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HELP! POWERED ON AMPEG SVT WITH NO CAB

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by gcannar, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. Apr 3, 2012 #1
    gcannar

    gcannar Guest

    Jan 15, 2010
    Hi,
    today i do a mistake! I power on my ampeg svt-vr and also switched on the standby while no cab was connected to the head. I totally forgot it...and i use it for a couple of minutes. I have no cab to test the amp so i would like to now if someone can help me with diagnostics:

    At the time of the mistake it do nothing like smoke, smell, flares etc...all seems to be ok.
    The amp seem to run fine (stanby on)...all tubes power on...
    The led of BIAS and BALANCING are light fine as ever..

    It's there any test that i can do without a cab to now if i broken something?....

    I'm so afraid....thank you so much!

    Gabriel.
     
  2. Apr 3, 2012 #2
    David Jayne

    David Jayne

    Jan 16, 2006
    Brookfield, CT
    I think you got lucky. If you burned the transformer you probably would have smelled it. No way to know without plugging in a cab.
     
  3. Apr 3, 2012 #3
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    You didn't hurt it. No smoke, no problem.
     
  4. Apr 3, 2012 #4
    JimWasHere

    JimWasHere

    Sep 8, 2010
    Portland, OR
    I have to ask though, how did you play for a few minutes without noticing the distinct lack of sound?
     
  5. Apr 3, 2012 #5
    contrapposto

    contrapposto Guest

    Oct 23, 2011
    California.
    A studio we recorded in a couple years ago did this to mine, and it seemed fine for about a couple weeks. After that I had some pre-amp tube failures, but I'm pretty sure it was from long term wear more than just the one accident. Got it all sorted now, though, and it's good as new.
     
  6. Apr 3, 2012 #6
    Ben Clarke

    Ben Clarke www.songwrench.com Supporting Member Commercial User

    Jan 6, 2005
    Buffalo, NY
    Owner of Songwrench Productions, a music production and education/coaching company
    It wouldn't affect the preamp in any way.
     
  7. Apr 3, 2012 #7
    contrapposto

    contrapposto Guest

    Oct 23, 2011
    California.
    Yeah I was told any problems would've been fuses/transformers, most likely not a tube or the preamp.
     
  8. Apr 3, 2012 #8
    bassmeknik

    bassmeknik

    Nov 6, 2009
    Fair Haven, MI
    Most tube amps use an output jack with an internal switch that shorts the transformer secondaries (not in SS amps) that is designed to protect the amp in the event someone does what you did. No smoke is a good thing but you won't know till you hook a speaker to it. Tube amps are at risk when run open circuit and solid state amps (without output transformers) are at risk when run shorted. Thus the shorting switch is standard on most quality tube amps and they are NOT used on (most) SS amps.
     
  9. Apr 3, 2012 #9
    gcannar

    gcannar Guest

    Jan 15, 2010
    Unfortunatly i was using the head in te control room while i tought it was connected to a cab in the other studio room...so i notice the problem when unmuting the mic line...previously i was only hear the preamp balanced output...

    I hope no damage was done to the head...as soon as i can i'll connect a cab...

    Thank you so much!! Gab.
     
  10. Apr 3, 2012 #10
    hired hand

    hired hand Guest

    Nov 6, 2007
    USA, CA, 94585
    As explained above.....
    You picked the "best case scenario". It could have been much worse if you were plugged into a cab and the cable was pulled from the speaker end.
    If the amps sounds/plays fine, then you are OK.
    Best
     
  11. Apr 3, 2012 #11
    David Jayne

    David Jayne

    Jan 16, 2006
    Brookfield, CT
    Not this one though. It's got Speakons.