BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!

Subject: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 03:49 PM

Who the hell ever thought it'd be a good idea to put the pre-amp battery INSIDE the body of the guitar and only provide access to it THROUGH THE SOUND HOLE!?!?!?!?!?!?

I LOVE my Seagulls, BUT... the L.R. Baggs hardware puts the battery on the back of the circuit board inside the top of the body... It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to get at the battery without 1) taking the strings off! Not just loosening 'em.. these guitars are small, and the hands are large... I gotta slack all the strings right off so I can get in and 2) RAKING THE SKIN OFF my fingers against the solder-side of the circuit board! And do you know how long it takes to grow back knuckle skin?!?!?!?!

The Tack preamp allows you to change yer batteries (2 Double A's that didn't even last a whole night, but that's another thread) through a wee little door in the hardware plate... I seem to recall that a chums Ovation, or Guild does the same thing with his 9V pre-amp battery...

I've been in touch with LR Baggs and they SAY they have a 10 buck item called a "LR Bagg Battery Bag" or such like, that takes the battery off the circuit board, and set it elsewhere in the body of the guitar... BUT... they refuse to send me an order form, or to point me to a web site where I can buy the thing... and EVERY music store I've check with has been stumped by the request...

Long and McQuade locally are supposed to be checking with their home office after this thing for me, but with their track record of stuff not in the store, I'm not holding my breath... My bass player has been waiting since Mid December for them to get a black pick guard in for his Fender Jazz bass...

Every preamp should run off phantom power, and every mixer should provide phantom power!! LOL!!!

Assistance?

Commiserations?

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: UB Ed
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 04:12 PM

I hear you, brother. The 12 string doesn't come out as much as a result. I've just resigned myself to the issue by trying to change the battery before it goes bad while I'm doing a regular restringing. Works most of the time but of course when you most need it....

I'm tired of my effects boxes sucking the batteries dry...Hungry bastards...

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 04:17 PM

Uhhh, yes, OK, whatever.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Lanfranc
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 05:10 PM

Rechargeable NiMH batteries have a longer life, are kinder to the environment and cheaper in the long run. A 9v squarepack or 4xAAs cost about GBP8, say USD11, and should recharge a thousand times, or so they claim! Of course, you need a charger, but with the increasing use of digital cameras, even these are getting cheaper.

I have two Washburn semi-acoustics, one needs to have its battery replaced through the soundhole, so I replace it each time I change strings with a newly charged battery. The other has a later Fishman installation, and has a little trapdoor by the tailpiece for the battery (and a little LED to tell whether the battery has reasonable charge), so I carry a spare.

So much for being unplugged!!

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 05:18 PM

Geez, ya learn something new everyday around here!

Clinton, going in through a backdoor, sorta, I was able to at least find a mention of a "battery bag" at L.R. Baggs, on this page second column, but it apparently is for their new "i-beam." Hey! at least they admitted having one and said it was to make battery changes easier!*bg*

Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 05:56 PM

I'll admit to almost total ignorance on this subject, but all of the guys I know have a receptacle/box thru the sidewall of the guitar where you can stick in a new battery.

Most of them appear to be wired so that unplugging from the amp disconnects the battery. (At least most of their cursing comes from running the battery down when they forget to unplug between sessions.)

My S.O. has an old Washburn bass with this setup, and I'm pretty sure a couple of the ones I've seen are Martin factory setups. Pickup style/mfr unknown on these.

Shouldn't be too hard to install, even if you have to salvage one somewhere. Ones I've seen were all 9V, but if you could change the battery easily you might be able to "throw away" enough battery life to put a regulated dropping circuit inside if you need some other voltage?
John

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Kernow John
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:18 PM

Clinton
You should be able to buy a lead with baterry terminals on the end. If it's the 9v type get two leads join them together plug one end into the circuit board, you will only need to do it the once, and the other end can be fixed wherever you wish to place the battery.
If I'm not making sense pm me an email address and I'll sketch it out. But for a guy that made the guitar clamps it should not be a problem!
KJ

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:38 PM

I can sympathize with Clinton on this. I have a Tru-Tone system fitted on my Martin and as well as the battery being inaccessible, the tone and volume controls are also real fiddly to get at, being inside the soundhole.

My nest instrument will have a "Highlander" system with external preamp, like Martin Simpson uses.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 09:28 AM

I have a Maton. (Australian) Love the guitar but the battery sucks. (Until i read a solution above)

Loosen all strings.

Grope about inside and drag out a tight fitting 9v. whilst risking destruction of connecting wires.

Blindfold yourself.

Hold battery firmly and poke around inside.

Find connecting battery clip.

With the same hand, (no choice) hold battery and clip and connect. EASY.

F....... TRY IT.

STILL LOVE MY MATON...... ???????????

