Help! Battery Issue??

[jermsn]

I have a Stingray 4-string from approximately 1999 which runs through batteries very quickly.

From the time I put in a new battery, the battery only lasts about 10 days, and that time doesn't seem to change much whether I'm playing frequently or not. I know that unplugging the instrument cable is intended to 'turn off' the electronics, thereby conserving battery life, but that doesn't seem to change anything on this bass; the battery still dies in about 10 days; even when unplugged.

I recently bought a 5-string HH, and it doesn't have this problem at all. The battery lasts a couple months generally before needing replacement.

Has anyone else experienced a similar battery issue? Any ideas what the cause may be? I'd love to not have to travel with a bag of batteries every time I gig.

Thanks!

 

[jlepre]

I would contact EBMM Customer Service. There is a problem here, but they would be able to help you.

 

[Freddels]

I had this issue on my Sterling a couple of years ago. I was going through batteries like crazy. I contacted customer service and they told me to remove the jack and spread the prongs a little to see if it fixed it. It did. Sometimes the prongs on the jacks are too close and something is causing a connection and therefore keeping the preamp on.

 

[rutgart]

I to had a jack Plug that needed a little tweak to stop it eating Batteries.

You say you get a couple of months out of your SR5-HH? That seems like a short time frame for a battery as well ?

 

[jermsn]

You say you get a couple of months out of your SR5-HH? That seems like a short time frame for a battery as well ?

Truthfully, I never actually tracked the battery life on the SR5-HH, as I play it less frequently. I just estimated it at a couple months as I never truly measured it and didn't want to overestimate it.

It sounds like my first stop should be to pop the jack and take a look. Hopefully that will fix it up.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

 

[Freddels]

It sounds like my first stop should be to pop the jack and take a look. Hopefully that will fix it up.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Pop it and it may look fine (mine did) but I still just spread the prongs a little and it was cured. Good luck.

 

[Freddels]

How did this turn out? Did you get it fixed?

 

[jlepre]

I think I might need to try this fix...

 

[Hellboy]

I have the exact same problem on a Sabre. It eats batteries as fast as if the bass was plugged in all the time. Will put a new jack in. The closed jack that is in the bass from factory is a little hard to fix. Hard to get into where the prongs are.....