The Pedulla Club!

[jmorbita]

That was kind of my take - albeit a bit less ranty. If Ernie Ball can put battery compartments in their basses, why not people like Pedulla, Fodora, F-bass, etc.? It would be ideal with both a batt comp & passive bypass. Working in elec/mech manufacturing, I know a batt comp costs ~$5. Add in some router time, which is negligible since you're already set up to router the electronics cavity - and you're done. Good car/gas gauge analogy, Tom7.

I think there's no battery compartment on the other basses because they don't look good, simple as that. I really think is a question of aesthetics, the plastic battery compartments don't really look too good. Boutique luthiers often have their control cavities in matching wood, so adding a plastic battery compartment would make no sense. Making a matching battery compartment must be a lot more difficult...
I've seen earlier pedullas with a passive/active switch, I've no idea why that was discontinued. I know i'd love to have it.

 

[UncleBalsamic]

Excuse me just invading this thread just to talk about thhe battery compartment issue.

What about magnetic covers like this?

 

[pondscum29]

Yeah, whether by bypass or a batt comp, you would think high-end bass mfrs would foresee customers' potential "oh $#!t" moment. But, hey, enough thread hijacking. Still love, love, love my Rapture!

 

[winston]

Note that the Bart pickups on the Thunderbass/Bolt are internally active (a la EMG)--they need battery power to run, as does the preamp. So a passive bypass switch is not an option--making easy battery access all the more important.

The Raptures OTOH have passive pickups, so wiring an active bypass + passive tone control should be pretty simple. Next time I have some work done on my Raptures I'm thinking of having my guy move the bass/treble controls to a stacked pot and add a passive tone control w/preamp bypass.

Not sure whether the MVP/Buzz pickups are passive or internally active. Anyone know?

 

[pondscum29]

I actually wired a small toggle switch on my Rapture to simply bypass the preamp (tone controls deactivate). I'd rather run it active, but this mode gets you by in a pinch until you can replace the battery.

 

[Michael Case]

Excuse me just invading this thread just to talk about thhe battery compartment issue.

What about magnetic covers like this?

It still looks like a battery compartment. Maybe making the control compartment magnetic would work.

Come on guys, if you're buying and playing big boy instruments you should be aware of the battery thing and take appropriate measures.
I've owned my Thunderbolt for 15 years and never had a battery problem. When I'm playing a lot I just change the battery every few months. If the battery has any juice I put it in my tuner or metronome. I've always unplugged my bass (even my passive ones) ever since seeing a friend trip over his cable and ripping out the input jack on his guitar and messing up the amp's input too. It's really simple, just pull the plug out of the hole. You could make it more complicated by rolling the cable up and putting it away.

 

[fivestringdan]

The lack of battery compartments in expensive basses is a deliberate and frustrating shortcut luthiers take, and it shows little respect for customers, especially customers who are willing to pay more to have better.

OMG, what's next? They may want you to tune the instrument yourself!

 

[pondscum29]

Well, the thread kinda morphed into a batt comp issue. Originally I just asked if the Thunderbolt had a passive bypass since it had no batt comp. It is what it is. Just requires a little more diligence by the owner for a kick a$$ bass. But it is a big leap to talk about a little convenience to asking them to tune the instrument. Let's keep it in perspective. It's not that big a deal. Everyone chill and put on some Jaco.

 

[Tom7]

... Come on guys, if you're buying and playing big boy instruments you should be aware of the battery thing and take appropriate measures.
I've owned my Thunderbolt for 15 years and never had a battery problem. When I'm playing a lot I just change the battery every few months. If the battery has any juice I put it in my tuner or metronome. I've always unplugged my bass (even my passive ones) ever since seeing a friend trip over his cable and ripping out the input jack on his guitar and messing up the amp's input too. It's really simple, just pull the plug out of the hole. You could make it more complicated by rolling the cable up and putting it away.

"Big boy" instruments, huh? Hmm... well seeing as we are all "big boys," maybe we can discuss this in a more mature and less condescending manner.