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:23 AM

katlaughing

"at least they admitted having one"

Oh ya.. the all too sporadic email I get from them says they have it, but they refuse to tell me how I can lay my hands on one... well I need 2 actually... one for each guitar...

I've been lead to believe that they can be installed easily onto any LR Baggs hardware...

Kernow John

I know exactly what yer getting at, and I think that might be, in essence, all this Battery Bag is... If my search for the "real" thing continues to be fruitless, I'll be bodging a fix up, just like you explained...

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Midchuck
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:33 AM

Yes, they do.

So does cutting a hole in the side of a nice instrument to put in a control panel/battery box.

The best solution is to play where you don't need amplification. But any place where you can make any money, you're going to need amplification.

The second best solution is to have a good instrument mic on a stand.

The third best solution is to have a passive pickup in the guitar, and nothing else, and a separate preamp.

Or so it seems to me.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:18 PM

"So does cutting a hole in the side of a nice instrument to put in a control panel/battery box."

Well, I wouldn't go that far... that wee hole cut in the side is not gonna effect the accoustic sound of a guitar enough to worry about... I'd much rather have the control pannel right there on the top of the guitar where it's in easy reach...

And well, yer right aobut the money thing... If I was just goofin off at home (not that that's a BAD thing!!) then it wouldn't be an issue...

I'd also almost rather NOT play than have to play with my guitar mic'd...

Or so it seems to me...

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:29 PM

I'm with you on this one, Clinton. I have the Baggs Dual Source in the Guild 12, because I didn't want to modify the guitar by cutting it. Also because I can't stand in front of an instrument mic when I play. The controls I can live with, but that damn battery is a pain. I just change batteries every 2 months or so. In fact, this thread reminded me that it is time again. I am interested in the bag, or the idea for a lead.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:57 PM

Well, here's what we goota do BM...

whoever tracks down more info on the Bag, let the other one know k!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:01 PM

Itsadeal.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:06 PM

Nice rant Hammond. I'm with you. I always bust a picking nail or otherwise put myself in a bad mood when I change the batteries in my guitars.

Since I generally sit on my fat ass when I play I get along okay with an external mic, but I still have plug-in-ables. They always piss me off for about the same reasons as everyone else is saying. I'm always happier if when I have to plug in I can operate things like volume and effects with my feet. Passive guitar, active floor. I've given up plugging in at our local festival simply because it seems to be easier to make do with whatever mic they'll give me, given the exceedingly short time between acts, and the number of instruments I carry (usually at least 3) requiring vastly different EQ.

Phantom powered equipment would be good if it was universal...

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:29 PM

"Phantom powered equipment would be good if it was universal... "

It's a great dream eh!

LOL!!

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: GUEST,GaryDon986
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:58 PM

Clinton; I have the I beam w/ the ltl bag on my Guild J30. While it is still a pain to change the Battery. yepper loosen string an fiddle with it. It is nicer to not have to mess w/ the circut board. The battery bag is only a small bag made of nylon with velcrow on it which sticks to a piece of velcrow place on the guitar. Mine is along side the neck, I hate to see wires inside the sound hole.

From the Baggs factory the wires are soldered into the board. While I have not heard of the battery bag add on. My personal estimation is to go along with John's advice and make the connector and battery bag at home and still change batts intermittently while restringing.

Gary®

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 03:49 PM

Cool.. ta fer the 4-1-1 Gary!

LR Baggs assures me it can be used as an add on...

"I hate to see wires inside the sound hole."

I agree 100%!

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:05 PM

So I'm just back form Long And McQuade, and the kid working there said when he talked to the 'guitar guy' at their head office, he was totally stumped by this request...

Me thinks LR Baggs might have fumbled the ball on this one...

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Gary T
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 12:31 AM

If using a remote battery holder/connector of some sort, it would have a lead to connect to the circuit board battery terminals. Presumably, this connection could be undisturbed indefinitely. I would protect it against possible corrosion--which would be a MAJOR pain to rectify--by coating the terminals with grease before snapping the connector to the board. Appropriate greases would be white lithium, silicone, or dielectric.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: GUEST,Kernow John
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 12:43 PM

Good point Gary
KJ

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From:
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 01:50 PM

Clinton.

You might try making your own. Take a paair of wires, attached to where the batteries at attached (the + and -), put the batteries back in underneath them. Then at the other end of the wires, attached to a battery holder for two LARGER battiers, C or D. Then put a double sided tape on that battery holder, and place it somewhere you feel would be comfortable to put it. Make sure the wires are long enough to get to this place, and either tape down or glue the wires in place.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar batteries SUCK!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 02:10 PM

ya George, that's kinda like what Kernow John above suggested.. I might end up making my own... But I'd like to continue trying to get the real deal from LR Baggs fer a bit...

;-)

I did send them another email, and included a link to this thread... be curious to see what if anything happens...