Help! Luke BFR loose Battery noise

[Pete Howard]

Many thanks for all helpful comments re string gauge for my new Luke--I am trying some intermediate 0.0095-0.044's to see how it goes.
As per all comments yes its a great guitar but I have noticed today some problems with the battery. I noticed some whoosing and cracking noises and the odd pop and soon pinned it down to the battery compartment which was noisy when tapped with a finger.
After some experimenting (some similar comments re active basses on the forum) I found some batteries are very tight and the lid won't shut and some including the one it came with from the factory presumably were a bit loose and moved very slightly in the clip--enough to cause some horrible noises which would be disasterous live.
I have used a couple of pieces of gaffa tape at the battery base which has solved the problem but a bit dissapointed that I had to fiddle with a guitar of this cost and quality and I've lost a bit of confidence--though plastic fittings and small contacts are going to be a problem at any cost?--any similar experiences comments or advice please?

many thanks all--its a great forum

Pete

 

[mbgreene]

Best advice is to contact your dealer and MM customer service.

 

[beej]

As Mike says, you should certainly take any specific issues up with CS.

But I can say this, as you've discovered, many kinds of batteries are differently sized. So it's hard to get a 9V container that fits all of them - this is an issue with everyone that uses these kinds of battery boxes, it's not a MM thing.

The other thing that can happen is the contact points at the bottom of the box get bent back. You can gently pry them up with a small screwdriver, that often helps make better contact if you have a smaller battery.

I do the same (and I've added my battery boxes aftermarket) - a small piece of cardboard between the battery and the lid when necessary, to ensure a good fit.

 

[kbaim]

The battery compartment is one of those things i wish music man would re-engineer. I've had some issues with them over the years--contacts, battery fit, hinges.

I think ive replaced 2 over the past 7 years or so, but thats on 8 of their guitars so im not sure if thats just margin of error stuff that happens.

Your tech can probably order a replacement from MM and install it for less than 40 bucks or so if need be.

 

[Pete Howard]

Thanks Keith

My dealer is going to get me another battery compartment door--in the meantime a little gaffer tape to make the battery fit snug has done the trick

Pete

 

[njhammer]

There was a related discussion on the bass side a couple of months back that you might find useful:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/44975-those-danged-oversized-duracell-9-volts.html

 

[gtrman66]

As Mike says, you should certainly take any specific issues up with CS.

But I can say this, as you've discovered, many kinds of batteries are differently sized. So it's hard to get a 9V container that fits all of them - this is an issue with everyone that uses these kinds of battery boxes, it's not a MM thing.

I just had this problem tonight.I took the old battery out of my luke and couldnt get the battery door to close with the new one.Both were duracells.Fortunately I had a 3rd duracell in my tool drawer that fit.It looked like the bottom of the non-fitting battery was a little bulged out.....just enough that the door wouldn't close.I've learned the hard way that it always pays to have a backup.

 

[BrickGlass]

I've had a problem just like that on a Luke. All batteries I tried were just a little bit small and would move around just enough to get the odd popping sound or crackle. I just put a piece of soft cloth in there to make it more snug when I closed the battery door and it never had a problem after that.