External / Phantom Power for Bongo

[BongoDrongp]

Has anyone attempted this? Even better, is there a service or kit available?

The 5 string 4EQ Bongo eats 9V batteries, and I'm a little tired feeding it. I always play with a cable, never use wireless, so why can't I have an external power pack of somekind and a custom cable to feed power to the Bongo?

My main worry is noise, even if I use some kind of 4 conductor cable and keep the two grounds separate, the power lines may cause hum in the signal lines. I'd rather have a pro do it, than attempt it myself, it's an expensive piece of kit after all, and I don't want to fry it.

Cheers.

 

[Mobay45]

Has anyone attempted this? Even better, is there a service or kit available?

The 5 string 4EQ Bongo eats 9V batteries, and I'm a little tired feeding it. I always play with a cable, never use wireless, so why can't I have an external power pack of somekind and a custom cable to feed power to the Bongo?

My main worry is noise, even if I use some kind of 4 conductor cable and keep the two grounds separate, the power lines may cause hum in the signal lines. I'd rather have a pro do it, than attempt it myself, it's an expensive piece of kit after all, and I don't want to fry it.

Cheers.

Welcome.

I haven't had any problems with any of my 3 Bongos eating batteries. Do you unplug it when you're no playing it? It will continue to drain the batteries while it is plugged in.

 

[todd4ta]

That's the first I've heard of that.

How often do you have to replace the batteries?

If it's more often than 6-9 months or so, I'm thinking either you have a short in the jack, or you're leaving the cable plugged in as previously mentioned.

 

[AnthonyD]

Once upon a time I kept my 'active' bass plugged-in, at the ready in my music room... You know, so I could just pick it up and play anytime...

I thought it 'ate' batteries too...

Then I realized I needed to unplug the cable - it's a lesson I expect we all have learned the hard way...

 

[maddog]

Once upon a time I kept my 'active' bass plugged-in, at the ready in my music room... You know, so I could just pick it up and play anytime...

I thought it 'ate' batteries too...

Then I realized I needed to unplug the cable - it's a lesson I expect we all have learned the hard way...

I got to learn it the easy way, I joined this forum.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Buy 4 x 9v NiMH rechargables and you're set.

 

[tadawson]

Has anyone attempted this? Even better, is there a service or kit available?

The 5 string 4EQ Bongo eats 9V batteries, and I'm a little tired feeding it. I always play with a cable, never use wireless, so why can't I have an external power pack of somekind and a custom cable to feed power to the Bongo?

My main worry is noise, even if I use some kind of 4 conductor cable and keep the two grounds separate, the power lines may cause hum in the signal lines. I'd rather have a pro do it, than attempt it myself, it's an expensive piece of kit after all, and I don't want to fry it.

Cheers.

I have thought of this, and it would not be that hard - mics do it all the time, with much lower level signals. However, my precious Bongo would NOT be where I would start . . . . maybe if I had an active beater, or a project bass (read: turd) and an active pre to refit in it. Myself, I would just run the thing balanced like a mic, and go to an XLR connector. Regarding a four wire system, that would work too, as would three - the grounds aren't separate anyway, so why run two? And by the way, DC power, as would be used in a phantom setup does NOT hum . . . . . but running like mic phantom would remove all chance for induced noise due to the common mode rejection offered by a balanced signal path.

Oh, ane my Bongos (5HH and 4HH) are still on the batteries they first got when they came home - one at about 9 months, the other at 6, and going strong . . . .

- Tim

 

[82Daion]

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/PMTXBAT9

It's only a 9V device, though, which kinda defeats the Bongo application.

 

[tadawson]

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/PMTXBAT9

It's only a 9V device, though, which kinda defeats the Bongo application.

Kinda spendy, and not what I think we were talking about. The idea behind true phantom power is no batteries ANYWHERE! I would like to see the industry turn the corner, as it were, and provide instrument power capabilities in amps, like is done is sound consoles for mics. Then, batteries become a thing of the past . . . . or get relegated to nothing but backup power so if your amp dies, you can play into the PA with a DI . . . .

- Tim

 

[todd4ta]

Kinda spendy, and not what I think we were talking about. The idea behind true phantom power is no batteries ANYWHERE! I would like to see the industry turn the corner, as it were, and provide instrument power capabilities in amps, like is done is sound consoles for mics. Then, batteries become a thing of the past . . . . or get relegated to nothing but backup power so if your amp dies, you can play into the PA with a DI . . . .

- Tim

EBS amps can provide phantom power to your bass, I'm not sure if it only works with 9v or will also do 18v

After checking, it looks like the EBS amps do 10v phantom power for instruments and/or effects pedals.

from the HD350 manual:

INPUT - A low noise, high impedance
instrument input that will also power active
pickups and circuitry. If you want to use this
function, take away the 9 Volt battery from
your bass and strap + and - pole on the
battery holder.
Use a standard stereo jack plug, when
using the phantom powering from the EBS
HD350.
The power is switchable off. If you do
not wish to use this feature, or if you have a
passive instrument without built-in electronics,
set the DIP-switch no. 1 to OFF
(upper position) to defeat the phantom
power.

 

[82Daion]

Kinda spendy, and not what I think we were talking about. The idea behind true phantom power is no batteries ANYWHERE! I would like to see the industry turn the corner, as it were, and provide instrument power capabilities in amps, like is done is sound consoles for mics. Then, batteries become a thing of the past . . . . or get relegated to nothing but backup power so if your amp dies, you can play into the PA with a DI . . . .

- Tim

True.

You could take the Alembic approach, where all of the onboard electronics (at least on their Series I/II basses) are powered by a rackmount device that plugs into the wall/rack outlet, and which connects to the instrument via a 5-pin jack. I think that's the only production application of phantom power that I know of.

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

Once upon a time I kept my 'active' bass plugged-in, at the ready in my music room... You know, so I could just pick it up and play anytime...

I thought it 'ate' batteries too...

Then I realized I needed to unplug the cable - it's a lesson I expect we all have learned the hard way...

Not I i read the thing that came wiht the bass that said when your not playing the bass put it back in the case muahahha but i dont have a stand anyways and i would be afraid of somebody coming in and droping it on the cable cause i lived with some stupid people

 

[Lazybite]

I keep it in the case for protection...

I personally like changing batteries and I do it religously before gigging (any fx pedals using batteries as well)... for two reasons 1) Just in case (not that I have ever had a problem - stupidly I have never pushed it to its limits so I don't know how long it will last if I am ever in a country with a shortage of batteries) 2) it makes me look like I am doing cool technical things and people respect me for it and have a better opinion of me when I get on stage...

 

[Dees]

My EBS Fafner head has a 'phantom power' system. You have to shortcut the 2 wires in the battery compartment, plug in your cable in your bass and amp, et voilá! Although I have to be honest, I have never done this, since I use my stingray also with other, practice amps. But I heard the system works good. I don't have any more info, but a search could get you some information