Destroying Angel
New member
whats the standby switch on a tube amp do?
standby switches
- Thread starter Destroying Angel
- Start date
Bludave
New member
Re: standby switches
When a tube Amp powers up it takes a minute or two before you can play anything. The tubes have to warm up. When you play live as the night progresses the tubes can get very hot. This is desireable, the need for warm tubes simply gives you much better sound. When you take a break the "stanby" switch will shut the amp down, but the tubes will stay on and heated, so there will be no warm up time next time.
When a tube Amp powers up it takes a minute or two before you can play anything. The tubes have to warm up. When you play live as the night progresses the tubes can get very hot. This is desireable, the need for warm tubes simply gives you much better sound. When you take a break the "stanby" switch will shut the amp down, but the tubes will stay on and heated, so there will be no warm up time next time.
Re: standby switches
Yep ... it allows the heaters to be turned on when the power switch is on, but it does not apply the high voltage to the tube plates when in stand by mode. Actually stand by mode is easier on your tubes also, by keeping them in a state of readiness.
Bludave said:
Yep ... it allows the heaters to be turned on when the power switch is on, but it does not apply the high voltage to the tube plates when in stand by mode. Actually stand by mode is easier on your tubes also, by keeping them in a state of readiness.
Re: standby switches
I was also told that it helps prolong the life of your tubes if you use it correctly. Make sure your amp is on standby before you turn it on, then let it warm up a few minutes before you take it off standby. Then, when you're done, turn it on standby for a few minutes again to let the tubes mellow out a bit before you turn it off.
Unfortunately I can't give you a good explanation for why, but the guy at the guitar shop said it had to do with the electrons hitting the plates, and how standing by B4 turning on and off reduces the unnecessary plate wear (does this sound right to any engineers out there?).
I was also told that it helps prolong the life of your tubes if you use it correctly. Make sure your amp is on standby before you turn it on, then let it warm up a few minutes before you take it off standby. Then, when you're done, turn it on standby for a few minutes again to let the tubes mellow out a bit before you turn it off.
Unfortunately I can't give you a good explanation for why, but the guy at the guitar shop said it had to do with the electrons hitting the plates, and how standing by B4 turning on and off reduces the unnecessary plate wear (does this sound right to any engineers out there?).
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: standby switches
You also want to throw your amp into standy for a minute or two before shutting down, to let the amp cool down ...
You also want to throw your amp into standy for a minute or two before shutting down, to let the amp cool down ...
Re: standby switches
Basically it does prolong your tubes, and yeah it does have to do with a surge on the plates, but I'm not sure of the details. I do remember I always hated the fact that some smaller tube amps don't have them ... if your amp doesn't have one turn your preamp and master volumes turned down all the way, turn the amp on and let the amp warm up, adjust controls and play. When finished turn the controls down, unplug the guitar, wait a small bit (30 seconds or so) and then turn the amp off. If your amp doesn't have a standby switch and your at a gig, you are better off to leave the amp on with preamp and master turn all the way down, and guitar unplugged (or volume control turned all the way down. A small fan in the back of all amps should be a must, battery operated fans will work. Also, when ever bringing in an amp from the cold, or from a warm place into cold air conditioning, let the amp sit at room temp for at least 30 minutes, more if it was outside in a van overnight in winter time. This does two things, one it gives the condensation a chance to clear out, and two it allows the temp of all the components to be evened out, so it's less shock when you power it out (this last part goes for all amps really, but especially tube amps, with or withour a standby switch.
