Batteries on active EMGs? How often to change them? No battery box.

[AprioriMark]

Ok, so.  I've had this Warmoth-necked strat for about 12 years and it has the Vince Gill EMG pre-wired pickguard setup with the SPC presence control rather than two tone knobs.  I've changed the battery three times ever, and when I was recently changing the strings and cleaning it up, I decided to check the battery (it's been at least two years).  It seemed fully charged still.  This sorta confused me, because while I don't play it often, I do play it. 

How often should I be replacing the battery?  What are the warning signs for pewpy tone?  Stuff like that~

-Mark

 

[Mapleg4]

I try to rembemer to change the batteries in my G4 every year as a precaution.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I had EMGs in a Strat that lasted for 3 years with the same battery.  It didn't get played often, and was never left plugged in.  When I changed it, it wasn't because it needed it, but rather it had been in there for three years.

When a battery starts to fade with EMGs, it will sound staticy and the volume will surge and fall like a phaser or flanger effect.

On the EMG site they have a suggestion for shelf life of batteries.  Page 4 of the link below.
http://www.emginc.com/pdfs/faq/EMG-FAQ-Battery-Questions.pdf

 

[AndyG]

I've got a cheap Spector bass with EMG's.  Even with a lot of playing, I only need to change the batteries about once a year.  Mind you, the EMG's are passive, and it is only the preamp that is being powered.

And, agreed on the point above, that the sound becomes "fuzzy", almost distorted when the battery is dying.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Change batteries??? LOL. I can't remember the last time I changed them. I've been two plus years on my Les Paul playing it regularly and it still sounds fine. If I had a lot shows coming up in multiples a week I might change out an older one as a precaution. Otherwise they seem to last almost for ever. Just don't leave it plugged in when you're not playing.

 

[AprioriMark]

Thanks for that link, STDC, and everyone for commenting so quickly.

Change batteries??? LOL. I can't remember the last time I changed them. I've been two plus years on my Les Paul playing it regularly and it still sounds fine. If I had a lot shows coming up in multiples a week I might change out an older one as a precaution. Otherwise they seem to last almost for ever. Just don't leave it plugged in when you're not playing.

That's been my experience with the Strat, and I was a little worried about my Les Paul with the EMGs, since I'm playing it a lot.

-Mark

 

[rapfohl09]

If it doesnt get played alot, the emgs only draw on the battery if something is plugged into the input jack. So actually, the less its play, the longer they will last. Well in more ways then one, I just realized how stupid that sounds  :laughing7:

 

[Soylent]

My batteries on my Gilmour set finally gave up the ghosts.. it's been at least 3 years.

 

[line6man]

You have to remember that you are drawing very little current to power them, a couple of milliamps tops.
The batteries should last you a very long time under normal playing conditions.

When I was telling my luthier about my 27V preamp setup, he was wondering if maybe I was concerned about battery life, so he told me that he had actually had a few clients come in with a dead bass and all he had to do was put in a new battery. They had been playing the instrument for a couple of years and never even knew it had a battery in it until the bass had suddenly died...

 

[elgravos]

used to have an ESP with dual EMG 81s.  Changed the batteries at least three times a year.  I wasn't leaving it plugged in or anything like that but they would die on me pretty regularly.  When the batteries got too low the sound pretty much cut out - lost about 70% of volume and became very thin.  It went from normal to abysmal in the course of about 10 minutes, after which a battery chance was in order.  Wasn't very impressed at the time and judging by the other comments it sounds rather unusual.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

used to have an ESP with dual EMG 81s.  Changed the batteries at least three times a year.  I wasn't leaving it plugged in or anything like that but they would die on me pretty regularly.  When the batteries got too low the sound pretty much cut out - lost about 70% of volume and became very thin.  It went from normal to abysmal in the course of about 10 minutes, after which a battery chance was in order.  Wasn't very impressed at the time and judging by the other comments it sounds rather unusual.

Did it have the stereo jack installed that acts as the power switch?

