Batteries and Series 2

[mica]

If anyone is using the Procell batteries, I've been encountering LOTS of reports from customers about their extremely short battery life compared to Duracell alkaline batteries. Apparently the Procell batteries have a long shelf life and will test with a higher voltage longer than other batteries, but then fade off really fast. At least that's what I hear.

[jazzyvee]

Yep Mica, that is my experience with them but only after buying a box of 20 less than 6 months ago. Once the stock has finished, which won't be too long,  I will be back to Duracell or Energiser.
 
Jazzyvee

[mario_farufyno]

Great tip, I saw those Procell in one new shop near home (they are not regularly sold around here) and was thinking to buy one for next battery change instead of the usual Duracell. You've spared me some dimes, thanks.

[andy3hal]

On a slightly different idea?..sorry if this might be covered somewhere else.
 
My Alembic has the anniversary electronics, anybody retro fitted a mini xlr socket
and hooked it up to a DS5 or similar external power supply, would involve drilling the body to fit one, sacrilege or practical solution to replacing the batteries every two weeks ?
 
So, a series bass with batteries fitted and connected to a DS5, are there blocking diodes installed in the series wiring to prevent damage to the batteries or the batteries sinking the power ?
 
If rechargeable batteries are installed, does the DS5 have sufficient power to charge or float charge the batteries, and power the electronics ?
 
Sorry if this sound a bit stupid, but thought would ask.
 
My Alembic with anniversary electronics, fitted with two non rechargeble Duracell batteries, practice every night for 1 hour ( 7days ) then gigged at weekend for 3 hours ( 2 nights) batteries are lasting, or should I say bass still sounding great, batteries last 14 days, looking for practical solution to not having to replace the batteries every two weeks.

[jon_jackson]

My Dragon Wing has anniversary electronics with a 5-pin connector (installed as part of the build at the shop) which I use with a DS-5. I did not retrofit it nor try to use with rechargeable batteries so don't know if your idea will work.
Jon

[JimmyJ]

Andrew,
 
I'm not sure how Anniversary electronics with a 5-pin connector would differ from Series electronics  - but with Series the 1/4 jack has a switch which interrupts power from the 5-pin and switches to battery power.  (Don't ever do that with the amp on!)  The batteries never see the power from the power supply so they are not able to be charged in the normal system.
 
Of course Alembic can do any mod you can dream up ... so how about a bass hanger high up on one wall which is wired so that when you hang the bass there overnight it trickle charges the internal NiMH batteries?  Kind of like a cell phone dock!  In the time it took to read this Mica probably envisioned 3 slick ways of doing it.  Ha!
 
Jimmy J

[terryc]

Just get the best rechargables you can afford and use them.
I use a wireless system 'cos I was sick of tripping over cables, 9V 250mAH batteries on a charger before the gig and you are sorted.

[andy3hal]

Have been using the Energiser batteries, but just ordered the Duracell rechargeables, will see how they compare, also I am using the G50 wireless system, I too got fed up with cables, will still have a think though how to recharge the batteries without removing cavity plates and the internal foam packing that holds the batteries in place

[charles_holmes]

How does the wireless system work for a series which is stereo?

[keith_h]

Charles,  
The 1/4 is mono or switchable on most newer basses. If you had an older model with a stereo 1/4 you would need to rewire to mono.  
 
Keith

[FC Bass]

I'm pretty sure Jason Newsted used two beltpacks with his Series II basses.
He had a battery pack with two outputs (if I'm not mistaken, made by Alembic) which connected to the 5 pin out.
Partially shown in this picture:
 

 
Andy: I tried Duracell rechargeables in the TBP12 yesterday, didn't work...  
The transmitter kept shutting on/off, also I had to use a screwdriver to pull one of them out :-(
 
I was in a hurry, it might work if you pull the plastic wrapping from the battery (better fit and the on/off problem could be a contact problem)
My Duracells are: 1,2V, 2650mAh

[smuprof]

Here's a real time update:  20 hours in a Series II.  Thursday rehearsals for an hour, then Sunday morning for an hour x 10 weeks.  How do I know?  I got within 3 minutes of finishing the last song today.  Interesting - no noticeable distortion (which I've seen in my Signature basses) - literally a fade out over about 30 seconds while playing, then nothing.  
 
Good to know.

[terryc]

Look I know there are a lot of purists here but do you think the audience would know if you were in stereo??. As long as there is a great bass sound with clearness that is good enough for me.

[sonicus]

From my perspective the advantage of being in Stereo is not to build a Stereo Panorama but to be able to have absolute separation from the bridge PU and the neck pickup PU for that what ever signal processing such as an SF-2 or what ever else is desired at the time. I have found that sometimes various process's can be more interesting and /or effective from different pickup angles. For an example I like to boost the low midrange of the bridge pickup on a Series I/II Bass to get that edgy growl. AN SF-2 is quite effective at supplying that .  
   
 There are many other effectors in the signal chain that would apply ,___such as compression and limiting . Also flanging and phasing and what ever other signal process's that might sound different from various pickup angles. Just like moving a microphone around in different angles in front of a guitar cabinet or for that matter in microphone placement in a Grand Piano !  I find this comparison to be quite relative .

[mario_farufyno]

* double post *
 
(Message edited by mario farufyno on June 03, 2013)