Well, there you go. If you think about all the excellent tones you can get from a passive bass (or guitar) there is just no need to add another layer of complication.

I get about 4 hours out of the batteries in my Ibanez SR-506 6 string and about the same in an Ocean 4 string fretless -- about one gig's worth. But as a precaution, I change the batteries after about two sets worth.

In terms of wires falling off ... that happens in non-active guitars too. You can get a weak solder joint from even the best companies. Add a lot of moving around and normal wear and tear (moving the control, etc.) and the wire can come off.

EMGs get about 17/1800 hours out of a 9volt.

I cant remember the last time I had to change batteries on my clapton circuited guitar.

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No no and no

Yeah but the battery terminals are a handled area of the circuit, kind of. Where you wouldnt normaly be handling the wiring side of a switch or the pots.

I do see a lot of guitars where a wire has come away from the jack socket. Particularly older Tele's and LP's. I think they may be prone to the socket rotating in the cup. Hardly ever see it on SG's with the surface mounted socket, do see it from time to time on strats.

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No no and no

yep, back-up bass. my peavey amp is a rock. no problems so far. hell, i still carry my line 6 just for back-up.
glad you got it fixed

Thats a short amount of time, if I had a bass that run off batteries I'd be changin' em like every day!

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riley

That's about right! The husband of a co-worker is a tech with the LA company that sets up the PAs and wireless systems for a lot of the groups that play the major venues here (Staples Center, Greek Theater, etc.). He says that they change the batteries in all battery powered devices such as wireless mics, wireless guitar rigs, etc. after every set.

The only exception is when the main group does an encore. They won't run out on stage and change all the batteries just for that. But between groups, they always get changed.

He's a great guy to know because every once in a while his wife will come in with boxes full of batteries, many barely or not at all used. Rather than take chances, they even pull the batteries out of mics and other wireless devices that didn't appear to even be turned on during a set.

Well like Niki I have gone a good amount of hours playing my Clapton Strat and have never had to change batteries like a mad man. The important thing is to always unplug a guitar with active pups after you shut it down, as it will continue to draw power.