Elec. guitar question

[kroberts]

I'm new to electric guitars and have a question. I have a Peavey bass. It is eating batteries at an alarming rate. Is this thing supposed to kill a 9v battery in about 5 days?

TIA,

kroberts

[Emre]

I'm new to electric guitars and have a question. I have a Peavey bass. It is eating batteries at an alarming rate. Is this thing supposed to kill a 9v battery in about 5 days?

No way. The battery should last months. Are you leaving the bass plugged in? If so, that's your problem. When there's a cable in the jack, that switches on the power to the active pickups/on-board EQ. You've got to disconnect the cable when you're done playing.

BTW, I'm also a bass player. Been playing for at least 15 years now. Coolest instrument in the world IMNSHO. I've been working on fretless bass lately.

Emre

[kroberts]

AHAAA!!!

Thats the problem. Being a noob all the time really sucks.

Thanks Emre

kr

[Emre]

AHAAA!!!
Thats the problem.

lol. Yeah, that's how I felt when I first figured that out! It's the same for effects pedals and stuff BTW.

Emre

[Midnight Sun]

Well, since we are here.

Thoughts on active pickups. Never used them before.

[Emre]

Thoughts on active pickups. Never used them before.

I go back on forth on them. Some sound great (like the Bartolinis I've experienced on Pedullas) and many sound like crap (like the EMG's in my Steinberger). It all depends on how well the built-in EQ profile complements the acoustic characteristics of your bass.

After using active basses for many years, I've gone back to passive. With a very high-quality bass and a good amp, on-board EQ and active PU's don't add much. The EQ in a good amp (like my SWR RedHead combo, an Eden rig, an SVT Pro, etc.) is usually a million times more effective at shaping your tone than acive PU's.

Emre