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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Battery Usage Active Pick-ups Question
Posted by: Headbanger Jan 6 2014, 02:46 PM
My new Ibanez SR300 Bass has active pickups. It has a 9V battery as usual! Does anyone know if leaving the jack plug in the Bass all the time,even when not playing, will drain the battery? I had active basses before and I vaguely remember that being said. 
Posted by: dark_dude Jan 6 2014, 04:40 PM
I have active EMGs and the battery drains if I leave the guitar plugged in.
Posted by: korblitz Jan 6 2014, 04:41 PM
Yes, it will drain the battery.
Leaving the guitar plug in will close the circuit, thus making the battery drain. To test this theory: Use a multimeter and the end of the plug to see the 9 volt fluctuation.
Your cable acts like a switch to activate the active pickup wiring.
Posted by: Headbanger Jan 6 2014, 04:53 PM
Ok Thanks DD and Korb...I'll unplug in between sessions! 
Posted by: Darius Wave Jan 6 2014, 06:45 PM
Yes it will. If You unplug the chord everytime You stop playing You could have even up to years on the same battery. But the stereo jack input in the instrument works like a "on/off" switch for battery ground wire. It does connect via ground piece of cable's jack.
Posted by: Headbanger Jan 7 2014, 10:08 AM
Thanks Darius...Its interesting about the battery could last for years..I didn't know so little was consumed to give active pups their boost...I'll definitely unplug as there is no active/non active switch.
Posted by: Darius Wave Jan 7 2014, 04:06 PM
When I was playing on the guitar with 3 EMGs as a main instrument I remember it took it about 2 years until the battery was dead.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 7 2014, 10:06 PM
It can take a while to "die" but depending on the batt and use, it can "drain" much quicker and impact your tone IMHO. 
I usually try to use high quality batts and swap them out as soon as pinch harmonics start sounding less pinch every few months or so. Just like as in stomp boxes batts can fade depending on quality and use and suck out some tone. But again, your mileage may vary
Todd
Posted by: jstcrsn Jan 8 2014, 01:53 PM
no it wont drain the battery at all, I dont know who these guys are or what their experience level is
okay it will drain it, just hanvin fun
Posted by: thefireball Jan 8 2014, 04:28 PM
It was when I learned about the battery draining on my Jackson SLSMG with active EMGs that I made it a permanent habit to unplug all my guitars after playing.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Jan 9 2014, 02:03 AM
Yup Just like you gotta unplug stomp boxes unless they are on power supplies. And of course, PACK EXTRA BATTS FOR A GIG!! I can't tell ya how frustrating it is to hear your pickup starting to fade and not having a spare batt in your case.
Todd
Posted by: AK Rich Jan 9 2014, 05:38 AM
Just like you gotta unplug stomp boxes unless they are on power supplies. And of course, PACK EXTRA BATTS FOR A GIG!! I can't tell ya how frustrating it is to hear your pickup starting to fade and not having a spare batt in your case.Todd
You know ,I always wondered whether the tone or output degraded as the battery looses power ,or if they stopped working after a certain minimal level of charge. I always suspected the former.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 9 2014, 09:44 AM
It's a good thing I have built a healthy habit of unplugging my guitars after each session and placing them nicely at their spot in the stands Even though I don't have any guitar with active pickups
Posted by: miguelbatalha Jan 9 2014, 12:12 PM
i used EMG's and the batteries lasted a lot. I only use passive pickups now though
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