General Warning!

[music man mike]

I don't know if this ever happened to any other musicman bass owners before but
I once went to replace my battery on stage one night and when I went to push it in the wrong way + and - in the dim lighting, I tried to force it shut which it didn't.
when I finally realized it was in the wrong position and turned it around and shut it. It was to late. I had literaly fryed the intergrated curcuit.
I had to call ernieball and they very kindly helped me out and sent me a new chip(@ no charge). What service!!!!
So be carefull because even though the battery unit should not close in this situation. It can still make contact and fry...

Later Dudes!

 

[high mileage]

The other night at practice, I was changing the batteries in my Bongo and somebody asked me a question while I was doing it (I can't multitask for crap). Apparently I tried to put one in backwards and it didn't go in easily, so I flipped it around and life was good. Glad I didn't push it!

I don't use much EQ, but the original batteries lasted out to about 15 months with still 8.5 volts in them. Not bad! This is the first 18v bass I've owned, and actually the first with the pop-up battery compartments. Apparently I'm not good with those new-fangled contraptions either (they've only been out for what, 10-15 years?).

 

[music man mike]

update

The other night at practice, I was changing the batteries in my Bongo and somebody asked me a question while I was doing it (I can't multitask for crap). Apparently I tried to put one in backwards and it didn't go in easily, so I flipped it around and life was good. Glad I didn't push it!

I don't use much EQ, but the original batteries lasted out to about 15 months with still 8.5 volts in them. Not bad! This is the first 18v bass I've owned, and actually the first with the pop-up battery compartments. Apparently I'm not good with those new-fangled contraptions either (they've only been out for what, 10-15 years?).

I later painted a red dot inside the compartment to easily identify the positive side in the dark. Believe me it took a long time to fix my favorite bass. The curcuit is hard to replace and has to be soldered back in place. So use a pen type soldering machine as not to electricaly surge the curcuit.

 

[slucas]

You can pick up a small battery tester (easily fits in bass case) at Radio Shack or any electronics shop for around $10.00. I always test my batteries just prior to a gig so there will be no surprises on stage. Some things are good to do in the dark and some things aren't.

 

[WillPlay4Food]

Just curious, is General Warning a relative of Kernel Panic?

 

[rhythmCity944]

I never change the battery with my bass plugged in...it's kind of like when i do anything to my car, always disconnect the battery because it could end in costly repairs if you don't...i'm not a fan of the battery box thing, yes it is convinent but then again if it don't pay attention to the way the battery came out then i get really confused

 

[mynan]

It would be nice if there were little + and - symbols on the cap, but seriously...it takes 2 seconds to look in the box and see which terminal goes where.

 

[oli@bass]

If there is enough light, especially in an "on stage in between the songs" situation.

 

[RobertB]

Just curious, is General Warning a relative of Kernel Panic?

Yes, and of Major Catastrophe, too.

 

[mynan]

If there is enough light, especially in an "on stage in between the songs" situation.

I guess I'd rather buy a $2 battery every couple of months, whether it needs it or not when I change strings, rather than put myself into a situation where I have to change a battery in the middle of a gig.

 

[Aussie Mark]

And to think just yesterday we were bagging the skinny stringers for not being able to open a guitar case.

 

[Aussie Mark]

You can pick up a small battery tester (easily fits in bass case) at Radio Shack or any electronics shop for around $10.00. I always test my batteries just prior to a gig

My free battery tester easily fits in my mouth. Even Gene Simmons can fit his battery tester in his mouth (when he chooses to do so).

 

[MrMusashi]

if i were gene id be careful of testing that way.. hehe.. no way to tell what way that loose snake will wiggle (read self suffication)
now that would be this years musical darwin award!

MrM

 

[jannmender]

is there a special way to get the battery compartment open on a Big Al ?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If there is enough light, especially in an "on stage in between the songs" situation.

That's why I always have a little LED flashlight on hand.

 

[projectapollo]

It would be nice if there were little + and - symbols on the cap, but seriously...it takes 2 seconds to look in the box and see which terminal goes where.

There is a + symbol on the compartment. On the lid as I recall. Small but it is there.

 

[Bloodfist]

Ok, so if you put your battery in backwards without the bass plugged in, will it still fry your EQ?

 

[Rick Auricchio]

My free battery tester easily fits in my mouth.

Using your tongue to test a battery is worthless. Does your tongue tell you if it's 9v, 7v, or 5v? Nope.

 

[tkarter]

RTFM.

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

Using your tongue to test a battery is worthless. Does your tongue tell you if it's 9v, 7v, or 5v?

Not worthless at all. When you've been testing 9v batteries with your tongue for 35 years, and playing EBMM basses for 11 years it's easy to tell which battery has enough juice left in the tank to drive an EBMM preamp.

Some people overcomplicate things, like the people who buy a $100 instrument cable/cord/lead (choose according to your nationality) and think it sounds better to themselves and the audience at their club gig when they are playing rock music at 120dB.