Powering up Tube AMps

[RIP385]

this is prob a dumb Question, but when powering up a tube amp...which switch is thrown first?..standby or power...if someone could tell thatd be cool...i have been playing a line6 flextone II head for a while and ima thinking of moving on to a mesa Dual rectifire....thanks

[Willman_51]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

Turn the power button on but leave it on stand-by so the tubes can warm up. I let them warm up for about 5-10 minutes. Then plug in and turn the stand-by to on and you're ready to go. [img]graemlins/band.gif[/img]

[metalcriminal]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

5-10 min? does it make a difference how long it warms up? i thought it was just long enough to get the tubes warm initially so they can start doing their thing. but i do notice my amp sounds nicer the long i play it

[eaeolian]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

The longer you let it warm up, the longer your power tubes will last. I try to let mine warm up for 10-20 minutes, when possible. At gigs, I'll turn the amp on and leave it on standby for 2-3 hours, sometimes. They just sound better the hotter they are. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Mike

[DeathIsMyJustice]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

warming up: I normaly turn my amp on stand by then I warm up then I turn my amp on (5-30 mins)

dont forget warm down you amp to (leave in on stand by for a few mins then off)

RaR!

[RIP385]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

So correct me if i am wrong....then u turn on your power switch and let the tubes warm up...after a while u turn the standby switch on???...also i have seenat a bunch of concerts i go to that when using tube amps the bands that come on after usually have their amps on durring the whole show...long before their set.

[eaeolian]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

That's exactly right. Turning on the power, but leaving the amp in stand-by turns on the tube heaters, so they're nice and warm when they take normal current through them.

Pete? Help on why this is a good thing?

Mike

[raymo]

Re: Powering up Tube AMps

I've been told numerous times just let it warm up about a minute minimum, so I usually let my tube amps warm up about 1-3 mins. Not all the time though I have let it warm up for awhile, just simply cause I forgot I turned it on. I flip the standbye before I turn the amp off when Im done playing, but for the most part I dont keep it that way for long before I turn the amp completely off, its usually a one-two thing. I've had tube amps for awhile and never had any problem with either of them. My tubes seem to last fairly long too.