Keeping amps cool and component life

[Quencho092]

I just got me a DRRI and I'm simply loving the tone-it screams SRV chops with my strat in neck position!

But this sucker gets HOT :saeek: , literally! Is it a good idea to put a fan in back or something to keep it cool? Doesn't this take a toll on component life and the transformers? My bandmaster is ALWAYS cool compared to this, even during loud gigs, so it's kinda strange to me.

Oh and when i switch the standby off it makes a buzzing noise for a split second. Could this be because there's an arcing problem with the standby or something?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Keeping amps cool and component life

Can you grab a transformer for 8-10 seconds without it burning your hand? If so, it's not too hot. But sure, a fan in the back will help cool things down. There are a lot of tubes jammed into a fairly small cabinet.

If you find it to be too bright there's a good mod for clipping a cap to warm it up.

Is it a Buzz or a Pop when you switch it?

Pop is the arcing you are talking about, dirty switch. Not sure about buzz.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Keeping amps cool and component life

i dig the brightness, i almost always played my bandmaster with the bright switch on.

My favorite part about the amp is the ability to ditch all my pedals. Instead of putting my ts9 in front, i just set the amp at 8 and lower the volume for clean chords.

Oh and it keeps clean until 6.5, almost 7 even. I guess my strat pickups are able to squeeze more headroom than higher output buckers that you have.

Scott, my guess is that the quick 'BZZZ' noise could have something to do with the crappy chinese rectifier tube they put in there stock. Doesn't the rectifier lag a bit when powering up an amp compared to SS? The buzz literally sounds like an appliance powering on, so the sound might be caused by the rectifier's defects.