Battery Problem

[Soulfly666]

Hey guys/gals,

Here's the problem, my bass seems to drain batteries like there is no tomorrow, and it seems to do it even when it's not plugged in. In the span of about 2 weeks it has already gone through 2 brand new batteries, and when I do play it, it's usually unplugged. Does anyone know what could be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[bottlerocket]

All your cables were unplugged?

Weird...very weird.

Try turning your active EQ knobs to zero (so it's not cutting or boosting a frequency; it's totally flat) when you're done playing. That may be draining the battery, even though it shouldn't.

[Soulfly666]

All your cables were unplugged?

Weird...very weird.

Try turning your active EQ knobs to zero (so it's not cutting or boosting a frequency; it's totally flat) when you're done playing. That may be draining the battery, even though it shouldn't.

Yea, most of the time it's unplugged, and it's already eaten through 2 brand new batteries. :confused:

[HELLonWHEELS]

I haven't ever had this happen to me, but thinking about it logically the only way for the battery to be used is if there is a closed circut. I don't know if this a new thing or has happened ever since you got the bass. If its a new problem it seems as though the jack might be a problem if its happened ever since you got the bass then the wiring is screwed up so you should deffenatly check it out for any wires that are oviously miss placed.

[bottlerocket]

That's so weird. It shouldn't be doing that.

What kind of bass is it? Write an e-mail to the company's tech support.

Are you sure no other buttons are turned on or anything?

Maybe your input jack is messed up and has the active EQ turned on even when nothing's plugged in.

[Akira]

That's so weird. It shouldn't be doing that.

What kind of bass is it? Write an e-mail to the company's tech support.

Are you sure no other buttons are turned on or anything?

Maybe your input jack is messed up and has the active EQ turned on even when nothing's plugged in.

What's weird is that even then, that seems really fast to drain batteries.

[Soulfly666]

I haven't ever had this happen to me, but thinking about it logically the only way for the battery to be used is if there is a closed circut. I don't know if this a new thing or has happened ever since you got the bass. If its a new problem it seems as though the jack might be a problem if its happened ever since you got the bass then the wiring is screwed up so you should deffenatly check it out for any wires that are oviously miss placed.

It is indeed a new problem. I recently got my jack replaced, so now that you mention this, I might have to check it out.

What's weird is that even then, that seems really fast to drain batteries.

Could be that the pack of batteries I got were bad couple with what seems to be a poor jack replacement job.


Thanks guys, I'll check out the jack and see what's going down.

[bottlerocket]

What's weird is that even then, that seems really fast to drain batteries.

Yeah, you're right. I didn't consider that...

Like I said, e-mail the company and, if they have nothing to say, take it to the shop where you got the jack fixed and have him take a look.

[Akira]

If the jack was recently replaced I agree that it seems most likely that they messed up and it is always engaged.

[bottlerocket]

^^^

Maybe your input jack is messed up and has the active EQ turned on even when nothing's plugged in.

[Linkinbassist]

If you got your jack replaced, get the guys who did it to re-look at it. If i'm correct, an active bass works much like an effects pedal in that it needs a jack plugged into it to turn it on. The guys must have the input jack switched on permanently by a wiring fault or a dodgy part. Get it sussed, man, they should re-jig it for free...

[Linkinbassist]

two things:

1) What is the bass in question

and

2) Gav, when i hit 6,000 posts, can i make a thread about it? *Goes for the longshot*

[Soulfly666]

Yea, I will. Thanks guys. :thumb:

Edit: Bass is a Dean Edge Q4

[Akira]

^^^

I saw, I was just agreeing with you.

[bottlerocket]

two things:

1) What is the bass in question

and

2) Gav, when i hit 6,000 posts, can i make a thread about it? *Goes for the longshot*

Ehhh...

As long as you make it something else, too, that's OK. It can't JUST be about your postcount.

[Linkinbassist]

Ehhh...

As long as you make it something else, too, that's OK. It can't JUST be about your postcount.

Oh, now i have to think!!!

*Goes and ponders*

[EADG]

Could just be defective batteries


Were they from the same pack?

[Soulfly666]

Could just be defective batteries


Were they from the same pack?

Yea, they were.

[bottlerocket]

Were they Duracell or like...Walgreens-type batteries?

I find that Duracell, Energizer, and other name brand batteries last a HELL of a lot longer than generic store-brand batteries.

[Soulfly666]

Were they Duracell or like...Walgreens-type batteries?

I find that Duracell, Energizer, and other name brand batteries last a HELL of a lot longer than generic store-brand batteries.

They were Rayovac, which are somewhat generic, but they're still pretty good.

[EADG]

I only use Duracell in my bass


My last set lasted about 8 months.. and I changed them before they died.

[bottlerocket]

Yeah, Duracell is the way to go.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I only use Duracell in my bass


My last set lasted about 8 months.. and I changed them before they died.

The Duracell batteries I use last so long in my bass, and they are only replaced because I feel like replacing them, which is, usually, after six or so months.

[funkyhoney]

Duracell or Energizer, only use Alkaline batteries to, they'll last longer

[Sablate McNuff]

My friend works in a battery place, and he scored me a dozen of the store-brand 9-volts for only $5. These things actually last surprisingly long for what I was expecting.

And even if they were the sh**tiest on the market, $5 for 12 bad batteries is still way better than buying a 4-pack of Duracell.

[EADG]

My friend works in a battery place, and he scored me a dozen of the store-brand 9-volts for only $5. These things actually last surprisingly long for what I was expecting.

And even if they were the sh**tiest on the market, $5 for 12 bad batteries is still way better than buying a 4-pack of Duracell.


I can hear the difference in the batteries I use in my gear, like Eric Johnson.

[Rawb]

I've had this problem occur to me once in the past with my warwick.

It was truly weird. The old battery was acting up, I took it out and put a new one in, then for some reason after a gig, nothing. Dead. Just like that. Caput.

Good thing it hadn't happen again, otherwise I'd be all up in here bashing on MEC's...

[Soulfly666]

Thanks for you help guys/gals. I realized what was wrong. I was looking at some old pics of the wiring in my bass, and I realized that it was wired differently then before. Two of the wires were switched around, so I switched them, and it should hopefully work now. Get what you pay for I guess. :-\

Thanks again!

[Radiobass81]

Kirkland batteries are the best <3. Cheap and last a loooong time.

[Polyamarous]

This sounds like a fault, it may be a problem with the connections/battery clip and it's shorting out.

Although this does mean that the bass wouldn't actually work if I'm right.

I don't know!