Amp longevity = use or dont use ??

[seamonkey]

Modern SS gear today just keeps on going and going.

The mechanical parts are what's going to wear the most.

 

[TortillaChip520]

I wouldn't worry about it, as long as you are the type of person that takes care of their stuff and values it, your stuff will last. This stuff wouldn't cost so much if it was flimsy crap that fell apart after a year or two. There is the rare instance that you get a lemon, but for the most part, stuff will last.

 

[Jim C]

Electrolytic caps do have a shelf life 5 to 10 years. Power them up every 6 mo to a year and they will stay healthy. I have reformed caps (non-leaking or shorted ones) that were almost 50 years old. It is more involved than just using a variac. If the time it takes reduce the (DC) leakage takes to long, best to trash them. If the cap is 100 years old and not powdering or shorted, why toss a good component?

I converted a US export Marshall to british specs years ago as per Mike Doyle's book. He recommended forming caps by slowly raising voltage with a Variac. It took something like 12 hours starting at approx 40 volts and then a gradual increase.
Is there more to it in your opinion?

 

[Adam Bomb]

Thank you, OP and others. I've often wondered about this. I'm going to break out my old Ashdown head and play it for a week or so.

My question is, How much of this thread applies to cabs? It's not that I have cabs I think are too precious to play. I just have more cabs than I need, and am too much of a packrat to sell them. They are in the house, clean and dry and safe. What are the odds that I will nonetheless plug them in one day only to find that the cones have turned to dust? Or some such.

Is there a cab equivalent of dirty pots?

--Bomb

 

[B-string]

I converted a US export Marshall to british specs years ago as per Mike Doyle's book. He recommended forming caps by slowly raising voltage with a Variac. It took something like 12 hours starting at approx 40 volts and then a gradual increase.
Is there more to it in your opinion?

Don't get me wrong the variac method is better than hit the switch and pray! Both that method and mine require no tubes installed (this means if you have a tube rectifier you must temp. install SS diodes). The process I use is a little more invasive, has measurable results, faster and more complete. It will not be shared by me without knowing the person's experience level. It's on the net, so it can be found. It is not an excusive process.

 

[Jim C]

As far as I can tell, it's not your responsibility to protect others from themselves.