tube amps: the well oiled machines

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

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

Rock On!!!!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

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

 

[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...:33:

 

[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.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

In laymans terms....biasing is adjusting the voltage running thru the power tubes. To make it even more simple, if you have to ask what it is, or how to do it......DON'T, TAKE IT TO A PRO. I think I have a pretty solid understanding of how these things work, and I don't bias my own amps.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

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

And then put in your earplugs. I just got my amp back with a brand new red tolex custom 2x12 and i'm too scared to turn it on.

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

if you have to ask what it is, or how to do it......DON'T, TAKE IT TO A PRO. I think I have a pretty solid understanding of how these things work, and I don't bias my own amps.

haha ok. that sounds good.

 

[jeremy]

Re: tube amps: the well oiled machines

also its best to let it cool down before you bring it any where. like after a gig, let it cool down before you bring it to the car.

lots of good advice in here, but the best is to CRANK THAT SUCKA UP