| Author | Message | ||
| goop
Member Username: goop Post Number: 54 Registered: 7-2008 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
