Valve amp // Half stack Do's and Donts please!

[Mr White]

Alright lads, I have a basic knowledge of what to do and not do (impedances of cabinets etc using standby switches etc) but could people please put on here and pieces of common knowledge about using tube heads and cabinets?
Kinda like an idiots guide. Id particularly like to know about cabinet impedances and standby switches malarkey (contrary to what I said )

Ive just bought an all valve halfstack and dont want to break it!

Cheers!!!


James

PS - Could maybe make this a sticky topic?.....

[yabba]

it's pretty straightforward; make sure the impedances match; and use the standby switch! (ie; turn on the mains (power) switch first, let it sit for a minute or two, then turn on the standby)

(you CAN often get away with some impendance mismatches, but to keep it simple, just make sure they match, if possible)

[nonamemx]

1. Power Switch. . (wait 1 minute) . . .Standby switch [Power-up procedure]
2. Standby Switch . (wait 30 seconds) . .Power switch [Shut-down procedure]

*1 and 2 wont harm your amp, it just puts less stress on the tubes, making them last alot longer.

3. Always have a cabinet (load) hooked up to the amp when its on. (Meaning both power and standby activated. . .if the amp is on standby, however, no signal is sent to the speaker outs and you can change/swap cabs if you want. But as soon as you hit that standby again to start making music, you need to have a cabinet plugged in first.

4. Don't let the drummer carry it.

5. Change powertubes every 2 years.

6. To gigs, bring extra tubes and fuses.

7. If it blows a fuse, and you replace it, and it blows another. . .stop. Take it to the doctor, somethings wrong.

8. They dont work underwater.

9. Dont be afraid to crank it. They put those numbers there for a reason. . .they're ain't no redline. (I used to think they would break if you did this. . hehehe)

10. If your amp is noisy, or sounds like a ring modulator, saggy attack, or just ugly, try replacing the preamp tubes.

[HoWheels]

DON'T USE INSTRUMENT CABLES TO CONNECT YOUR AMP TO THE CAB

[Mr White]

DON'T USE INSTRUMENT CABLES TO CONNECT YOUR AMP TO THE CAB

No no I remembered that one from reading it on here!

[HoWheels]

It can't be overstated enough!

Someone needs to put out a PSA or something ... think of the poor tubes!

-a

[yabba]

It can't be overstated enough!

Someone needs to put out a PSA or something ... think of the poor tubes!

-a

not to mention the (much more expensive) poor output transformers!

[jgcable]

+1,000,000,000,000 to all of the above.

[Mr White]

Cheers for the advice on the standby switch too!!!

[Mr White]

Why is it that using a guitar lead is so bad?...

James

[HoWheels]

Because it's shielded. When you send high power through a shielded cable, it's going to melt and short out. The end result is a fried cable, a fried amp and potentially blown speakers as well.

-a

[Mr White]

Ah shit. Nightmare!!!

[MetalMedal II]

4. Don't let the drummer carry it.

Ha ha, the most important rule!

[lerxstcat]

1. Let the amp warm up for a minute or 2 before flipping the standby to "on"
2. Turn your standby switch off a minute or so before turning the mains off.
3. If you can, don't move your amp for a few minutes after shutting it off. If you HAVE to move it right away after your set, carry it like it was a newborn baby and set it down that way when you get it to the vehicle. Tubes are VERY susceptible to damage if jarred while hot. In fact, always handle the head this way.
4. Carry the head yourself, don't let a roadie do it. He'll toss it and say he laid it down like a baby. Roadies and homies lie about this shit and they won't pay to fix the amp.
5. NO LIQUIDS ON TOP OF YOUR AMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1 on never using a guitar cable for speakers, and on never powering the amp on without a speaker cab plugged in WITH A SPEAKER CABLE. This is like the car analogy that a quart of oil can save you buying a new engine.
If you've done these things and your amp didn't blow, YOU GOT LUCKY!!!! DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK!!!

[Mr White]

Ha no Ive been treating it like a baby!!! I gave it ten minutes on standby before I switched it on and likewise when I switched it off! Im really delicate with it too!

James