Amplifier shock absorbers

hydro

hydro

Prayin' to Cheeses
I am now in a band that is apparently Too Heavy and we keep blowing up amplifiers. Our amp guy suspects part of the problem is that our amp heads sit directly on top of our cabs and the tubes, and possibly other components, are getting out of sorts from too much vibration.

We play in C standard and we are loud A.F. And no, turning down is not an option.

Anyone dealt with this issue or have any suggestions as to how to address it? We could set the head cabs on the side but we have limited space plus it's a hassle.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Set the amps next to the cabs, or u can use sound foam between amp and can
or even short, wide, soft springs around your amp legs/nubs
 
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Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

I gots the rubber feetz on my ampz

Youze can two

Amazon sells a set of eight 3/4 inch thick rubber feet for about $10-15
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

The place my band plays in has a layer of foam between the head and cabs on tube amps for that reason. Since the amps are prone to....well...being treated like a rented Buick they do all they can to minimize damage.

The Tech there claims it makes a difference.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Take the head off the cabinet, I promise you will sound exactly the same as you do when they are on top.

Perhaps even better since you won’t have all kinds of vibrations rattling your tubes, Etc...
 
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I'm going to try some washing machine casters, basically they are big rubber pads. Will see how it goes. May try some acoustic foam too.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Don't forget a 3/2 levelling kit and 35's

Or a cheap used bullbar and some chinese leds at least
 
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I’ve got a hot-rodded 5E3 that puts the 6V6’s in through hell because the right tube sits directly behind my speaker with only about 1/2in of space between them. I know, not ideal, I have a V30 in it now but I’ll be swapping it out for a P-12Q the day after tomorrow which will offer much more clearance with the dust cap removed. Anyway I originally just had clamp clips for stability but they were useless with many of the tubes that I wanted to use because they had smaller bases. The way I resolved it was by using both spring retailers & high temp tube dampeners.

Granted it looks like a bit much but I’ve been running the same NOS Sylvania’s for about 6 months now whereas before I was lucky to get anything other than modern tubes to last more than a couple weeks before they’d start to rattle like crazy so I think it’s worked for the most part? Before even modern tubes that had being fat bases & fit inside the clamps would start to rattle after a month or so....
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Maybe a dumb question, but is your bias set correctly? Nothing will eat up tubes faster then a too hot bias.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

i have lots of experience with these issues.

First I would suggest that the more likely culprit is amplifier transport -because bumps in the road that jolt the element in a tube is 1000x worse than your amp being on the head.

How often and how do your transport you amps?
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

NegativeEase said:
i have lots of experience with these issues.

First I would suggest that the more likely culprit is amplifier transport -because bumps in the road that jolt the element in a tube is 1000x worse than your amp being on the head.

How often and how do your transport you amps?
Click to expand...

Good point.
I have also noticed that the vast majority of bumps and bruises my gear sustains is due to transport
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Gtrjunior said:
Good point.
I have also noticed that the vast majority of bumps and bruises my gear sustains is due to transport
Click to expand...

Yeah, agreed -if you transport an amp in a car with s stiff suspension or bad struts and shocks you can really do a number on your amp over time. Anytime I ship expensive amplifier and vintage studio equipment -I specify carriers with air ride truck suspensions or a "white gloves" shipper who specializes in this. Otherwise, they will get beat to hell. I used to haul amps across the country and back in 3-8 hr rides between each gig -thats when it really gets bad.

Though tubes are not the only components that die over time from vibration -they potted into solid state all of the Apollo capsule components for a reason -too much vibration or hits are bad -especially caps and solder points on perf.

Also -putting an amp on it's side or back where the tubes are horizontal is bad -because gravity is making the upper sockets which are away from the fulcrum point pull down and out at a different angle from the lower pins being pushed in -at the fulcrum point -which over time in a long ride with normal jolts in the car/truck cause the socket to open very slightly -not to mention creates deflection on the pins -which over a long time creates issues. Pulling tubes is a great practice -but I get that it's not practical for regular daily practice.

If you are going to a gig, stand your amp on a small block of foam or even a blanket in a pinch or in the seat, if you want to better mitigate long term wear. -Anything to de-couple the tubes from the bumps and jolts of the car chassis.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Also OP, your AMP being on your head during a gig is actually decoupling the vibration from the PA and Drum Set -which are a bigger issue if your head is directly on the stage (depending on the stage of course) -If anything you want your head on your Amp rather than on the stage directly -or on something else on the stage and not direct -your guitar amp vibrations are likely no the source of all your issues -the drums and sound reinforcement present a larger risk in many ways.

Buy some memory foam and put a few inches between your amp and head feet or buy some turntable feet isolation pads on Amazon and set your amp on those.
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Darg1911 said:
Sorbothane isolators may help.
Click to expand...

Those look great

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91vpBej0VlL._SL1500_.jpg
 
Re: Amplifier shock absorbers

Has anyone suggested a road case yet?

I second the whole "check your bias" thing.
 
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