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goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 1:55 pm:   Edit Post

I am getting an aweful sound from Distillate, aside from my playing. At first I thought it was my amp because it almost sounds like a blown speaker. I changed cables, changed bases and believe I have narrowed it down to the Alembic. Could it be my battery has, or is about to die? I hope so!

I am a little concerned though, as I thought the bass would simply go from active to passive without the battery.

What happens when the battery is on death row? Funny, the LED still lites up.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8122
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 2:17 pm:   Edit Post

When the battery starts to go it does indeed sound like a blown speaker. Change the battery.
kilowatt
Intermediate Member
Username: kilowatt

Post Number: 102
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 3:41 pm:   Edit Post

Dave is right. I have had this happen to me and you would swear that one of your speakers had bitten the dust! Be thankful, batteries are much cheaper than speakers.

Pete
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8124
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

It usually happens when you're on stage in front of a bunch of people.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3859
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 9:48 pm:   Edit Post

Colin:

The LEDs don't run on the same battery as the electronics. The LEDs have a separate battery compartment with four 9v batteries. The electronics run on a single 9v.

Bill, tgo
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 868
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 1:35 am:   Edit Post

Goop..for the technical record, Alembics will not run without a battery as the pu's do not have enough electromagenetic 'push', they require power from the pre amps.
Alembic pu's are low impedance, those without the need of a battery are high impedance.
As everyone has said, the most awful sound appears from nowhere and immediately you go to panic mode.
change the battery..make sure it is a high quality Alkaline(Duracell) as these last the longest.
goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 57
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 6:32 am:   Edit Post

gentlemen, thanks very much! this has completely resovled my problem and is a heads up for future.

man, i did panic there for a moment and wondered for a while what to do.

she sounds sweet again...

thanks guys!
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1139
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 6:42 am:   Edit Post

Hi Bill,
I believe goop was talking about the single LED on the front of the Distillate, next to the output jack.

I carry spare 9v s in all my cases and bags, so I never get caught without.

Mike
goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 61
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 7:12 am:   Edit Post

thanks Mike. yes I was referring to the single LED. i knew what Bill meant though and of course appreciate his response.

i don't gig that much, but it is probably a good idea to test it, or replace it beforehand. failure during a gig would be a disaster.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3871
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 7:29 am:   Edit Post

Radio Shack has a cheap little battery tester that works for 9v and AA,AAA,C,and D too. I carry it in my gig bag and always check my batteries before playing out.

Bill, tgo
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 1140
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks, Bill I wondered how to tell when it's "battery kilin' time"

:-)
I'll have to check my local RS store for same.

Mike
hodge
Junior
Username: hodge

Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 10:25 am:   Edit Post

here,s my input. when ichange the battery i scrape the date on it.on average they last one year. cheers..
chalkie
Junior
Username: chalkie

Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - 7:51 am:   Edit Post

Mike, The voltage of an alkaline battery (zinc and manganese dioxide electrodes with potassium hydroxide being the strong alkali solution) will decay as it wears out. For a nominal 9V battery you'll probably see about 9.5V when its new, and I'd look at replacing it once you get down to maybe 8.0V. It'd be interesting to test the battery voltage *just* as you get the effect described here to see what value that is. Actually I might try that by putting a pot in series with the battery and turning it down until I detect the effect, and then measuring working voltage.

I thought this was a nice simple explanation

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