Of course those of us with boutique "big boy" basses are fully aware of the "battery thing" and we do "take appropriate measures," but that advice completely misses the point. The point is we shouldn't have to!

Battery compartments, visual aesthetics aside, are smart, which makes me wonder why anyone would put someone down for saying so...

Especially given that your former teacher, John Patitucci, obviously agrees, seeing as both models of his signature basses have battery compartments.

Not only do battery compartments make it easier to change batteries, but they protect the bass itself.

Again, wires have come loose on people while changing batteries, but also batteries are known to have leaked. In a compartment, the battery is isolated from doing the damage it could do when it is located in the control cavity.

Also, while I can appreciate that Salt Lake City and New York City have robust commerce and fast moving inventories, the whole world isn't that way. In Alaska (and I'm sure a lot of other places), I have many times bought batteries from a store that were mostly and unexpectedly spent. In other words, I've unwittingly replaced a dying battery with another dying battery.

Oops! Where's that screw driver again?

Luthiers aren't the only ones to blame for this though. If the market "demanded" battery compartments, "supply" would follow.

Maybe it's time we all started thinking more like Patitucci and took action on good ideas, rather than taking "appropriate measures" in their absence.

 

[Tom7]

Well, the thread kinda morphed into a batt comp issue. Originally I just asked if the Thunderbolt had a passive bypass since it had no batt comp. It is what it is. Just requires a little more diligence by the owner for a kick a$$ bass. But it is a big leap to talk about a little convenience to asking them to tune the instrument. Let's keep it in perspective. It's not that big a deal. Everyone chill and put on some Jaco.

As fate would have it, I'm listening to "Kuru / Speak Like a Child" right now!

By the way, I can appreciate that plastic battery compartments aren't all that lovely compared to wood, but there is more to it that that.

I have a Fodera Yin / Yang. Look at the back of this thing and tell me that the reason it doesn't have a battery compartment is because Fodera doesn't like the look of the compartment.


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[Tom7]

OMG, what's next? They may want you to tune the instrument yourself!

Apparently Dan is listening to Jaco's "Speak like a child" too!

Just differing opinions, Dan. No need to flame anyone.

 

[jmorbita]

"Big boy" instruments, huh? Hmm... well seeing as we are all "big boys," maybe we can discuss this in a more mature and less condescending manner.

Of course those of us with boutique "big boy" basses are fully aware of the "battery thing" and we do "take appropriate measures," but that advice completely misses the point. The point is we shouldn't have to!

Battery compartments, visual aesthetics aside, are smart, which makes me wonder why anyone would put someone down for saying so...

Especially given that your former teacher, John Patitucci, obviously agrees, seeing as both models of his signature basses have battery compartments.

Not only do battery compartments make it easier to change batteries, but they protect the bass itself.

Again, wires have come loose on people while changing batteries, but also batteries are known to have leaked. In a compartment, the battery is isolated from doing the damage it could do when it is located in the control cavity.

Also, while I can appreciate that Salt Lake City and New York City have robust commerce and fast moving inventories, the whole world isn't that way. In Alaska (and I'm sure a lot of other places), I have many times bought batteries from a store that were mostly and unexpectedly spent. In other words, I've unwittingly replaced a dying battery with another dying battery.

Oops! Where's that screw driver again?

Luthiers aren't the only ones to blame for this though. If the market "demanded" battery compartments, "supply" would follow.

Maybe it's time we all started thinking more like Patitucci and took action on good ideas, rather than taking "appropriate measures" in their absence.

I agree on the fact that batteries can be dead when you buy them, making it an issue to even have a bass be active...
I have also been scared of accidentally cutting a wire while changing the batteries...
But I've never seen a battery compartment I liked cosmetically, they turn me off and I wouldn't want to buy a bass with a plastic battery compartment. I'd rather have a screwdirver with me. Now, if there was a wooden battery compartment i'd think about it.
Sorry, I'm really really shallow and looks matter a lot to me!
No, seriously I have an mvp and i don't see where the battery compartment could go. Personally I love the bass design as is.
It is a bit of a drag having to change batteries, but if you change them every six months or so you can't go wrong.

