7 years before it stopped coming to all but the most important shows for us. We use a Fulltone nowadays, but it doesn't sound as good. It lives in a good climate controlled studio these days and is used on a pile of dubs.

The real secret is good tape and the 'right' tape. It's really picky with the weight of the medium and easy to ruin the heads with tape that's too rough. It likes a 'dry lubricated' tape...specifically this one: