Batteries on SC short scale deluxe

[BazzMomma]

I've fixed the issue, so this might not be the right place for this question. If so, apologies.

Question: Am I right that the 4x9v batteries in one compartment run the LEDs, and the single 9v in the other compartment runs the bass electronics??

Here's why the question: My SC short scale deluxe started buzzing this afternoon - the low battery kind of buzz. I changed the batch of four in the large compartment, same problem. Then changed the single battery. Fixed. So I'm guessing that it's the single battery that runs the electronics, the flip of what I'd originally thought.
(Yeah, should have started with switching out the single, although better to change all at once, I think.)

In any case, all's well, and it's a joy to play!

[hammer]

You are correct in your assessment. It’s kind of counterintuitive given the electronics that go into these instruments but they run on that single battery.

[jazzyvee]

The good thing is that, in an emergency you can use one of the led batteries to power your bass. Something i have only done once.phew 👍🏾

[BazzMomma]

Cunning!!

[hammer]

Creative Jazzyvee. I don't think I would have thought of that in a crisis situation.  On the other hand, you can just change the batteries every 6-months or so. As several have indicated on this board, when the battery goes, it goes and goes quickly. Having extra batteries and a small Phillips head screwdriver with you on all gigs is one way to deal with it. However, using a 6-month change over schedule I've yet to have one die on me. And to get the max use out of the batteries, I've used them after change-over in my frother for making cappuccinos and they last another month or two.

[jazzyvee]

Yeah, as I say it only happened the once. I usually change my batteries way before I hear any fading in the sound but on that one occasion I had just picked the bass up in it's flight case as we were using a different van and the bass was going in the back with the gear. In my haste I did not pick up the accessories including my battery and tuner from my usual padded gig bag so when I got to the hotel and in my room warming up I realised the battery was sounding a bit low. I am a firm user or the tongue battery test and thankfully there was a lot of charge in the led batteries and I used one for the gig. I generally change them more regularly than 6 months especially if I've been using it at home for practice. The LED batteries are now rechargeables though they don't last that long.

[BeenDown139]

<adding my $0.02 USD FWIW YMMV>

i've noticed when the LED batteries on my MK deluxe bass die, it's short and spectacular as in i'll notice they'll start dimming and 10 seconds later they're gone.  the first time it happened, it freaked me out.

i have a FretFX LED tape on the neck of my fretless bass.  i've been a little hot an cold on it, it's a little klunky, but  it was a helluva lot cheaper than getting LEDs put in and overall it works pretty well.  i put it on over a year ago.  It uses a coin cell and i think i'm still on the original battery.  I play in the dark a lot with just the bass neck lit up.  There's been a gradual dimming of the LEDs but that friggin' watch battery will just. not. die.

[jazzyvee]

I have those on all my alembics that don't have them as standard and yeah those watch batteries last for ages. On my Europa I have one of the older versions with a two AA or AAA batteries in the holder behind the head stock and that has lasted since around 2007 not the original batteries though. I think they work really well and there is a small adaption to the extra neck width with them fitted if like me, you sometimes need to use your thumb to fret notes or mute strings when playing.

[BeenDown139]

I think they work really well and there is a small adaption to the extra neck width with them fitted if like me, you sometimes need to use your thumb to fret notes or mute strings when playing.

the tape is very thin, but i can definitely feel it on the top of the neck.  it took a little while to filter it out and so i really don't notice it any more. 

that guy really had a brilliant (sorry about the pun) idea with that, but it could really be improved a little IMHO.  i thought about putting in a dropping resistor so that they're not so bright (i really only need enough light out of it to know where my fingers are when i glance down at it).  but once the battery droops enough it's not really an issue.  something opaque around the sides of the LEDS so that the light doesn't bleed sideways would be nice.  a purple and red colour option would be pretty cool.  but for the money, it's hard to beat for a retro fit.

lit up side by side with the MK

[hammer]

What model PJB do you have hidden behind the Ampeg?

[goran]

What model PJB do you have hidden behind the Ampeg?

I think that's PJB BG-75 Double Four Combo, nerd inside is telling me that

[BeenDown139]

What model PJB do you have hidden behind the Ampeg

PJB BG-75 Double Four Combo, nerd inside is telling me that

well indeedy it is.  i was looking for a lunchbox-sized amp that i could take out on the patio to practice with or if i needed to go over to an ex-band-mate's house for a semi-acoustic jam.  i tried out about 5 different PJ amps at GC with my elan before i settled on this one.  it's actually got some pretty impressive b@lls for a little amp its size.  now, since we're living in the days of covid and i don't go out and about or socialize for fear of catching the plague, it sits on top of my 15"-driver ampeg.  i drive both amps with the inputs in parallel thru a y-cable directly outta the bass.  i turn the bass down, the mids up on the PJB and basically use it for a mid-range driver.    the ampeg doesn't have much top-end but will rattle the house on the bottom end.  so they complement each other very well.  it really brings the growl out of the fretless and the MK just sounds outstanding thru it.  i call it my high-definition rig. it points right at my head - there's no hiding bad notes or crappy intonation with this setup.

since i live in a small townhouse with a neighbor on my east wall, this works very well.  i can practice at a level where i can hear and feel my instrument without bothering my neighbors.  i haven't gigged this rig, but i bet it would be the friggin' bomb in a small room.

<edit>
were i to embark on an ill-advised 8-string bass adventure, i think this rig would work very well in that context.  i'm just sayin...