Battery Issue?

[Pete si]

Today when I went down to practice I plugged in my Epic and….nothing! So I started my troubleshooting routine. Checked my wireless devices..fine. I swapped out the wireless devices for a cable…nothing. Maybe, I thought a connection came loose so I opened the hatch and everything looked good. Checked the input jack..ok there. The last thing I looked at was the battery. I always write the date on them when I change them. The batter failed exactly three months to the day. I put a new one in and voila! Back to life it came. I tested the battery and it was trash. I thought as the battery dies the sound degrades. I never had the bass completely die due to a dead battery. Could something else be wrong?

[garyhead]

Is your “wireless device” plugged in all the time?  As mentioned in other threads….anytime the 1/4” jack has something plugged in the electronics are “on”.

[pauldo]

With my Distillate the battery death is noticed for a VERY brief moment prior to complete silence.  There is maybe a 5 minute window where the sound starts to change before there is silence.  The sound is similar to an overdrive but with some really awesome harmonic undertones - very pleasing.... for 5 minutes.

[StephenR]

Pete, if you didn't leave the plug in the jack when not playing the bass then I think you just got a bad battery, it happens.

My Distillate with an LED never lasted five minutes when the battery started to go, closer to 30 seconds. This happened to me on a gig exactly once, I never let it happen again but hated tossing batteries prematurely. Not only because of the cost but the toxicity.

On a related battery note... I was using the remote control to turn up my stereo two nights ago and thought the remote was shot since the volume would not stop increasing and quickly shot up all the way... really freaking loud. I put new batteries in the remote and now it works as intended but this is the first time that happened in the 15 years I have had the amp. All this battery talk makes me even more appreciative of having a plug-in power supply for my Series basses.

[jazzyvee]

If i lived close to alembic i would consider having my non series basses converted to utilise DS-5 power, if it was cost effective.

[matbard]

If i lived close to alembic i would consider having my non series basses converted to utilise DS-5 power, if it was cost effective.

Is it feasible?

I'm close to pulling the plug for a Signature 5 string, then considering upgrading it to Anniversary electronics. What scares me is the battery drain

[jon_jackson]

When my Dragon Wing with Anniversary electronics was built, I asked Mica if they could wire it so I could use the DS-5 or regular 1/4" with batteries. They were able to do so, although it was a custom build.
Jon

[jazzyvee]

If i lived close to alembic i would consider having my non series basses converted to utilise DS-5 power, if it was cost effective.

Is it feasible?

I'm close to pulling the plug for a Signature 5 string, then considering upgrading it to Anniversary electronics. What scares me is the battery drain

I have had my 5 string europa converted to anniversary electronics. It originally had signature electronics with a mute switch and led switch.  A few years back i got parts to convert the q switches from 2 to 3 position.  then recently got some new looms from alembic to complete the job.Now  I just need to drill a hole for the pickup selector switch.  it's a great setup.
As for the battery drain, i have not noticed any difference but i do check them every few gigs and change them if the tongue test does not sting.

[xlrogue6]

If i lived close to alembic i would consider having my non series basses converted to utilise DS-5 power, if it was cost effective.

Is it feasible?

I'm close to pulling the plug for a Signature 5 string, then considering upgrading it to Anniversary electronics. What scares me is the battery drain

i do check them every few gigs and change them if the tongue test does not sting.

You know, a digital VOM (volt ohm meter) can be had very cheap these days and will provide more accurate battery data than your tongue (no slight to your tongue intended). Leave the battery connected and put a plug in the jack when testing so you're testing the battery under load. I replace mine as soon as they drop much under 9V.

[keith_h]

My experience with battery powered Alembics is there is no real warning while playing as other basses tend to do. For me they go from a nice sweet sound through a baying of the hounds of hell to dead in a matter of seconds. 

As to the length of a battery's life I get six months to a year, closer to a year, depending upon much I play them. I don't know about Epics but some of the older Spoilers and Distillates had chips with higher power requirements and they lasted less than 6 months.   

[Pete si]

With my Distillate the battery death is noticed for a VERY brief moment prior to complete silence.  There is maybe a 5 minute window where the sound starts to change before there is silence.  The sound is similar to an overdrive but with some really awesome harmonic undertones - very pleasing.... for 5 minutes.

I know that sound and I agree it’s desirable. I’ve tried to duplicate it with a pedal with no luck. Maybe with one of those tech21 devises you could get close. But I’m glad that there’s nothing wrong with my bass-just the battery.

[JimmyJ]

In the same way that Eddie Van Halen used to lower the AC voltage powering his guitar amps with a variac, I'd think we could come up with the exact DC voltage that sends our preamps into that nasty yet hi-fi distorto sound.  The 5534 opamps (in the Series instruments) have a wide operating voltage range, like +/-3V to +/-20V.  Not sure about the front end FET though - and that maybe be what makes the great crunch.  I also don't know if running our preamp boards like that would cause any harm to the components, but I'd think it could be done.  (Don't let Ron read this!) 

Jimmy J

[hammer]

That distortion, while sweet, is very short lived. I have two Signatures, a Europa, and several Series basses. The batteries in the non Series basses last 9-12 months with pretty much daily use. The LED batteries typically go long before the preamp ones. It’s not that difficult to date when you replace the batteries and keep the notes in your case. As far as Series basses go, just use the DS5 and you’ll never have to worry.

[Mlazarus]

My 80's Distillate would give me a 'distortion warning' before the battery dies. I learned my 82' series 1 does not give warning, so i have to mentally record to times i played with the battery.

[Pete si]

Is your “wireless device” plugged in all the time?  As mentioned in other threads….anytime the 1/4” jack has something plugged in the electronics are “on”.

I got these new wireless devices and they stick straight out. They come from a company called BrianFay Wireless. They make an adapter so you don’t have to plug them directly into the bass. I had been leaving the adapter plugged in all the time. Stupid is as stupid does.