 

[line6man]

used to have an ESP with dual EMG 81s.  Changed the batteries at least three times a year.  I wasn't leaving it plugged in or anything like that but they would die on me pretty regularly.  When the batteries got too low the sound pretty much cut out - lost about 70% of volume and became very thin.  It went from normal to abysmal in the course of about 10 minutes, after which a battery chance was in order.  Wasn't very impressed at the time and judging by the other comments it sounds rather unusual.

Did it have the stereo jack installed that acts as the power switch?

Another interesting note (though not related to EMGs) is that IIRC, early EBMM Stingrays did not have the TRS jacks that disconnect the negative terminal of the battery when the cable was unplugged.
They stayed on 24/7.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

With my Strat with EMG 89 and 89R (mentioned in an earlier post), they lasted over 3 years.  With my Warmoth J-Bass, it lasts about 3 months.  Mind you this is my only gigging bass, and it has (2) 9v in parallel.  Playing has slowed down since it's gotten colder, but this was doing 4 hour shows 2 to 5 nights a week without unplugging it.  A bass string has more energy when moving, and perhaps processing that signal takes more out of battery.  Just a guess.  With the battery box, swapping out is a snap.  I'm "Mr. Always B. Prepared," so I always have atleast 2 fresh batteries in arms' reach.  However, my lead singer and acoustic player has a Taylor, and his has gone out during shows before, dipping into my battery surplus.  

Some might see the battery thing as an inconvenience not worth messing with, but it's like anything else.  Always have more strings, cables, tubes, and batteries than you need, 'cuz ya never know.

 

[AprioriMark]

With my Strat with EMG 89 and 89R (mentioned in an earlier post), they lasted over 3 years.  With my Warmoth J-Bass, it lasts about 3 months.  

Do you think it might be the TRS jack mentioned above?  Maybe your bass is "always on."

-Mark

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

With my Strat with EMG 89 and 89R (mentioned in an earlier post), they lasted over 3 years.  With my Warmoth J-Bass, it lasts about 3 months.  

Do you think it might be the TRS jack mentioned above?   Maybe your bass is "always on."

-Mark

Doubtful.  I used the stereo jack provided with the EMG system.  The (-) terminal attaches to the stereo prong and only is on when the mono cable inserted connects it to ground.  I just think it gets used alot.  Also, EMG's numbers maybe a little optimistic because they are selling to people who may be hesitant about always changing batteries.  Besides, if it were always on 24/7, it's lasting longer than it's supposed to.

 

[AprioriMark]

Gotcha. 

I've never used active pickups on my bass for longer than it takes for me to get annoyed and rip them out.  After my good experience with the 81/85 set in my LP, I'm going to give actives another chance (I'm pigheaded about my bass tone).  Do you have any advice about which preamp controls you like the best?

-Mark

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Other than the preamp built into the pickup, I haven't used any of their accesories like the mid boosts and prescence controls.  I've got the EMG JVs in my J-Bass.  They are plenty capable of lows and mids, the highs might suffer a little, but I'm not after that sound.  I've played it through Ampeg, Carvin, MarkBass, and GK rigs.  The sound of those rigs came through everytime, as it's very compliant to tweaking.

 

[richship]

When I switched to EMGs in my Yamaha, I had a couple extra holes, so I put in a switch and an LED. I'm using the stereo jack for stereo out, so that isn't switching. I think the LED is using more power than the pickups, but it does dim when the battery is low.

Rich

 

[line6man]

When I switched to EMGs in my Yamaha, I had a couple extra holes, so I put in a switch and an LED. I'm using the stereo jack for stereo out, so that isn't switching. I think the LED is using more power than the pickups, but it does dim when the battery is low.

Rich

The LED is probably drawing about 10mA, while the pickups may be drawing 1 or 2mA.

 

[blue313]

L6M is right, that's probably killing the battery.

A push button SPST to activate the LED can help save a lot of that battery life.  Ovations use them.