EMG battery - how long?

[joeym]

Hey all,
a question for any of you using EMG active pickups: how long does the battery usually last? I've had about 5-6 hours playing time (i.e. with the jack-plug inserted) and I don't know if it's time to change it. What happens to the sound when the battery's weak, does it become muddy, lower in volume etc.?
Thanx in advance!
Joey

 

[CIRO]

Hey, buddy!

There are two kinds of EMG active , "batterystically" speaking:
the "SV" (vintage line) that "eats" much more quick the battery (3 times faster, according specifications).That´s what I´m using now - SV/SV/85.

I saw your guitar, I´m sure you have the "normal battery life" type one.
When I had mine (but single, 3 SA pickups), 20 years ago, I passed more than a year, playing everyday and still with the same battery (!) (but don´t blame if it falls before ).

What happens to the sound when the battery's weak, does it become muddy, lower in volume etc.?

Only shit ;sound becomes harsh, and weak, distorted, and disapears, and you think about everything (cables, preamps,etc..._ but battery

A friend mine (bass player) had this problem Live and was the hell...


Strong advice:
easy access to change the battery ("small hole" in the back of body, etc...)
(ex: inside a Strat pickuguard is a bad place IME).

Ciro

*I´m "addicted" by unpplug when not using the guitar, and I often test the battery on a (Boss) pedal; if red light is "strong", ok...

 

[CIRO]

That´s what I´m using now - SV/SV/85.

And the 85 is a "standard" type, sure.

Ciro

 

[joeym]

Hey Ciro, how are you doing?
Yeah, it's the Zakk Wylde configuration 85/81. I was practising with the guitar yesterday and noticed that the sound was a bit too muddy, even with less gain on the amp. And it was a little less powerful too. This is my first guitar with active pickups and I have no experience, so I have to judge with my ears....
I guess I'll just change the battery and check the difference.
Thanx for your advice!

 

[Light]

It depends on what all you have in there. If you just have one pickup, the battery is going to last a lot longer than if you have three pickups, a preamp, and an active tone control kit. Even so, 5-6 hours of playing time seems short to me, and I would strongly suggest getting it looked at, because it seems likely something isn't working right. Typically, even in a EMG system with "high" current requirements, the battery life should be measured in hundreds of hours.

By the way, if you are looking to extend the period of time between battery changes (though it doesn't help with over all battery usage), connect two batteries in parallel (i.e., the two black wires go to the same place, and the two red wires go to the same place). You'll still use just as many batteries, but you'll only have to do the work of changing them half as often. Personally, it doesn't seem worth it to me, but I've got customers who love it. Don't ask me why, but these are the same guys who tend to leave their strings on for WAY too long.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[stevieb]

Personally, it doesn't seem worth it to me, but I've got customers who love it. Don't ask me why, but these are the same guys who tend to leave their strings on for WAY too long.

Well, that's an easy one to figure out- some guys would rather PLAY their guitars than PLAY WITH their guitars. Surely, you recommend something like Elixers to them, right? (Apolgoies for calling you Shurly...)

 

[darrin_h2000]

I have one in a custom made Charvel...and its a single 81...it lasts about 2 years...I keep it in the case so it is allways unplugged unless being played.

 

[Light]

By the way, if there is nothing wrong with the wiring, and you are really burning through batteries that quickly, there is something wrong with one of the pickups, and it will have to be replaced. The preamps are all internal to the pickup, and as they are potted in epoxy there is no way to actually fix the pickups.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[ermghoti]

By the way, if you are looking to extend the period of time between battery changes (though it doesn't help with over all battery usage), connect two batteries in parallel (i.e., the two black wires go to the same place, and the two red wires go to the same place). You'll still use just as many batteries, but you'll only have to do the work of changing them half as often. Personally, it doesn't seem worth it to me, but I've got customers who love it. Don't ask me why, but these are the same guys who tend to leave their strings on for WAY too long.

I've heard of running EMG's in 18v, which is supposed to result in a more dynamic output, similar to running a distortion pedal in 18v. These guys might have misunderstood the modification.

 

[Light]

I've heard of running EMG's in 18v, which is supposed to result in a more dynamic output, similar to running a distortion pedal in 18v. These guys might have misunderstood the modification.

Nope, I asked. 18v for guitar is of limited value, though. On a bass, particularly a slap/pop players bass, they make a lot of sense, though.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[AMcB]

There are 2 ways to hook up 2 batteries. Series or parallel. Series will give you 18v (more dynamic range or whatever) parallel will give you 9v still, but "double" the battery life. I think most emgs can go up to 27v, which is 3 in series. You can also do a couple sets of batteries in parallel, and hook those up in series, to give you longer life and more dynamics. So that makes 3 ways, and many different variations. But let's keep it simple.

 

[Thurgood]

I use a strat SA set approx 2hrs /day 3x week and leave gtr unplugged when not in use and battery lasts about 14 to 18 months. I have acouple active gtr/pu sets and am pretty consistent with unplugging. Hope that helps.

 

[joeym]

Ok, found what it was...a stupid guitar cable with shorting connections. Everything's back to normal and the axe rocks again!

 

[Light]

There are 2 ways to hook up 2 batteries. Series or parallel. Series will give you 18v (more dynamic range or whatever) parallel will give you 9v still, but "double" the battery life. I think most emgs can go up to 27v, which is 3 in series. You can also do a couple sets of batteries in parallel, and hook those up in series, to give you longer life and more dynamics. So that makes 3 ways, and many different variations. But let's keep it simple.

Yup, that's what I said. And though it is true that EMG's can handle 27v, there is really no reason to do so - unless of course you just want to use up an extra battery. You certainly will not be hearing a sonic difference.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[MCI2424]

Hey all,
a question for any of you using EMG active pickups: how long does the battery usually last? I've had about 5-6 hours playing time (i.e. with the jack-plug inserted) and I don't know if it's time to change it. What happens to the sound when the battery's weak, does it become muddy, lower in volume etc.?
Thanx in advance!
Joey

I changed my battery this year. The old one was still working after 6 years.

When the battery becomes weak, the hiss starts and the volume of the sound begins to get lost.