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What is the best 9v battery for active basses?
- Thread starter Plutonium244
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- 18v 9v active bass battery preamp
Yeah, I always use Energizer or Duracell 9vs, for anything that needs one.. I currently have a rechargable one (Energizer, I think) in my Alembic Epic, which is my only active bass. More of an experiment re the "Rechargable" part, than anything else, though...
If you can afford it, (non rechargeable) lithium batteries, they seem to run about $7 - $9 each. Otherwise, a quality alkaline battery from a well known manufacturer.
Two lithium batteries.
So would these qualify? And are you suggesting they last much longer?
http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Adv...1453425572&sr=8-5&keywords=lithium+9v+battery
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I use Rayovac alkaline 9v batteries in my active basses. I get the bulk pack at Home Depot so I have plenty of spares.
okcrum
in your chest
Seriously for an active bass??
The cheapest 9 volt battery I can find and a couple of spares. Generally last at least 6 months. Quick to replace and if gigging regularly replace every 3-4 months.
I have accidentally flattened too many expensive batteries by leaving a bass plugged in for 3 days to spend that much on them.
The cheapest 9 volt battery I can find and a couple of spares. Generally last at least 6 months. Quick to replace and if gigging regularly replace every 3-4 months.
I have accidentally flattened too many expensive batteries by leaving a bass plugged in for 3 days to spend that much on them.
I've had great luck with CVS and Kirkland brand. Energizer is a tricky one - they don't always fit in EBMM battery compartments.
Absolutely not! Rock Legend Animal Is Not Dead
Duracell Procell user here. They last for months in my active basses and tuner, are cheap enough to buy in bulk and keep their charge when stored for long periods.
I have a fresh box of 24 that just came today sitting beside me. Plenty for basses, pedals, smoke detectors and CO detectors, and forgetful guitarists...
You didn't specify cheapest or most readily available, so the answer is...
Overwhelmingly the best, longest-lasting, most reliable 9V battery would be the ones manufactured to power spacecraft. These days they are Lithium polymer fuel cells of various types. Because they're polymer you can have one hand-crafted to exactly fill the battery space in your bass. These things have so much capacity that a single fully charged battery would easily power your bass for your entire lifetime. I don't know what it would cost, but I'm confident it wouldn't be more than about $10,000.
I vote for non rechargeable lithium ... Afaik they are popular in medical & military applications (but that may have been marketing talk)...
They should be the longest lasting, but I would love to see a real world / controlled test.
They are slightly larger than traditional 9v batteries, more expensive, slightly lighter weight & have a different discharge curve (more conistent voltage, until they finally drop off sharply)...
They should be the longest lasting, but I would love to see a real world / controlled test.
They are slightly larger than traditional 9v batteries, more expensive, slightly lighter weight & have a different discharge curve (more conistent voltage, until they finally drop off sharply)...
OK, Ill venture a serious reply;
Alkaline - stays charged almost til the end of its life then has a sheer dropoff, so you get more sustained output charge throughout its life
Lithium is newer technology and probably even that much better, however I want a warning before it dies, I just dont want to be playing and "poof" its gone, so Ill take the "distortion warning" of alkaline
Alkaline - stays charged almost til the end of its life then has a sheer dropoff, so you get more sustained output charge throughout its life
Lithium is newer technology and probably even that much better, however I want a warning before it dies, I just dont want to be playing and "poof" its gone, so Ill take the "distortion warning" of alkaline
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I believe lithium batteries give 100% output right up until the point they die, then nothing. So they last longer and you get full performance but they die without any warning. In a bass it might be bettery to use an alkaline battery which you should start to notice it losing power a few hours before it goes all fuzzy then dies.
Btw, Amazon sells batteries with their name on it. I bought some recharable ones - the specs were good and the cost is lower bc they don't have to advertise at all.
Otherwise I buy either Duracell or Energizer - whichever is on sale. No preference.
There was some musician who claimed heavy duty batteries sounded best in pedals bc they had a more musical/warm quality to their output. I dunno - Danelectro was selling "vintage style" 9V batteries for a while with this claim. Now you can just get a power supply that has a setting for voltage and you can simulate a dying battery for hours without it actually dying. I think the OCD pedal might be designed to run at lower voltages to get a different sound out of the pedal. Just an aside.
Btw, Amazon sells batteries with their name on it. I bought some recharable ones - the specs were good and the cost is lower bc they don't have to advertise at all.
Otherwise I buy either Duracell or Energizer - whichever is on sale. No preference.
There was some musician who claimed heavy duty batteries sounded best in pedals bc they had a more musical/warm quality to their output. I dunno - Danelectro was selling "vintage style" 9V batteries for a while with this claim. Now you can just get a power supply that has a setting for voltage and you can simulate a dying battery for hours without it actually dying. I think the OCD pedal might be designed to run at lower voltages to get a different sound out of the pedal. Just an aside.
Energizer are the slimmest.
Yes, they do come in different sizes, but the difference is not really visible until you're cramming it into the controls cavity.
Yes, they do come in different sizes, but the difference is not really visible until you're cramming it into the controls cavity.
Whatever kind we've got a bunch of at work that day is the best...
I used to do sound in a concert hall. Used a new battery for one show, then into the used box - whether the mic was turned on or not. Took them from the used box for rehearsals, then discarded, whether the mic was turned on or not. Never had to buy 9v batteries, man I miss that gig.
I swear duracell sounds better than energizer, but I think it's probably all in my head...
