Dying battery in active pickups

[Vass]

OK call me lazy- for the last couple months I've been playing with my Jackson Fusion Pro that I posted about when I got it. It's loaded SA/SA/85. I never opened the cavity to change the battery.

The other day it started "kicking out", literally losing signal, so I popped off the cover (very happy to see a very clean, neat wiring job) and replaced the battery. I did the scientific 9-volt "tongue test" and was amazed that the pickups were working at all.... there was practically NO juice coming off that sucker.

So I put the new battery in, closed her up, and played her. Was surprised how much the tone changed.... Much...tighter? Glassier? Less broken up. Less distorted.

Has anyone noticed this? Do the characteristics of your active pickups change as the battery winds down?

Funny thing is I kinda liked the "old" tone. Now I'll be stripping batteries out of smoke detectors after a year to put in my guitars!

Vass

[Ace]

All sorts of little things change your tone, just like changing your strings. Or using better cables.

[Newc]

Yeah, dying batteries get a dirtier tone. It's kinda cool. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long

Maybe if there was a way to limit the amount of juice coming from the battery? Like a resistor on a knob between the battery and the pickups?

Or would that kill something?

[Ace]

I was just thinking about that myself, but then I realized that I would have to do math, so I moved on to the next thread.

[themisfit138]

Yeah I noticed and I kind of liked the sound I got from a dying battery

[Mr Metal]

A dying battery would have a lower voltage (the preamp inside the guitar will clip sooner) and would give out under the load easier....So you will get to distortion sooner and in a softer clipping manner.....More even harmonics than odd harmonics, which most people prefer...................Sorry if I got too technical

[delt]

Maybe if there was a way to limit the amount of juice coming from the battery? Like a resistor on a knob between the battery and the pickups?

Was thinking exactly the same thing. Like say, if a 10K pot is too much then you can take a stereo one from a radio or something, and put both sets of pins in parallel to make it into a 5K....? just thinking

[fett]

Just remember to unplug the cable from the guitar.

[demeyes]

How often do you change your batteries? I've had my SL2 for about a year and still haven't changed the battery in it. It gets played but not everyday so I'm thinking I might switch out the one thats in it soon.

[Newc]

Was thinking exactly the same thing. Like say, if a 10K pot is too much then you can take a stereo one from a radio or something, and put both sets of pins in parallel to make it into a 5K....? just thinking

Heh heh - a Variac for active guitar circuits

Eddie would be proud

[Kingo]

if you got a solution tell us

[åron]

Sounds like a interesting project I'd do.... if I still used active pups.

[dg]

This reminded me of something I've seen, but for pedals. Some people prefer weak batteries in their analog pedals, and this guy shows how to make a very simple "dying battery simulator" with a 100k linear pot:

http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/DBS/

[ezbprimerib]

Heh, a dropped voltage EMG circuit, nice! You guys should get with the guys that wire in two 9volts (the "18v mod") and argue tone. =)

[finnman]

My EMG's died on my SL2H the other day. No distortion.
I swapped Batteries (18 volts)and same thing.
I opened it up and started looking around and everything looked good.
So I started tugging (very lightly) the wires and the Red (+)wire had corroded off under the 9 volt paper cover.
Wouldn't have found it if I didn't tug the wires.
After a quick solder job, it's good as new.