how do you turn on a tube amp?

SandmaN211 · #1 08-15-2006, 08:26 AM

how do you turn on a tube amp correctly?

do you put the standby switch to standby, turn the power to on, wait bout 1min then flick the standby switch to on?

or

do you turn the power switch to on, leave the standby switch on standby for 1min then flick the standby switch on?

i just brought a second hand tube amp and it didnt' come with an manual

i got a mesa boogie f-50

btw how to you turn it off correctly?

carlos grijalva · #2 08-15-2006, 08:30 AM

http://mesaboogie.com/manuals/user_manuals.htm

tell me how it sounds, i'm getting a F-30 in two weeks.

AKMG · #3 08-15-2006, 01:13 PM

What my friend does is just turns the amp on in stand by and lets it warm up for a few minutes, then he's ready to go. He's got the Mesa Boogie Stilleto head. Powering off would be the same I presume, just keep it in standby.

7Plagues · #4 08-15-2006, 01:15 PM

i have a mesa dual rectifier and i do the same..i switch the power on while leavin the other switch in standy..after a few minutes, i flick the standy switch and start rocking out..when im done, i put it back in standy, wait about 30 seconds then power it down

j.arledge · #5 08-15-2006, 02:50 PM

yeah turn on the power keep the amp on stand by at least until the tubes warm up and turn on the standby and play . The same with shutting down , turn on the standby and let the amp stil for a little bit then turn off power .

mfergel · #6 08-15-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7Plagues

i have a mesa dual rectifier and i do the same..i switch the power on while leavin the other switch in standy..after a few minutes, i flick the standy switch and start rocking out..when im done, i put it back in standy, wait about 30 seconds then power it down

I do the exact same thing. It allows the tubes to warm up.

**GilkyBear** · #7 08-15-2006, 04:25 PM

Wow, all these years, I just turn mine on and then strum the strings impatiently waiting for the noise... Can I damage it??

Lefty Robb · #8 08-15-2006, 04:37 PM

Your not gonna really damage the amp, but your going to wear out the tubes much faster. Think of it as kinda like starting a cold car without letting the oil circulate first.

Algiman · #9 08-15-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilk420

Wow, all these years, I just turn mine on and then strum the strings impatiently waiting for the noise... Can I damage it??

That will shorten the life of the valves (or "tubes" if you live in one of the colonies) but wont damage the amp.

**GilkyBear** · #10 08-15-2006, 05:00 PM

Sandman, It seems like you got your answer, I hope you don't mind me asking a question here since this thread is going and it's a related issue...

My amp has been crapping out on me lately. I am playing and all of a sudden the volume goes way down and it gets really bassy. Like a tenth of the regular volume. Never happened before, just recently been doing every couple days or so for a little while. I thought it was a cord or something but it's nothing I have checked. Could it be the valves? It's a Marshall JCM 50/25 model2550. That's what it says on the face, got it at a pawn shop 3 or 4 years ago.

Gex · #11 08-15-2006, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algiman

That will shorten the life of the valves (or "tubes" if you live in one of the colonies) but wont damage the amp.

This is a Valve:

This is a Tube:

Lefty Robb · #12 08-15-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilk420

Could it be the valves?

A very likely culprit. Take out each tube and look for black spots on the sides inside the glass. It will cost you a lot less to replace the EL34s and 12ax7's than to have it looked over in a repair center.

**GilkyBear** · #13 08-15-2006, 05:19 PM

Thanks Rob, never done it, do they just pop out? And back in? Do I need a hammer?

guitvai1 · #14 08-15-2006, 05:36 PM

Startup is the same as above- Start in standby, let warm up for 1min or so, then flick standby to on.

Shutdown - a little different. Don't go into standby before shutting down. Just hit off. This allows the tubes to drain of all their electricity. If you go to Standby before hitting off the tubes remain energized and you will get a big pop sound when you shut down or try to power back up.

That's what I do with my Triple Recto.

Gex · #15 08-15-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilk420

Do I need a hammer?

Oh god no!

Unless you want to get tube shards in your eyes.

Be gentle, grasp them firm enough to pull them (if you squeeze them, they could bust, keep that in mind!) and just pull them out.

Wiggle them gently from side to side to work them free. Be careful, they can sometimes come free suddenly and you can give them a good whack on the topside of the amp cabinet. I'd put my thumb over the top, so if they do come free suddenly, it will hit your thumb, and wont break the tube or make it microphonic (like a shock of that type could possibly do)

When putting them back in, make sure the pegs are lined up correctly before applying any force to them. On the bottom of the tube, they're should be a plastic peg in the middle. This peg should have a jutting edge on it, which prevents the tube from going in incorrectly. Match up this peg with the matching hole on the socket of the amp, and gently wiggle it back into place. Be careful not to bend the metal pegs of the tube.