AndyMcBass
New member
OK, I've seen a little chatter on this subject on a few different bass discussions, but haven't found anything resembling a definitive answer.
I have a 2023 Stingray Special 5H bass, with the 18v preamp. (I got it new a few months ago as NOS.) I'm using Duracell batteries. Sometimes, the batteries won't quite make contact in the box, and the bass will not turn on. If I fidget with the door on the battery box a bit, it'll come on. Fortunately, once it comes on, it seems to stay on throughout a set. So, at least I can fidget with it at the beginning of a set and generally get through the show.
So, the popular thought is that 9v batteries come in slightly different sizes. Some don't quite sit in the box all the way to fully make contact. The most common workaround I've seen is to put a folded up piece of paper at the "bottom" of the battery to push the terminals further into the box, thus making better contact. This solution did not work for me. The other suggestion I've found is to carefully pull the contacts up into the box a bit, so the battery terminals will make better contact. This solution did not work for me.
I've seen some suggestion that another brand of battery box might be a better bet. Others have suggested certain brands of 9v batteries fit better (but there's no consensus on WHICH brands those might be.)
This seems like a very weak link in an otherwise very nice bass. Before I get into modifying this thing, has anyone encountered this issue and come up with a reasonable solution?
FWIW, I also have a 2000 Stingray 4, with the 9v preamp. It's never had a similar issue, and I've played it a LOT.
I have a 2023 Stingray Special 5H bass, with the 18v preamp. (I got it new a few months ago as NOS.) I'm using Duracell batteries. Sometimes, the batteries won't quite make contact in the box, and the bass will not turn on. If I fidget with the door on the battery box a bit, it'll come on. Fortunately, once it comes on, it seems to stay on throughout a set. So, at least I can fidget with it at the beginning of a set and generally get through the show.
So, the popular thought is that 9v batteries come in slightly different sizes. Some don't quite sit in the box all the way to fully make contact. The most common workaround I've seen is to put a folded up piece of paper at the "bottom" of the battery to push the terminals further into the box, thus making better contact. This solution did not work for me. The other suggestion I've found is to carefully pull the contacts up into the box a bit, so the battery terminals will make better contact. This solution did not work for me.
I've seen some suggestion that another brand of battery box might be a better bet. Others have suggested certain brands of 9v batteries fit better (but there's no consensus on WHICH brands those might be.)
This seems like a very weak link in an otherwise very nice bass. Before I get into modifying this thing, has anyone encountered this issue and come up with a reasonable solution?
FWIW, I also have a 2000 Stingray 4, with the 9v preamp. It's never had a similar issue, and I've played it a LOT.