By the way TOM7, you have a point about your Fodera... that's why around this club we like to stick to our pedullas!

 

[p0k]

By the way TOM7, you have a point about your Fodera... that's why around this club we like to stick to our pedullas!

that made me chuckle

 

[Tom7]

By the way TOM7, you have a point about your Fodera... that's why around this club we like to stick to our pedullas!

[Laughing!] Yeah, well, sorry to use the "F word" (Fodera) in this forum. Notice though, that I used VERY SMALL PHOTOS of the Fodera... just big enough to illustrate the point.

I've never seen a battery compartment I liked cosmetically, they turn me off and I wouldn't want to buy a bass with a plastic battery compartment. I'd rather have a screwdirver with me. Now, if there was a wooden battery compartment i'd think about it.
Sorry, I'm really really shallow and looks matter a lot to me!

[Laughing] Well stay away from my wife then! ;-)

No, seriously I have an mvp and i don't see where the battery compartment could go. Personally I love the bass design as is.
It is a bit of a drag having to change batteries, but if you change them every six months or so you can't go wrong.

I see what you mean and like you, I too drag around batteries and screw drivers and put up with it for my basses of unmentionable brands, since my Pedulla Rapture does have a battery compartment -- then again, with a pickguard, the plastic compartment doesn't look out of place on that model, you know?

Ideally, all basses would have an option to be played in either passive or active mode, and batteries would tuck under a tool free, aesthetically pleasing cover, perhaps under a metal plate on the edge of the bass next to where there already is metal (where the instrument cable plugs in).

Until then, I'll keep this feature on my wish list I guess.

 

[Russell Bergum]

I would LOVE to see the Rapture with an active/passive switch and a passive tone control. Could use a stacked knob for the tone control and the bypass, without adding the confusion of a second toggle switch.

 

[jmorbita]

then again, with a pickguard, the plastic compartment doesn't look out of place on that model, you know?

Ideally, all basses would have an option to be played in either passive or active mode, and batteries would tuck under a tool free, aesthetically pleasing cover, perhaps under a metal plate on the edge of the bass next to where there already is metal (where the instrument cable plugs in).

Until then, I'll keep this feature on my wish list I guess.

I agree on the fact that the battery compartment doesn't look out of place on the rapture!!!
your idea about the placement of the battery compartment might be a good one, you should check with a luthier!

 

[JensWest]

Here are some pics of my two old Pedulla basses I've got my hands on over here in Europe.

Pedulla MVP 5 Limited -91.

Bartolini is the shi... thing!

Pedulla Buzz 4 -88.

And a photo of them together.

I just love everything about these basses! The sound, the look, the playability.

Hi, by the way. I'm new here.
From Sweden.

 

[Tom7]

Here are some pics of my two old Pedulla basses I've got my hands on over here in Europe.

Pedulla MVP 5 Limited -91.

[snip!]

I just love everything about these basses! The sound, the look, the playability.

Hi, by the way. I'm new here.
From Sweden.

Welcome aboard!

BTW, I LOVE that fingerboard.

 

[JensWest]

Thank you!
It's great. Gives a little other tone then the eben I can imagine.
Never seen a nother MVP/Buzz with sutch board.
How many of these were made?

 

[Tom7]

Excuse me just invading this thread just to talk about thhe battery compartment issue.

What about magnetic covers like this?

Actually I like this, and I would like it even more if they tried to match the cover to the back of the bass.

To me, it doesn't look any worse than this:

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And honestly, I don't think this looks bad either.

I've wondered about the back anyway. I've heard some guys have plexi guards on the back, kind of like pick guards, to protect the back from buckle rash. I haven't gone that far yet, but I wonder if there isn't some untapped potential for some innovation on the back side of basses.