Basically it does prolong your tubes, and yeah it does have to do with a surge on the plates, but I'm not sure of the details. I do remember I always hated the fact that some smaller tube amps don't have them ... if your amp doesn't have one turn your preamp and master volumes turned down all the way, turn the amp on and let the amp warm up, adjust controls and play. When finished turn the controls down, unplug the guitar, wait a small bit (30 seconds or so) and then turn the amp off. If your amp doesn't have a standby switch and your at a gig, you are better off to leave the amp on with preamp and master turn all the way down, and guitar unplugged (or volume control turned all the way down. A small fan in the back of all amps should be a must, battery operated fans will work. Also, when ever bringing in an amp from the cold, or from a warm place into cold air conditioning, let the amp sit at room temp for at least 30 minutes, more if it was outside in a van overnight in winter time. This does two things, one it gives the condensation a chance to clear out, and two it allows the temp of all the components to be evened out, so it's less shock when you power it out (this last part goes for all amps really, but especially tube amps, with or withour a standby switch.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: standby switches
Mostly to stabilize the circuit before shutting down. That way you avoid having the current die out in the circuit, causing that loud whistle sound that happens sometimes when you turn a tube amp off with the power switch.
ArtieToo said:I'm not saying you're wrong - just asking . . .
. . . why would you need to leave tube heaters on for it to "cool down".?
Mostly to stabilize the circuit before shutting down. That way you avoid having the current die out in the circuit, causing that loud whistle sound that happens sometimes when you turn a tube amp off with the power switch.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: standby switches
i think that's what you're supposed to do
not sure tho
i think that's what you're supposed to do
not sure tho
Hellion
New member
Re: standby switches
The thing I always heard about tubes is that turning an amp on and off and on and off and on and off is hard on the tubes. It's not that they won't work, but it takes a toll on them. Standby creates a little "homeostasis", if you will, that allows them to stay heated, but not having to work, which keeps the life drain on them to a minimum over the course of a night.
The thing I always heard about tubes is that turning an amp on and off and on and off and on and off is hard on the tubes. It's not that they won't work, but it takes a toll on them. Standby creates a little "homeostasis", if you will, that allows them to stay heated, but not having to work, which keeps the life drain on them to a minimum over the course of a night.
Re: standby switches
Well bear in mind that a manufacturer is going to explain things to suit their claims ... most amps when you're not plugged into them ground the inputs anyway (essentially becoming your guiatrs volume control at 0), so that takes out any signal on the circuit. Turning the amp off without a standby is better if the guitar's volume is at 0, or if it is unplugged from the input. If the amp is left alone (guitar volume at 0 or amp input unplugged) for a few seconds then it better than no standby ... turning on an amp without standby could be done the same way ( guitar volume at 0, or amp input unplugged) ... the fact remains that the tubes like to sit idile for a bit ... to what degree it effects things is open to debate, the tube simply doesn't operate normally until at operating temperatures. Running voltage to high or to low even stresses the plates in the tube (check some tube amp sties for info) ...so the statement using the term homestasis is correct, it won't kill anything, but the tubes still don't like it much. The reason on start up is because it takes a moment for all voltage to come to proper levels, and it creates a surge thru the amp's circuit (without the tubes being in their normal resistances) ...the standby is in someways similar to the soft power up functions of some effect's units (no thump or pop upon power up).
rspst14 said:
Well bear in mind that a manufacturer is going to explain things to suit their claims ... most amps when you're not plugged into them ground the inputs anyway (essentially becoming your guiatrs volume control at 0), so that takes out any signal on the circuit. Turning the amp off without a standby is better if the guitar's volume is at 0, or if it is unplugged from the input. If the amp is left alone (guitar volume at 0 or amp input unplugged) for a few seconds then it better than no standby ... turning on an amp without standby could be done the same way ( guitar volume at 0, or amp input unplugged) ... the fact remains that the tubes like to sit idile for a bit ... to what degree it effects things is open to debate, the tube simply doesn't operate normally until at operating temperatures. Running voltage to high or to low even stresses the plates in the tube (check some tube amp sties for info) ...so the statement using the term homestasis is correct, it won't kill anything, but the tubes still don't like it much. The reason on start up is because it takes a moment for all voltage to come to proper levels, and it creates a surge thru the amp's circuit (without the tubes being in their normal resistances) ...the standby is in someways similar to the soft power up functions of some effect's units (no thump or pop upon power up).
