How long should a battery last?

[Jure Lopatic (jure_the_second)]

I have the original one installed for about 3 years. I didn't detect anything unusual about the sound. But anyway, what are the symptoms of a low battery status? How long do your batteries last?
 
Thanks

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

What is it in? It makes a difference as it will last longer in an Excel than a Series I or II. It also depends on how much you play.....

[John Stefancik (jet_powers)]

About two years ago I was a bit curious about this issue and I had to change the battery in my '85 Persuader. So I marked the date on the battery. This bass tends to be my parlor bass. That is, I rarely take it to gigs or rehearsals. It more or less stays in my living room and is a practice bass. Last Saturday I decided to take it out to a gig. The following night I brought it a to a rehearsal and about 10 minutes into it it began to sound like s**t. I took out the battery and learned it lasted a few weeks more than two years. I was grateful it didn't decide to go 24 hours earlier.....

[Jure Lopatic (jure_the_second)]

It's an Orion. I do have rehersals once or twice per week. My standard sound is without boosting or cutting bass or treble - original sound of the bass is really fine . That probably counts also. Does the bad sound start immediately or it decreases slowly?
 
Jure

[John Stefancik (jet_powers)]

In my case I notice the sound degradation in aboutt the space of one song. It goes pretty quickly. One minute it's OK the next it's gone.
 
John

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Hey Jure,
I've got an Orion too.  The only difference is that mine has a Q switch and filter, no bass and treble.  Just to be safe, I tend to change my battery at least every 6 months.  This may seem like a lot but it does give me some peace of mind.
Your sound will start to get distorted real quick, and then nothing like John said.  Plus, use a good quality alkaline battery too.  Duracell or Energizer.
Has anyone had any experience with lithium 9 volts?  Supposedly they last forever.
 
Peace,
Dino

[Paul Ellsworth (elzie)]

Dino, I think a lithium would be okay. I use Nickel-Metal Hydride recharchables in mine and have had no problems at all.
 
 
Paul (TGO)

[Jure Lopatic (jure_the_second)]

Thanks guys. It seems that I should have a battery ready just in case...
 
See you around
 
Jure

[John Stefancik (jet_powers)]

Always a good idea to have a spare battery around!
 
I remember about 10-12 years ago one of the band members scored a half dozen NiCad batteries from work. Nobody had to buy batteries for about five years. Except one guitar player whose wireless transmitter refused to work with anything but an alkaline....
 
Jet

[Jazzy Vee (jazzyvee)]

I do remember reading on one of the forum's that Mica expressed the view that batteries are supposed to last about 40 hours of playing and that battery longevity is a sacrificed for the needs of sound quality.
 
 I have had my Alembic for 6 months and changed the battery last week as a matter of course rather than because it was low.  
 
I've had active basses before and I generally change batteries every 6 months.
(There is still enough juice left in the old one to power your bedside clock for about a year... and it's a small price to pay for maintaining a consistently high quality sound. )
 
But then I gig maybe 2 or 3 times per month. Always carry a couple of spares and if you have a major gig, change batteries it before your last rehearsal not on the day.
(I have bought brand new alkaline batteries that have been completely flat ....!!!)
 

[mica]

Series I and Series II instruments have the fairly short 40 hour vattery life. Most of the other models should only need to have the battery replaced once or twice a year. The exceptions are early Distillates and Spoilers that still have the original ICs - these tended to need replacing every 2-3 months. We have low-drain ICs for these models available to bring them up to the current 6-12 month battery life cycle.

[bigredbass]

I've used the lithium 9v's and they are teriffic in my 91 SPOILER. They REALLY last.
 
BUT . . . they are typically around 7 or 8 bucks each.  At the same time, I can get Panasonic alkalines at the local blowout store for a dollar each and I can change them as often as I like, so I guess it just depends what you want to do.
 
J o e y