Members voneville Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 One night after a few drinks I decided to go jam a bit in the garage. I guess when I closed up shop I neglected to turn the amp off, and didn't notice for a couple weeks. I've been pretty busy. Amp still works fine and sounds fine. How bad is it for your amp to be left on? I think vacuum tubes were originally designed to be energized for extended periods of time, so I can't imagine it would wear out the tubes that much quicker, espeically if there's no signal going to them. I would think being energized and de-energized repeadetly would be worse. I don't plan on making a habit out of this, but I was just curious if this is bad mojo or not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MadSkillzMan Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 was it in standby? Ive heard numerous times of studios that leave their preamp gear go 24/7 as its less stressful on the tubes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grayeyes777 Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 definitely bad if standby wasn't on... my amp tech and i just had this conversation. things can melt and get "wierd" as he put it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sekler Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by grayeyes777 definitely bad if standby wasn't on... my amp tech and i just had this conversation. things can melt and get "wierd" as he put it. if the volume was not even really high, I wouldn't think it's bad at all..I mean, amps are supposed to be working like this..at worse, it would put wear on the tubes. Unless the amp is really prone to heavy heat with no vents and whatnot then there could be a small risk..I'm no tech, but somebody already posted a thread similar to this one a while ago.Experts will chime in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members code_blue Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 May have put a little "time" on the tubes. Some guy on here left a 5150 on for two years. (true story) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plague dog Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 purely class A amp it might cause a problem. With no signal on a class a/b it shouldn't be a problem at all. I actually just went to my lock out the other day and I'd left my amp on for about 4 days. Picked up my guitar and started playing... sounded great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 The only real problem, I think, is that the valve sockets could get damaged by the heat. I left a Gibson GA15 combo on for a week straight. It performed perfectly, but when I checked the preamp tubes the plastic valves were brown and distorted from the heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grayeyes777 Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by sekler if the volume was not even really high, I wouldn't think it's bad at all..I mean, amps are supposed to be working like this.. at worse, it would put wear on the tubes. Unless the amp is really prone to heavy heat with no vents and whatnot then there could be a small risk.. I'm no tech, but somebody already posted a thread similar to this one a while ago. Experts will chime in i'm definitely not an expert... the worst when it comes to electronics... i don't even know how to solder. tech said that he saw caps and transistors melt while not on standby. i'm sure that it's worse for some amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MadSkillzMan Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 haha no but thats pretty bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IKilledSifoDyas Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 You can relax man. You most likely didn't leave your amp on for 2 weeks. Your wife's boyfriend probably left it on sometime later when you were out being "pretty busy".Now don't you feel better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Cohn Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 i always think of tube amps like diesel trucks. Its far worse for them to start and stop and always heat up, cool down, etc. than it is just to leave the {censored}er on, all the time. maintaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aeonrevolution Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 So would it be a good idea to just leave my ampeg on 24/7 from now on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Cohn Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by aeonrevolution So would it be a good idea to just leave my ampeg on 24/7 from now on? not 24/7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzbox Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 if the average show is 2hrs long....you just completed a 168 day tour! I'd say retube and get some rest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sekler Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Originally posted by fuzzbox if the average show is 2hrs long....you just completed a 168 day tour! I'd say retube and get some rest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.