I just bought a fender hot rod deluxe and have a few ? what is the best way to break this amp in? Tubes, speaker. I have heard that you have to burn the tubes in.How long before the speaker softens up? I think the amp sound really good but can't wait till it all settles in. Any advice would be appreciated
Tube amp break in?
- Thread starter floyd1
- Start date
Re: Tube amp break in?
The amp doesn't really need to be broken in, but the speakers do. Just play it for a while and you will notice that the highs get a little mellower and the mids open up as the surround loosens. Depending on the speaker, this can take awhile...if those things still have the Eminence Special Design 12" (basically a C12N with a bigger magnet), it's not too bad. Have fun...
The amp doesn't really need to be broken in, but the speakers do. Just play it for a while and you will notice that the highs get a little mellower and the mids open up as the surround loosens. Depending on the speaker, this can take awhile...if those things still have the Eminence Special Design 12" (basically a C12N with a bigger magnet), it's not too bad. Have fun...
Re: Tube amp break in?
I sometimes take a CD player and hook it into the input of an amp with a new speaker in it. Just let it play all night long, rest for the day, then do it again. Takes a few nights, but it really tames the initial highs.
I break in my amps for 72 hours or so. I want to know that the amp is going to work and not arrive DOA. I'd like to imagine that they burned yours in at Fender, but I'd guess they turn it on and if it works, they ship it.
I sometimes take a CD player and hook it into the input of an amp with a new speaker in it. Just let it play all night long, rest for the day, then do it again. Takes a few nights, but it really tames the initial highs.
I break in my amps for 72 hours or so. I want to know that the amp is going to work and not arrive DOA. I'd like to imagine that they burned yours in at Fender, but I'd guess they turn it on and if it works, they ship it.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Tube amp break in?
Interesting concept Scott. Where do you leave the amp and how loud do you run it for the night?
Scott_F said:
Interesting concept Scott. Where do you leave the amp and how loud do you run it for the night?
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Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Tube amp break in?
One thing i know from experience, is that speakers (and especially bass speakers) needs to get broken in before they sound good.
A completely "fresh" speaker tends to be really dry, boxy, tight and harsh. The reason for the speaker sounding better after some playing, is that the suspension and membrane softens, and therefore giving the speaker a more natural\free movement and less brittleness.
What i usually do, is playing the amp\cab as much as possible. When im tired of playing, im plugging a CD player into the amp, and playing my "speaker break in" cd, which is 50 minutes of a sine wave, which goes from 20hz to 2000hz, up and down.
Anyway, be careful about playing loud with a fresh speaker
. It's like a car, you don't wanna drive too hard before the engine is broken in!
One thing i know from experience, is that speakers (and especially bass speakers) needs to get broken in before they sound good.
A completely "fresh" speaker tends to be really dry, boxy, tight and harsh. The reason for the speaker sounding better after some playing, is that the suspension and membrane softens, and therefore giving the speaker a more natural\free movement and less brittleness.
What i usually do, is playing the amp\cab as much as possible. When im tired of playing, im plugging a CD player into the amp, and playing my "speaker break in" cd, which is 50 minutes of a sine wave, which goes from 20hz to 2000hz, up and down.
Anyway, be careful about playing loud with a fresh speaker
. It's like a car, you don't wanna drive too hard before the engine is broken in!
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greendy123
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
Hey Scott, I always wondered what kind of cable you run from your cd player to the speakers. Do you use a speaker or guitar cable for that? I know the signal power should be pretty low so a guitar cable would be fine right, unless you crank the volume very loud.Scott_F said:
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Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Tube amp break in?
For connecting a CD player to the amp, you'd just need a ordinary rca\jack (or whatever you need) hifi cable.
For connecting a CD player to the amp, you'd just need a ordinary rca\jack (or whatever you need) hifi cable.
75lespaul
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
Hey Scott, when you say not too loud, will barely audible do the trick or does it have to be something that can be heard in another room or so? I only ask because the houses are real close together where I live and if the volume has to be too loud, I can only do it during the day. I want to start this tonight with the CD player.
Hey Scott, when you say not too loud, will barely audible do the trick or does it have to be something that can be heard in another room or so? I only ask because the houses are real close together where I live and if the volume has to be too loud, I can only do it during the day. I want to start this tonight with the CD player.
greendy123
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
I think probably a normal volume or little less should be good enough. Meaning something like tv volume.
I think probably a normal volume or little less should be good enough. Meaning something like tv volume.
greendy123
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
Hey guys when you try this I thought my guitar music sounded better. Because guitar speakers emphasis mids, which are what guitar are based around. The guitar tone stood out more and everything else was muffled a little like the vocals, basically anything bassy or trebly. Then had my computer speakers setup, also because I have 6.1 channel sound card, that handled the highs and lows. This a awesome speaker breakin technique that lets me listen to great music anytime and breakin my speakers at the same time.Scott_F said:
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sonoflickapuss
Guest
Re: Tube amp break in?
I would think thats when a speaker sounds its best- when its new? Speakers just break down over time thats a fact.So i would'nt be in too much of a hurry to breakdown a speaker!Breakdown= wearout.
I would think thats when a speaker sounds its best- when its new? Speakers just break down over time thats a fact.So i would'nt be in too much of a hurry to breakdown a speaker!Breakdown= wearout.
greendy123
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
Well the wear on it allows the cone to loosen up and move freely. New the cone it tight but using it allows it free movement that allows to sound exact what its supposed sound like in normal operation at its best.sonoflickapuss said:
Rocker35
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
This is Celestion's advice:-
Important Note! Before breaking it in it's advisable to "warm up" the speaker gently for a few minutes with low-level playing or background hum.
Break in a speaker with a fat, clean tone: turn up the power amp volume to full, and control the level with the preamp gain. Use a level that will be quite loud, but not painful in a normal size room.
Have the bass and mid up full, and the treble at least half. On your guitar, use the middle pick up position (if your guitar has more than one pick up) and play for 10-15 minutes using lots of open chords, and chunky percussive playing. This will get the cone moving, and should excite all the cone modes and get everything to settle in nicely. The speaker will continue to mature over the years, but this will get it 95% of the way to tonal perfection in the shortest time.
This is Celestion's advice:-
Important Note! Before breaking it in it's advisable to "warm up" the speaker gently for a few minutes with low-level playing or background hum.
Break in a speaker with a fat, clean tone: turn up the power amp volume to full, and control the level with the preamp gain. Use a level that will be quite loud, but not painful in a normal size room.
Have the bass and mid up full, and the treble at least half. On your guitar, use the middle pick up position (if your guitar has more than one pick up) and play for 10-15 minutes using lots of open chords, and chunky percussive playing. This will get the cone moving, and should excite all the cone modes and get everything to settle in nicely. The speaker will continue to mature over the years, but this will get it 95% of the way to tonal perfection in the shortest time.
75lespaul
New member
Re: Tube amp break in?
That's some great advice that you found and shared--thank you! My amp is non-master so only one knob for volume & gain. I'm using Scott's method and I'm breaking in my speaker with Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffitti. Gettin' the Mojo woikin', ha ha. :smokin:
Rocker35 said:
That's some great advice that you found and shared--thank you! My amp is non-master so only one knob for volume & gain. I'm using Scott's method and I'm breaking in my speaker with Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffitti. Gettin' the Mojo woikin', ha ha. :smokin:
