I’ve had luck with AZ batteries too. I practice 2 hrs most days and the only battery trouble I had is when I left it plugged in overnight
Oh man! I don’t even want to think about the logistics.
The rows of trucks would look like a Metallica show rolled into town
LMAO
Got about 2 years out my first one.
i’m a pretty big fan of the 9V batteries on amazon that recharge with a usb cable, no battery charger required.
K that’s badass ![]()
I need some help in this category. I recently got a used Sterling Ray 4 from GC. In like new condition except it drains batteries when not plugged in. A battery lasts maybe 3 to 4 weeks. Not plugged in when not in use and I only play it 2 - 3 hours a week. I think I know why it was put up for sale now. Any idea what could be causing this? I did notice corrosion on the battery connectors like someone left a battery in it too long and it corroded. All the wiring is correct according to the wiring diagram for this bass. This is my first and only active bass so I feel uneducated.
It might possibly be your jack. Try taking it out and examining it, both with your cord plugged into it and without it plugged in. Look to see that it disengages when you pull your plug out.
It sounds like it is completing the connection to your battery.
If that’s the case, you might be able to correct the issue, or you could install a new jack.
Yes if it is draining on its own this is most likely the case. Simple test: take out the battery, unplug the bass, and use a multimeter to see if there is any continuity between the battery terminals.
If it’s taking that long to drain it would need to be a very low current - pretty high resistance load, etc. Could maybe also be a malfunctioning preamp.
all very good advice but for sure my first stop would be back at that guitar center.
This is the hack rechargeable solution I use on my Parker P38. The Fishman active stuff is really picky about voltage so I put this together to deliver a steady 9V or nothing; the NiMH rechargeable 9Vs only last a couple hours before the voltage drops to the point the Fishman starts flopping around.
All it is is a Li-Ion camera battery and a USB lithium charge/boost board from Amazon soldered together point to point and stuck together with VHB and wire harness tape. The switching converter in the boost module does produce noise but I don’t find it to be a bothersome level for practice.
The green battery in the photo is the type I’m using now (see it wrapped in fuzz tape under the board). It fits barely but is a bit wide for the pocket in the guitar so I’m thinking about designing my own board to clip on the brown “action cam” style battery that has a less squashed profile.


