Warming up/cooling off the tubes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joeytpg
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Joeytpg

Joeytpg

Active member
Guys I have one of those myth questions

Is it really necessary to turn on the amp and wait a few minutes for for tubes to warm up before you switch the Standby button on and start playing?

Same as when you've been playing for a while and want to turn off the amp, should you wait a few minutes for the tubes to cool off before switching the standby button off and turning off the amp?

Will I get more life out of my tubes doing this or is it a myth?
 
Warming up makes sense. If you don't do that the tubes will have a shorter lifetime... Cooling down is not such a big thing... As far as I know it is important to have cool tubes when you want to transport your amp. Warm tubes can be damaged more easily than cold tubes.

BW don_huberto
 
WOW, I had no idea you had to cool down the tubes before switching off. :scared:
 
nbarts":2ezrjfew said:
WOW, I had no idea you had to cool down the tubes before switching off. :scared:
Click to expand...

i cant imagine that this makes any sense ...

what ive read so far from peter and other forums is that its only important to let the tubes get warm for at least 40 seconds before switching on. ive never heard that you have to do this when turning off.
 
This was asked a while back and Peter's exact recommendation was let it warm up at least 30 seconds. (If you can let it warm up more great, some dudes will leave their amps on for a few hours before doing studio work, pay attention to your amp next time your playing it, you will notice warmer tone after playing for a bit.) Shutting down, flip it on stand by, wait 3 seconds, and power down. No cooling necessary. His exact recommendation mind you. The part with these"()" is my addage, which is also very true. :yes:

Later,

-Nick
 
Cool, thanks a lot guys. I've heard about all this, and I've been doing it but I just wanted to make sure.

Hell I used to "warm up" the tubes for close to 5 minutes before playing :P. Now I know that a minute if more that ok.
 
All the techs I know told me to turn the amp off directly, without using the standby button. That's what I've been doing for ten years now. But I lower the master volume before turning the amp off, otherwise you get a nasty pop.
 
Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert":12xgn3ub said:
This was asked a while back and Peter's exact recommendation was let it warm up at least 30 seconds. (If you can let it warm up more great, some dudes will leave their amps on for a few hours before doing studio work, pay attention to your amp next time your playing it, you will notice warmer tone after playing for a bit.) Shutting down, flip it on stand by, wait 3 seconds, and power down. No cooling necessary. His exact recommendation mind you. The part with these"()" is my addage, which is also very true. :yes:

Later,

-Nick
Click to expand...

Thanks, that makes sense.
 
When you measure the bias next time: hook the DMM to your amp, and switch it on with the standby already in the run position - you'll notice that the currents jumps up to 150mA per tube (or 300 for a pair) - and thats exactly the problem if you don't use the standby: while the cathode isn't "ready"/heated up, the current jumps up extremely high and causes extreme tube wear.

After 20 seconds it goes down to "normal " levels though . . .

When you turn the amp off - it doesn't matter what you do with the standby . . .
 
...when you use the standby before shutting off; it is in standby mode next time you switch on... that's the best starting position...
 
Actually, that's true. I happened to turn on my amp a few times with standby already engaged. Not good if done more often.
 
The tone definitely changes as the tubes warm up. The longer you can leave them the better. When setting my rig up I plug the head into the cab and turn it on in standby and finish the rest of my setting up then.

As for powering down, I try to let the tubes cool before moving the head. I've heard different arguments about the standby/no standby issue - apparently the capacitors discharge faster if the amp is not on standby although I'm no expert on the matter. Again, when packing my rig down I power off the head, then pack everythinge else away before coming to the head last. Just a habit! ;)
 
i pay always attention warming up tubes so i do after to move the amp one time shut off.

that would be different if i'll pick it up with me to rehearsal....

there you play 1 or 2 hours and have to leave free the room as fast as possible after your time is up.
...you can't say the boss - give me 90 minutes bedfore i can move my amp :)

so your bandmates couldn't stop playing 30 minutes just to let your amp cool down :P

what will you do in this case? this shit is pissing me off :)
 
Just handle it with care, it's all about impact and vibration. If you can keep the amp movement slow and sensitive, nothing should happen.
After most of my shows, I have to clear the stage as fast as possible. That means I have to lug around a hot tube amp right after use. I NEVER let stage hands pack away my amp, I always take care of that myself to be sure it is moved with care. My tubes didn't take any damage so far, I've been a gigging musician for ten plus years now. So: just try and move it gently.
 
what about turning the amp on without having the guitar plugged in? im talking about standby mode....

i remember having read in some magazine that the amp could get damaged if no guitar is plugged in?!?!?
 
No. Speaker or load is important, input isn't. Not even with standby off.
 
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