Originally posted by anstratdubh1979[..]
Yeah... that or an old school EH Big Muff... it only takes a few times before you learn "CRAP, unplugge the bloody thing!".
Plus, if you leave a guitar plugged in... it's a disaster waiting to happen. EVENTUALLY, you or someone will trip over that chord - sending your guitar to the floor. NOT good.
I have always left my basses with the cables in and I never had any problem.
About the batteries, there is plenty of room beneath the pickguard to put a battery. And if you mess up, you can always change the pickguard, but you can't bring the wood back.