Question about Active Eq

bogie1519

bogie1519

Feb 25, 2012
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Beaumont Tex
#1
Just bought my first Active Eq bass. Ibanez SR500. I figure the more you use the battery the more you will use. I figure it's a good idea to keep a spare. My question is what are the signs i should look for when a battery is starting to run down or go out. I know if you unplug the cable from the bass when not in use. it will last longer.

Any other advice would be helpful.....thanks
 
#2
bogie1519 said:
Just bought my first Active Eq bass. Ibanez SR500. I figure the more you use the battery the more you will use. I figure it's a good idea to keep a spare. My question is what are the signs i should look for when a battery is starting to run down or go out. I know if you unplug the cable from the bass when not in use. it will last longer.

Any other advice would be helpful.....thanks
Click to expand...

distortion is a key indicator

i use Alkaline batteries as there isnt so much of a linear slope as it discharges over time, so distortion will happen toward the end of the battery's life...... there are other types that hold full charge even longer than Alkalines but Alkalines are the most affordable and abundant for me
 
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#4
bogie1519 said:
I know if you unplug the cable from the bass when not in use. it will last longer.
Click to expand...

This is the biggest thing to keep in mind. I learned that the hard way with my first active bass (an Ibanez ATK 305).

As far as signs of the battery loosing power, my ATK would get subtly quieter and then start to make fuzz/distorted sounds, it was actually fairly pleasing but was also a sure sign the bass would die soon.

After replacing the battery on that bass several times I learned and have not had an issue since (this was around 1998). If you unplug your bass after playing you shouldn't need to replace the battery very often. I've got 6 active basses and only worry about changing batteries If my output seems lower then normal. Keep a spare in your gig bag, and you should be golden.
 
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#5
It'll sound like your amp is messed up. And it always takes you by surprise, so you don't figure it out right away.

But yeah, distortion. Not the overdrive kind.

Here's a tip: I always change out my batteries on New Year's Day and on Fourth of July. Doesn't cost much and they never fail. I could probably cut that down to once a year, but I play a lot and batteries are cheap so better to just do it every six months and never worry about failure.
 
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#6
catcauphonic said:
The low notes will start farting out
Click to expand...

Max Blasto said:
It'll sound like your amp is messed up. And it always takes you by surprise, so you don't figure it out right away.

But yeah, distortion. Not the overdrive kind.
Click to expand...

^^^ Exactly - the low end disappears, the volume fades, and it just sounds like crap ... & it happens fairly quickly - at least my SRs do. I change batteries 2-3 times a year, but if you're not sure - you can always do the taste test.
 
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#8
You will start thinking that maybe your bass needs new strings, new pups, new pots, new bridge, new nut, new neck, new body, new strap buttons
and the only thing that you won't think as a culprit will be the battery
 
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#9
Congrats! Those are nice instruments.
I had an SR900 and I would keep a spare battery in my case. Change the battery before any gigs or recordings. Or every six months as stated above. I never had a single issue. Just be sure to unplug when not in use. That's it.
 
#11
Max Blasto said:
Here's a tip: I always change out my batteries on New Year's Day and on Fourth of July. Doesn't cost much and they never fail. I could probably cut that down to once a year, but I play a lot and batteries are cheap so better to just do it every six months and never worry about failure.
Click to expand...

The days you change from daylight savings time to standard time work too.
Bass batteries as well as any in smoke detectors.
 
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#12
I rotate through a few basses and change the batteries right after New Years Day. I put the date on them with a Sharpie so I have a record of the change out.
Most new alkaline 9V are 9.3-9.6 V or so. The most taxed battery I have pulled was nearly 8V after 2 years of use, most are still around 8.8V and up after a year.
As mentioned above, the old batteries often go into the smoke and CO alarms in the house, if not in my pedal tuners.
 
#13
lz4005 said:
The days you change from daylight savings time to standard time work too.
Bass batteries as well as any in smoke detectors.
Click to expand...


Good tip! I suppose any obvious milestone day will work. :D

For me, the daylight savings thing would be tricky as I do half my work in Hawai'i which does not change time. Took me years to get that together when I moved to the mainland. I surely would forget the batteries as I usually forget to change my clocks.

I picked New Years Day and July 4th because there is zero chance I will be playing a gig or in the studio or even rehearsal on either day.
 
#17
I check mine occasionally, removing them and checking with a multimeter. Better to remove them and check rather than test out of the jack, or wait for failure, because a visual check can prevent damage from battery acid corrosion.
 
#20
My solid state metronome/practice amp uses a 9v battery and I like using an Energizer Ultimate Lithium. The cost is higher than for an alkaline battery but it does last longer and maintains a fairly flat voltage until the very end. When I get the low frequency distortion I know that the battery is going to die within a couple of hours.
 
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