Question Battery and guitars with magnetic and piezo pickups

[RoAdam]

Hi,
I'm thinking of Music Man John Petrucci Majesty (600-M5-50-00).
1. What if there is no battery - will it produce sound on output in any position? ie. HH as passive - position 4?
2. How long does it work on battery (piezo (6) or combined (5) position)?
3. Is battery used if upper switch in 4 position according to diagram?

Regards, Robert

 

[bhull]

1. What if there is no battery - will it produce sound on output in any position? ie. HH as passive - position 4?

The guitar will not work at all without a battery

2. How long does it work on battery (piezo (6) or combined (5) position)?

I play a lot unplugged, so I won't be the best source on answering this. Generally speaking, they do seem to last quite a long time.

3. Is battery used if upper switch in 4 position according to diagram?

I believe the battery is always in use to power the internal electronics (game changer) that control the pickup selection. Transistors have to be biased with a voltage to work.

 

[RoAdam]

Thanks.
Is there any explanation why it can't work with passive HH without battery?
'Long' means 1, 10 or 30 hours on battery?
For me diagram says that battery is not in use if guitar is unplugged.

 

[bhull]

Is there any explanation why it can't work with passive HH without battery?

As stated above, the electronics that controls the pickup selection has to be powered or nothing gets through. The Majesty is not controlled with electromechanical switches like other guitars. It utilizes transistors for the switching.

'Long' means 1, 10 or 30 hours on battery?

Definitely not 1 or 10 hours. I'd say it's closer to your 30 number. Just guessing though.

For me diagram says that battery is not in use if guitar is unplugged.

Correct.

 

[RoAdam]

As stated above, the electronics that controls the pickup selection has to be powered or nothing gets through. The Majesty is not controlled with electromechanical switches like other guitars. It utilizes transistors for the switching.

Oh, understand. However I wish it would have default state as bridge or neck H position if battery 'crisis'.

Definitely not 1 or 10 hours. I'd say it's closer to your 30 number. Just guessing though.

Thx.

 

[bhull]

Oh, understand. However I wish it would have default state as bridge or neck H position if battery 'crisis'.
Thx.

Yeah, unfortunately there is no dead battery fallback position with the switches.

It takes 3 AA's. Make sure to keep a spare set in your guitar case for those emergencies. Also, don't use generic brands. I have found the cheap batteries have a leakage failure much more often than name brand. Spend the extra little bit of money and keep Energizer or Duracel in the guitar.

And, if you end up picking up a Majesty, make sure to post some pictures

 

[christheasian]

you could get any model pre jp13 and have passive mode without a battery. once the preamp got introduced, battery became mandatory

 

[Kinjin]

you could get any model pre jp13 and have passive mode without a battery. once the preamp got introduced, battery became mandatory

Excellent direct way to explain it!

As for battery life Chris can likely give you a much better estimate as he's a beast and has probably killed many sets of batteries in his playing time.

 

[bobkatwells]

I was told by someone in a music store that the battery on the sterling bass would drain if connected to the amp even if the amp was off and I needed to disconnect the cord to save the battery life. Is this true? I'm just looking for a straight answer. Thanks.

 

[Daniel]

I was told by someone in a music store that the battery on the sterling bass would drain if connected to the amp even if the amp was off and I needed to disconnect the cord to save the battery life. Is this true? I'm just looking for a straight answer. Thanks.

Hi there,
The jack on the Sterling Bass acts like a on/off switch by completing the circuit from the battery to the preamp when it's plugged in. If you leave it plugged in, yes, it will kill the battery. We recommend unplugging your bass/guitar when it's not in use.

 

[bobkatwells]

Thank you. I will.

 

[tbonesullivan]

This is true for just about every guitar with active preamps. It's also true for most pedals that have batteries. Many have a buffer or other circuitry to help it when in bypass mode, so any time a cord is plugged in, it's on.