tube amps: the well oiled machines

[nepalnt21 HamerTimeologist Find all posts View Profile Close nepalnt21]

i am about to enter the realm of owning tube amps. i have never owned one, dont know anyone too well that owns one, the only expiriences ive had with them are playing them in the store, and reading about them. so i would appreciate some pointers on taking care of it. what are some no- no's? what are some yes- yes's? jsut a general "how" to be nice to my amp. i dont have it yet, but it will be a mesa f- 50 head with a buzzbomb 2x12 cab. thanks for any advice.

[Scott_F Flushologist Find all posts View Profile Close Scott_F]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Pretty straight forward. Let the tubes warm up in standby mode for 30 seconds to a minute. That will extend the tube life.

Try not to put it right up against the wall. Give it 4 inches at least as you want a bit of air flow.

Some folks install little fans in the back, but I've never bothered. I think it's overkill for most amps.

[aleclee Major General GAS Find all posts View Profile Close aleclee]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Don't run a tube amp that's not hooked up to speakers.
Do not mismatch speaker & output impedance by a factor of > 2:1 (e.g., 16 ohm speaker hooked up to 4 ohm output)
Don't go poking around inside the chassis if you don't know what you're poking. The voltages in there can make you very dead.

[HamerPlyr Toolman of Tone Find all posts View Profile Close HamerPlyr]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Always have spare (properly rated) fuses and tubes on hand. Not a full set of tubes, but at least one extra power and one extra preamp tube. You wouldn't drive your car without a spare tire, would you?

[HamerPlyr Toolman of Tone Find all posts View Profile Close HamerPlyr]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

The voltages in there can make you very dead.

Excellent advice. The filter caps can release lethal voltage levels, even after the amp has been unplugged for hours or days.

[RevolutionMan Member Find all posts View Profile Close RevolutionMan]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

all good stuff here, and keep the beers off the top of the amp.

regarding sticking your hands in the chassis, like the others said just don't do it. A fender champ that was unplugged, yes unplugged, literally gave me the shock of my life, in retrospect I did something really stupid, but I know better now.

[Zerberus Baron Von Shred Find all posts View Profile Close Zerberus]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Never put liquids (Beer, soda, water) on top of the head.

Doublecheck EVERYTHING before flipping the standby switch, esp speaker connectoin and Master volume.

[iceman79 Tone Member Find all posts View Profile Close iceman79]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

If the amp you're getting is used you should retube the whole thing and have the bias properly set by an amp tech. Your amp will run smoother with new properly biased tubes.

[nepalnt21 HamerTimeologist Find all posts View Profile Close nepalnt21]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

thanks for all the advice! this will help me out a lot. and hopefully others will read this, and git they larnin on!

[nepalnt21 HamerTimeologist Find all posts View Profile Close nepalnt21]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

ok what does it mean to "bias" an amp? and do you have to do this every time you change tubes?

[schecterplayer Toneologist Find all posts View Profile Close schecterplayer]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

ok what does it mean to "bias" an amp? and do you have to do this every time you change tubes?

It basically calibrates the amp for the tubes, an unbiased amp will sound like crap. It is bad for the amp and especially the tubes to have the bias wrong. You only need to do this for the power tubes, preamp tubes are plug and play.

[Kac Hootersologist Find all posts View Profile Close Kac]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Kac's Advice ~ Crank the son-of-a-

Rock On!!!!

[Jeff_H Dean Hardtail Fanologist Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff_H]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Everyone forgot the most important thing........turn that sucka up to 11!

[Kac Hootersologist Find all posts View Profile Close Kac]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

Everyone forgot the most important thing........turn that sucka up to 11!

I think you and I were thinking alike...

[nepalnt21 HamerTimeologist Find all posts View Profile Close nepalnt21]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

i found some pages on google about biasing but they are confusing. basically i read that you have to check it with a voltometer? that still doesnt tell how to adjust anything. or do yo? again, ive had not much expirience with this kind of stuff, so layman's terms, please.