Bongo batteries

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My HH Musicman Bongo is suddenly going through batteries very quickly. Last night before a gig I suddenly had no signal going through to the amplifier at all. Changed batteries and it was fine. This is happening with alarming regularity. Anyone offer some help with this? Love this instrument.

 

[OldManMusic]

I change my Bongo's batteries about every 9-12 months. Never had them die on me. Make sure you're unplugging the Bongo after you're done playing. If you're doing all that and it's still killing batteries, call EB customer service.

 

[pete bass]

Leaving the Bass with the jack in activates the circuit but I'm sure you already know that....?

 

[nurnay]

Leaving the Bass with the jack in activates the circuit but I'm sure you already know that....?

My first thought.

 

[Moose308]

Question is, even if you do leave one plugged in, how quickly will that kill batteries? This is a question worthy of an experiment.

I would suspect even if you leave the bass plugged in, the batteries should last quite a long time.

 

[ksandvik]

Question is, even if you do leave one plugged in, how quickly will that kill batteries? This is a question worthy of an experiment.

I would suspect even if you leave the bass plugged in, the batteries should last quite a long time.

IF the circuit is closed -- bass plugged in -- it will drain the battery, AFAIK there's nothing magical nor anything between the battery and electronics that puts the circuit in sleep mode.

It should not take long to learn to unplug a cable after use.

I replace my battery in my Luke every six months even if I think they could easily last 12 months, but as with strings I rather replace earlier than get stuck on stage with an empty battery or broken strings.

 

[[email protected]]

Leaving the Bass with the jack in activates the circuit but I'm sure you already know that....?

Yes I do know that, thanks tho.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Try buying some batteries from a different supplier and see if that makes a difference.

 

[five7]

I think I remember a post awhile back with the same problem. I believe it was a problem with the output jack draining the battery when the bass was unplugged just like it would when the bass was plugged in.

 

[sanderhermans]

I think I remember a post awhile back with the same problem. I believe it was a problem with the output jack draining the battery when the bass was unplugged just like it would when the bass was plugged in.

Yup i remember that too.

 

[pete bass]

I think I remember a post awhile back with the same problem. I believe it was a problem with the output jack draining the battery when the bass was unplugged just like it would when the bass was plugged in.

This is an ongoing problem with an Ibi SR4 that I take to jams (I dont want anybody dropping "My Precious")... ive renewed to stereo type jack and wired it the correct way and it still drains the battery even unplugged so there must be a "Leak" on the circuit board and this may be "Sootskis" problem.....?

 

[[email protected]]

Bongo batteries continued: Last night at worship I suddenly had no signal at all going out to the board. I had put in fresh batteries (and tested them) one hour before.

When I opened one of the battery compartments I heard a connection noise through the mains. What is happening is that one of the batteries was not getting enough pressure against the contacts to work. I guess there is a spring that holds it against the contacts. So when I was changing batteries it evidently reset the position enough so that it would work. I shimmed that battery with a little wad of duct tape to make sure there was enough pressure on it. Not the way I want to continue, suppose this means the bongo is making a trip to sunny San Luis?
Thanks all for the replies.

 

[MrMusashi]

just bend the metal springs that make contact with the battery a little bit so they give more force against the poles of the battery.

it can be a bit trick to do that with the latest battery boxes because they are encapsulated in the plastic

i have done just that on one of my basses and i have not had any problems with it since

MrM