Replacing battery in Sheeran Lowden

fandango · June 2020

I was wondering why my S03 wasn't registering any signal at the amplifier, but was able to generate enough to tune via my PolyTune. Thought there might be a loose connection or the pickup had gone phut, but as indicated, tuning wasn't a problem.

So ... got a torch and mobile camera into the hole and hey presto, found a black blob masquerading as a battery pouch .... but another problem .... I can't get to it without removing the strings.

Therefore .... if the battery goes, and one needs to replace it, then one also needs to replace the strings.

What a bother! There is nothing on their website to indicate this. Or that it has a battery. Stupid me, and there was me thinking it was phantom power that enabled the pickup signal to be read by the amplifier. Learn something new every day.

When Imgur behaves itself, I'll drop a photo in next post.

fandango · June 2020

https://i.imgur.com/UbRQ0Xw.jpg

ICBM · June 2020

You can just loosen the strings, you don’t need to replace them. It is a faff though.

Now you know why I prefer not to have active electronics in an acoustic guitar...

fandango · June 2020

ICBM said:

You can just loosen the strings, you don’t need to replace them. It is a faff though.

Now you know why I prefer not to have active electronics in an acoustic guitar...

I had thought of that, and will try.

There are a good number of electro acoustics where the battery compartment is built into the side, and easily accessible. Just my lack of forethought when I bought the S03. In other respects, it’s far better than my first acoustic, a Walden dreadnaught (which had a side accessible battery compartment). I hated the size of that, and played it so little, I pretty much gave it away.

Bowks · June 2020

I suppose they didn't want to be chopping big holes for battery compartment in the side of the guitar.

I have the same setup for my LR Baggs system in my acoustic and I can changes that by loosening the strings. That said, I do it so infrequently, that it's not that much of a pain.

mart · June 2020

Just in case you hadn’t realized, the pouch is velcro’d to in, so you just need to get enough purchase on it to wrench it out, then you can lift the whole pouch outside the body and change the battery.

I’ve got a battery holder like that on one of my acoustics and I can change battery without even loosening the strings.

ICBM · June 2020

I don’t really like the idea of having a hole in the side of the guitar for a battery holder either. To be honest, if you use a decent battery - I wouldn’t use anything other than a Duracell - and always remember to unplug the cable when you’re not using the guitar, the battery should probably last years anyway, with just a basic preamp.

I just see enough problems with the onboard preamp electronics as well that getting at the battery is an extra nuisance rather than the main reason - I understand the logic of having a guitar you can just plug in without needing any other equipment, but really a passive pickup in the guitar and an outboard preamp is far more flexible, reliable and future-proof.

I’ve currently got an active soundhole pickup in (what would in normal times be) the guitar I use for acoustic gigs, and even that would be a pain to change the battery on in a hurry...

lincolnblue · June 2020

About 7 years ago when I bought my Faith I tried lots of guitars, one of which was a Sigma - lovely guitar but it had that velcro'd battery pouch inside and that really put me off. I often only realise a battery is dead at an inconvenient time and so the idea of having to loosen strings to get it out really put me off.

So many guitars now have the volume control on the inside of the soundhole. I love the idea as it's neat and you don't have to take a bit of the guitar out to fit a preamp, but the practicality of changing battery is off-putting. Unless there are newer, easier ways now?

Kittyfrisk · June 2020

You might try a pair of string spreaders, cost about £3 ish.
Just loosen your strings, move them out of the way, change the battery & retension the strings.
1 pair Guitar Bass String Spreader For Polish Cleaning Fret board

1 pair Guitar Bass String Spreader For Polish Cleaning Fret board

drofluf · June 2020

Wis'd

was wondering how I'd change the battery on my Faith when I needed to without a string removal.

They're available here https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/172190781163?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=172190781163&targetid=933559395754&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046133&poi=&campaignid=9441121590&mkgroupid=95891581676&rlsatarget=aud-629407025185:pla-933559395754&abcId=1140496&merchantid=101775173&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7bm67PHi6QIVEO3tCh3jlwBFEAQYBSABEgKi8vD_BwE for £4.99

Bennyboy-UK · June 2020

Kittyfrisk said:

You might try a pair of string spreaders, cost about £3 ish.
Just loosen your strings, move them out of the way, change the battery & retension the strings.

...or a pencil, from the cup on the side

Kittyfrisk · June 2020

Or, if you aren't in a tearing hurry, the value added bargain version direct from China (isn't everything?).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOOGOO-Fretboard-Protector-Sanding-Spreader/dp/B07DN8ZY9J/ref=pd_sbs_267_1/258-3914969-3310036?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07DN8ZY9J&pd_rd_r=c4ee9028-e12b-419a-83d3-1eb58525c977&pd_rd_w=1DDGk&pd_rd_wg=AyaMT&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=G4DY317Y5JK6PZ2MY1ZH&psc=1&refRID=G4DY317Y5JK6PZ2MY1ZH

crunchman · June 2020

I don't like those velcro things. They have a tendency to come loose and rattle around inside the guitar.

I just got a clip like this:

The good news is that the battery does last for years on most preamps like this if you remember to unplug it when not in use.

fandango · June 2020

Thing is I never left a cable plugged in, and played it as much without an amp as with. Maybe it was a cheap battery. I'll find out later.

Snags · June 2020

FWIW I've got an after-market Fishman in my Furch and it has the same issue (compounded in that the 'receiving' pad for the velcro de-laminated from the guitar shoulder so I had to go through loads of iterations of shoving it back into place until I got pissed off and glued it somewhere both easier to reach and with a better contact area).

I've only had to change the battery once, but have had the pouch in and out loads of times because of the adhesion issue. You do get used to just slackening the strings off and shoving your paw in. It helps if you have small hands. I don't.

boogieman · June 2020

The Martin OM18 I’ve just bought has a very sensible solution. The battery just drops into a compartment that’s under a flap that surrounds the end pin. The door doesn’t need any tools to open it.

AustrianJohn · November 2022

fandango said:

I was wondering why my S03 wasn't registering any signal at the amplifier, but was able to generate enough to tune via my PolyTune. Thought there might be a loose connection or the pickup had gone phut, but as indicated, tuning wasn't a problem.

I just had the same issue with my 3 month old S03.

I've had the same battery in my Lowden O25 for 10 years, so I didn't suspect it was a battery problem - but it was. And the amplified sound is so much better with a new battery than it was before

Soupman · November 2022

As @AustrianJohn says, I would expect that type of battery to last years. 10 years must be two changes of Elixir strings

I've got a couple of soundhole pickups which use the button cell type batteries, but I still need to slacken the strings to remove the pickup to change batteries.
I find even those last a few years. Guess it depends on use. I never leave the guitar plugged in.

ICBM · November 2022

This is precisely why - but only one of the reasons why - I don't have anything other than a plain passive pickup and an endpin jack in any of my acoustic guitars.

Short of the apparent convenience of having just one object (guitar) which can be plugged straight into a DI box, I really don't understand why anyone using a guitar professionally would want to lumber themselves with a potential problem like this, when it can be done more easily, more reliably, more replaceably, and more future-proof by putting just the pickup in the guitar and using an outboard box for all the rest.

It also sounds better, now that modelling systems are available.

There's no reason it can't be done with a radio system either - as long as the transmitter has a high enough input impedance to work with a passive pickup, you can still do all the other stuff at the reciever end.

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Replacing battery in Sheeran Lowden

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