Screw on battery covers-- are quick load battery doors better?

I'm surprised the Ibanez still had a screw cover. I thought Ibanez only used popup at this point.

 

All my Carvins have had the pop-up cover. Only bass I ever owned with screws was my old G&L. I, too, prefer the pop-up type

 

Whatever your preference, here's what you can bank on: a screw on cover will never fail or break. A pop-up cover wears over time and may break, or may simply suffer breakage because your bass suffered a mishap while the door was swung open.

 

Yes, they are better. The screw-off covers have the battery with that annoying snap on thingy that really sucks.

 

My Martin BC-15E has a pop-up, my Modulus Q4 has a screw cover. Pop-up is more convenient.

 

I had been unscrewing the control cavity on my older bass for years, in fact, it is missing a screw

I was VERY pleasantly surprised that a new bass I bought had the pop-up. I felt like I had entered the 21st century at last . It seems to me that the pop-up is a great idea, and only "dinosaur" basses don't have them!!

 

I have to open the control cavity to change batteries in my Tobias Growler. I do this about once a year and it doesn't bother me at all. It's easier than changing out the 9v batteries in the smoke detectors.

 

Pop up is more convenient, screw on is probably more durable. Given how rarely I need to change batteries I prefer the screw on cover (which is what all but one of my basses have).

 

Prefer? Probably not.
But considering I’ve probably unscrewed my EBMM battery covers maybe 10 times since the ‘80’s I’m picking my battles elsewhere. Tabs are easier.

 

I prefer passive basses...

 

The compartment is much better. It's quicker to change
and safer than handling the flimsy battery connector that is
prone to breaking if not handled properly.

 

I have bunch of basses and many are active. I take the batteries out of the ones I think are going to sit for a while. The pop covers are definitely more practical in this regard. They allow me to safely store a bass without much fuss and they also allow me to grab same bass and have it ready to play in 10 seconds with a quick battery install. Pop covers all the way for me and with few exceptions I won't buy an active bass without.

 

I prefer screw covers that Fender has used with an oversized screw that you can open with a dime or penny.

 

I prefer the quick load, but here's a tip - If it's that inconvenient, you don't need all 5 screws to hold that little piece of plastic on.

 

My favorite battery cover solution comes on Dingwall basses.

Magnetic, with finger holes, super slick. Quality battery connectors in an accurately sized compartment.

Least favorite is the usual four or five tiny, soft metal, wood screws into wood, revealing a cheap, flimsy battery connector. I’m looking at you, Peavey.

I haven’t used any of the flip door type yet. They look nice, but do they hold?

 

I have 3 active basses - two Squier VM Jaguars (P/J with Audere 4-band preamp and a HB, stock) with rear-mounted battery boxes, and an Ibanez 500FL with the battery mounted in the control cavity. The Ibanez has four or five tiny screws securing the control plate - a total PITA, especially as I get older. I’ll change the battery for a fresh one before a gig, and rotate the battery to one of the Squiers if I need to play fretless.

I hate PITA designs like that, although I understand the cost savings.

 

That's what I did to my MTD Kingston, 4 neo magnets and drilled a hole in the cover. No tools necessary to carry around now.