Members mikelitzguitar Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I just got my first active guitar today, and was curious about the 9 volt in it. Are there any batteries that are specifically made to power active pickups? What happens when the battery dies/how can you tell? And will replacing a half used battery with a brand new battery improve the sound of the guitar? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pixelchemist Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 when the battery is low your guitar will sound like total sh*t and when its dead it will not make any sound at all or just a very faint sound... fortunately that takes a long time to happen and its kinda it either has juice or it doesnt is doesn't really fade slowly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EADGBE Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I like Eveready the best because I think they are the least likely to leak. And they last a longtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members schiz Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I just got my first active guitar today, and was curious about the 9 volt in it. Are there any batteries that are specifically made to power active pickups? What happens when the battery dies/how can you tell? And will replacing a half used battery with a brand new battery improve the sound of the guitar? Thanks! There are no specific batteries for active pickups, no. You will definitely know when the battery is dead, dont worry so much about it and just crank it! As another side note, Im not sure if it helps, or not, but I make damn sure my guitar is unplugged when Im not using it. I see it like a battery powered pedal, keep it unplugged when not in use to improve battery life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob411 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I like Eveready the best because I think they are the least likely to leak. And they last a longtime. I use Rayovac batteries. Not sure if they are better, or worse. Just hate Eveready's commercials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members schiz Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I say again, there is no specific battery for active pickups. Just dont be a fool and buy the Dollar Store batteries and expect them to live up to expectation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StompBoxLover Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Bill Lawrence says: Batteries belong in flashlights hehehe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EADGBE Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Yeah but Bill doesn't shred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I definitely wouldn't use heavy duty batteries. Alkaline only. Eveready are probably the best value unless you have a membership to Costco in which case, use their Kirklins. If you always remove the cable from the jack when you're not using the guitar, you should get about 2,000 hours of actual use out of a 9V so a 4 pack which costs like $11 at Walmart should last you a few years. It's a non-issue really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 It's overkill but when i had actives i changed the batteries whenever i did a string change, but most will say that thats too often but im nuts..I would say twice a year and you'll never have a problem!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members crowguitar Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 and remember... NO RECHARGEABLE batteries! they never get back to full charge and can make ur guitar sound like doo-doo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metalrulez Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Cool thread but i wanted more battery cork sniffing.... you know like.....pre-bunny energizers are better then the ones they make today. NOS rayovacs are the best blah blah!!! I am disappointed this is so civil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metalheadUK Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 I use whatever the most expensive Duracells are (Ultra?) and change 'em once a year...no probs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Cool thread but i wanted more battery cork sniffing.... you know like.....pre-bunny energizers are better then the ones they make today. NOS rayovacs are the best blah blah!!! I am disappointed this is so civil. Yeah but... but... Eric Johnson isn't a member here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikelitzguitar Posted March 9, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Thanks for all of you input! Just what I needed to know.... time to crank it and shred! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikelitzguitar Posted March 9, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Cool thread but i wanted more battery cork sniffing.... you know like.....pre-bunny energizers are better then the ones they make today. NOS rayovacs are the best blah blah!!! I am disappointed this is so civil. LOL agreed. Someone make a controversial argument about batteries!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RickBeall Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 No battery mods? Ha ha ha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikelitzguitar Posted March 9, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 No battery mods? Ha ha ha. AH! That reminds me of another thing I was curious about. What does modding your actives for 18volt instead of 9volt do? And how exactly do you do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mazi Bee Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 There's a little old lady at Duracell who's been hand charging batteries for 56 years. Abigail Garcia. She charged some of the best sounding batteries used with vintage EMGs that were used to make the most famous 80s metal, as well as 98% of what David Gilmour ever recorded. She now works in the Duracell Custom Shop and personally signs each battery she charges. These Custom Shop Batteries are expensive, but well worth it, if you want the ultimate tone from your active pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pjackson92 Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 There's a little old lady at Duracell who's been hand charging batteries for 56 years. Abigail Garcia. She charged some of the best sounding batteries used with vintage EMGs that were used to make the most famous 80s metal, as well as 98% of what David Gilmour ever recorded. She now works in the Duracell Custom Shop and personally signs each battery she charges. These Custom Shop Batteries are expensive, but well worth it, if you want the ultimate tone from your active pickups. +1:cop: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ending_zero Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Cool thread but i wanted more battery cork sniffing.... you know like.....pre-bunny energizers are better then the ones they make today. NOS rayovacs are the best blah blah!!! I am disappointed this is so civil. Cork sniffers don't use active pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bacardi/Cola Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 AH! That reminds me of another thing I was curious about. What does modding your actives for 18volt instead of 9volt do? And how exactly do you do it? 18V increases the headroom. To me, both clean and distortion sound better on my EX400. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the_gunslinger Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 18V increases the headroom. To me, both clean and distortion sound better on my EX400. YMMV. This. Also, I use Rayovacs because I can get an 8 pack for less than a dollar from work. Heres a diagram for the 18v mod. Really simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 AH! That reminds me of another thing I was curious about. What does modding your actives for 18volt instead of 9volt do? And how exactly do you do it? 18 volt adds headroom...so the mud in the low end (it's there-even if you can't hear it) is not making your sound murky. So...you get much more clarity but with all of the heavy tone from the actives. 18 volt mod 'how to': http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2052627 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlectrumPete Posted March 9, 2010 Members Share Posted March 9, 2010 Cork sniffers don't use active pickups. They do. But they use 2 batteries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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