Use (tube) amp on its side?

Willem · #1 12-31-2010, 05:38 AM

Hey

my trace elliot hexavalve (6 powertube amp) has rubber feet on its side. Does this mean that I could play it, standing on those feet? The day before yesterday we had a gig where it would have been easy to set the amp on its side, but I didn't dare...
What do you guys think?

Thanks

coreyfyfe · #2 12-31-2010, 06:04 AM

somegeezer · #3 12-31-2010, 06:07 AM

Of course. It would be silly for them to put feet on the side if they weren't meant to be used. Pretty pointless to waste money like that. The few pennies it takes to put them on each head would add up to big money in the long term you know? They could have saved themselves money by not putting them on, but relaised that sometimes it's just easier to have it on its side.

RCCollins · #4 12-31-2010, 06:11 AM

could potentially be hard on the tubes and/or sockets. But yes, they designed it that way

Jim Campbell · #5 12-31-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willem

Hey

my trace elliot hexavalve (6 powertube amp) has rubber feet on its side. Does this mean that I could play it, standing on those feet? The day before yesterday we had a gig where it would have been easy to set the amp on its side, but I didn't dare...
What do you guys think?

Thanks

i'd check with the manufacturer....

Billy3000 · #6 12-31-2010, 11:07 AM

Why would you want or need to have it on it's side anyway? just put it on top of your cab.

JimmyM · #7 12-31-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy3000

Why would you want or need to have it on it's side anyway? just put it on top of your cab.

+1.

anyway, they may have designed it that way, and to be honest, i have seen people do it and their stuff didn't blow right away, but the way it was explained to me was that heat rises, so the lower tubes' heat will collect and rise to the higher tubes to make them hotter. whether this has any practical application or implications i don't know, but in a 300w tube amp that's been disco'ed for 20 years i'd probably think twice.

dmrogers · #8 12-31-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

But the way it was explained to me was that heat rises, so the lower tubes' heat will collect and rise to the higher tubes to make them hotter. whether this has any practical application or implications i don't know, but in a 300w tube amp that's been disco'ed for 20 years i'd probably think twice.

Plus....
If you try to play it on it's side, all the "groove & funk" might pour out!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Seriously, I agree with the above, just set it on your cab. Jimmy is right, it will run cooler that way.

BassmanPaul · #9 12-31-2010, 12:57 PM

many amps have been designed with feet on one end and a handle on the other. It makes the amp easier to transport. I feel that you should use you amp flat to allow all the tubes the same amount of cooling air flow. As Jimmy opines the upper tubes will be heated by the lower tubes with the bottom one being the coolest and the top one the hottest.

Hellbastard · #10 12-31-2010, 01:06 PM

The feet are for easier transpotation and storage. My traynor has rubber feet on both of its sides. Using a tube amp standing on its side it's not good for Tubelife because of the way the heat dissipates. If run vertically the tube on the top will run hotter than the rest. It won't blow your amp, but the tubes will not wear out evenly, so you probably will find that you'll need to bias or changes tubes constantly.

**Lazarus.Bird** · #11 12-31-2010, 01:10 PM

Interesting thread. I'm grabbing an SVT in a few days. It's too wide to sit on my earcandy stack so I had planned on putting it on it's side on the floor. Guess I'll just stack it on top of one of my guitarists' amps.

Munjibunga · #12 12-31-2010, 01:23 PM

When tubes are horizontal, many of the electrons emitted from the cathode fall down to the envelope and never make it to the plate, resulting in a loss of power.

JimmyM · #13 12-31-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

When tubes are horizontal, many of the electrons emitted from the cathode fall down to the envelope and never make it to the plate, resulting in a loss of power.

i don't know, munji. a lot of amps are made with hanging tubes, which would theoretically do the same thing.

Munjibunga · #14 12-31-2010, 01:37 PM

No, hanging tubes are better, because the electrons get additional speed from gravity as they fall to the plate.

JimmyM · #15 12-31-2010, 01:38 PM

using that theory, hanging tubes' electrons would fall up to the plate, not down.

oh, i get it...already started holiday drinking

ok...well happy nye to you, bro!

Dave M · #16 12-31-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

When tubes are horizontal, many of the electrons emitted from the cathode fall down to the envelope and never make it to the plate, resulting in a loss of power.

uhhhh, ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

No, hanging tubes are better, because the electrons get additional speed from gravity as they fall to the plate.

...And, hook, line, and sinker.
Now that you got a bite, are you gonna reel him in?

edit: I should have mentioned, BassmanPaul and Hellbastard are correct. Many of the T-E heads have the "side" feet for just those reasons. There should be no issue with using in that position, except as Jimmy points out, you want heat to escape, and in an all tube amp it's best to have a top vent at the top, and unobstructed. Does the Hexa have ventilation at the top of the chassis?

Munjibunga · #17 12-31-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

uhhhh, ...

...And, hook, line, and sinker.
Now that you got a bite, are you gonna reel him in?

edit: I should have mentioned, BassmanPaul and Hellbastard are correct. Many of the T-E heads have the "side" feet for just those reasons. There should be no issue with using in that position, except as Jimmy points out, you want heat to escape, and in an all tube amp it's best to have a top vent at the top, and unobstructed. Does the Hexa have ventilation at the top of the chassis?

Naw, I'm doing catch and release today. Besides, Jimmy came off the hook before I could set it.

twinfallsbass · #18 12-31-2010, 05:35 PM

Just used my HexaValve on it's side, NO PROBLEMO

Munjibunga · #19 12-31-2010, 05:39 PM

I would also point out that the preamp tube in the Shuttle 9.0 is hanging sideways, with a support ring at the tip. It seems to work fine so far.

anderbass · #20 12-31-2010, 06:02 PM

We had a similar thread here awhile back. I seem to remember Psycho Bass Guy being a bit concerned that some of the components in horizontally placed powertubes could possibly be more easily damaged from vibration and rough handling while the tubes were all warmed up.

Besides the possible cooling issues I dont remember anyone coming up with any hard evidence against this practice but there probably some very good reasons you dont see many power tubes mounted sideways...