The Great Battery Debate/Trade

[veteransdaypoppy]

i just hate when I leave my one-spot at the rehearsal space (which is about a half-hour from my house) and so I'll check if there's a battery so I can just familiarize myself with the pedal while I have it at home, before practice time. But that's the only time I'll use a battery.

[magiclawnchair]

the only time i would use a battery is if i am in a forest with a pignose and a guitar and a pedal or two...

that happens moar than you think it would!!!

but really no big whoop and i take the batteries out of new pedals anyway...

[Ghost Hip]

I only use a battery in my CC/DC. Or if I'm just jamming with musicians that aren't worth bringing my entire pedal board. Not to sound snooty, its just you don't really need all those pedals to play a blink 182 song.

You're missing an option:
I'll use a power supply in a high drain pedal (like a delay) or something that won't be affected by having a battery in there, but I'm damned sure I won't be running a Fuzz Face or pretty much any other Ge fuzz from anything but a zinc-carbon battery otherwise you might as well just use a Line 6 digital modeller and be done with it.

What? I almost just skipped posting about this because Dr. doesn't make a Ge fuzz, but really? Edit: I'm just confused at the might as well play a line 6 modeler part.

[Bellyheart]

Good idea Ryan. Be an example. It's a good thing going on. More features will encourage people to go buy a power supply...perhaps supply the supply if it's really an issue, but I don't think it is.

[Scruffie]

Although I voted for the I like the option (because I do... but that's just because with my current set up, if I wanna have a little jam in my room, I don't have my entire pedal board out, just the few pedals I want to use at that time so it's handy... I use rechargables anyway) I think if you supply a 9V Battery to DC Jack adapter, you're giving the option, but encouranging people not to do it as it's external and not a permanent solution

I like the option on smaller pedals like the Tremolessence (where expression isn't something i'd use alot but that's me against alot of other more experimental musicians so I understand the change) and the Frazz Dazzler, but I can understand the stand point on loosing them on the more power hungry unit as that really is hurting the enviroment, if a Battery wont last longer than 3-5 gigs, then Power supply it should be.

I also understand the Relay switching as Electronics are alot less likely to fail on a pedal than a Mechanical item so that's an added bonus so in alot of ways, I say go for it! But don't rule out entirely battery use... supplying the converters (if it's feasible) still gives the option and keeps your clientel open, but allows you to move on how you want with the physical design of the circuit.

This is ignoring all the germanium pedals etc. which will last for ages on battery anyway and aren't an issue here.

[CBGB]

Expression control or batteries? No contest IMO.

All guitar pedals should have expression control!!!

[stanimal]

Expression control or batteries? No contest IMO.

All guitar pedals should have expression control!!!

THIS!!!

[Blakemore]

An expression pedal controlling mix or gain on the Frazz? I want that so hard haha.

Honestly, the only time I EVER use a battery is in a tuner pedal when I'm playing bass. I don't play bass often enough to have a pedalboard, so I just bring a Pitchblack with a battery in it to gigs. Other than that, I never use batteries in pedals, and I wouldn't miss them whatsoever if you got rid of them. The fact that you would add cool features in place of the batteries makes this even more of a no-brainer. Do it.

[Ryan]

Thanks very much for the input, guys! I really appreciate it!

And I do agree... let's not take batteries away from specialty fuzz pedals, they seem to play a crucial roll in them. I can hear a difference in the Frazz between a power supply and a battery but I think it's just that brand new batteries are usually a touch over 10 volts so I attribute the slight difference to the higher voltage. I've never owned a fuzz pedal that sounded better with a battery at lower voltages but I'm a fuzz noob, I don't own any fuzz pedals at the moment. Never even played a Ge fuzz before, I'm ashamed to say!

I'm not going to worry too much about that aspect though as I don't really plan on going down the Germanium fuzz path anyway, but duly noted.

I think the idea of either providing or making available the battery to adapter converters is a brilliant idea and sort of makes this a non-issue. I only think this would be a problem if there wasn't a reasonable solution for the battery users but I think one of those adapters is a great solution! Except... where do I get one of those? I've never seen one before!

Molokai, you nailed a big part of the reason why I don't like using batteries in certain pedals. When Reverberators used to run off batteries I'd get an email nearly every day about somebody's broken RRR that would just turn out to be a dead battery, from stores and from customers. Digital pedals just shouldn't run off batteries, the digital section needs a regulated 5VDC supply, the 5VDC regulator needs about 7.5VDC to do its thing, and a pedal like that can bring a battery down to 7.5V in no time, less than half an hour with a RRR.

I think we're in agreement though that more features is better than a battery! Awesome! I'd also consider making power supplies available on our website too, or providing the battery-jack adapter thingy, that's slick too. (Hopefully somebody will point me towards where to get those, por favor)

[Scruffie]

I think the idea of either providing or making available the battery to adapter converters is a brilliant idea and sort of makes this a non-issue. I only think this would be a problem if there wasn't a reasonable solution for the battery users but I think one of those adapters is a great solution! Except... where do I get one of those? I've never seen one before!

I think we're in agreement though that more features is better than a battery! Awesome! I'd also consider making power supplies available on our website too, or providing the battery-jack adapter thingy, that's slick too. (Hopefully somebody will point me towards where to get those, por favor)

I've never actually seen one for sale... but I have seen them in the past, i'd happily make you some up though, nothing too tricky and for ironys sake, i'll make a few of the clips out of recycled batteries but i'll get looking for a commercial supply otherwise it's just a standard battery clip soldered to a DC jack with a bit of heat shrink.

[Seeker of Rock]

Another anti-battery testament...I have an old MXR Dynacomp with battery only, and it is a pain to keep up with. I wouldn't think a battery jack would be missed except perhaps by someone only using one or two pedals and likely wouldn't have a power supply/pedalboard. Even then they could always run a multi-outlet power strip.

[Jero]

I've never actually seen one for sale... but I have seen them in the past, i'd happily make you some up though, nothing too tricky and for ironys sake, i'll make a few of the clips out of recycled batteries but i'll get looking for a commercial supply otherwise it's just a standard battery clip soldered to a DC jack with a bit of heat shrink.

That's what I do too!

[Ryan]

Thanks again for the input and the votes guys, I appreciate it!

Pete, Sam found a couple places that sell those clips for 30ish cents, I don't have the links right now, but I think those things are going to be available and we'll be able to hopefully just give them to whoever wants one. I like that solution a lot, it's simple and works well and still gives the option if needs be.

[deadbeatriot]

another vote against batteries here.

i hate not knowing when my pedal is going to stop working.

i hate having to use a screwdriver to open up my pedals.

i hate having to spend money on new batteries.

i hate having to dispose of batteries in an eco-friendly way.



that said, batteries come in handy when you forget your power supply (like at our nyc meetup).

but really, exp pedals are so cool.

[Ryan]

Well said, DBR!

I think that whole uncertainty thing is what bugs me the most about batteries... the thought that the death of the battery is imminent, just waiting for the second chorus or a badass breakdown or a haunting and passionate solo, then it dies, and the music dies, and every single audience member dies... just unnecessary brutality.