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Leaving Amp On During Breaks-Yes Or No

#21
Originally posted by Laker
I turn my Aguilar preamp on as soon as I can before the gig (to warm the tubes up) and don't shut it or my Crown K2 off until the gig is finished. The K2 goes to "sleep" after a few seconds with no signal to it. The Aguilar has a mute switch so once volume level is set on the bass, I never turn that down on breaks either.

Just my two hundredths of a dollar.
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I also have an Aguilar 680 tube preamp that I run through a Eden WT1000 poweramp. I handle my setup exactly like Laker. I turn the preamp on and let it sit for as long as possible, letting it warmup, and then I don't turn it off until the gig or practice session is over.

Interestingly, the Aguilar doesn't have a standby switch... Does anyone know why??
 
#22
Originally posted by Bassin'
Interestingly, the Aguilar doesn't have a standby switch... Does anyone know why??
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Probably because it's a preamp. I think the standby issue is MUCH more important with power tubes than preamp tubes. I'm not saying that a preamp with a standby switch would be a bad idea, just that not as important of an issue.

Dan
 
#23
Boy! Do I have egg on my face. I just found out that my Ampeg SVT-III is not a pure SS amp. I bought it used and was told that it was just like the newer Ampeg B-2R, which is pure SS. Well, I got a little curious a few days ago because my amp weighs about 20#s more than the B-2R. I called Ampeg, and guess what? The damn thing has 3 12AX7's in the preamp circuitry. The extra weight? Transformers that are not needed in the B-2R. It is actually a lower power version of the SVT-3PRO. They are even sending me an owners manual for it, free.

Oh well! Some days chickens and some days feathers (and I got a mouthfull of feathers this time).

Anyway! It still doesn't change my opinion or my practice, based on my own experience and my EE friends knowledge and advice, of leaving my amps on full during breaks while gigging.

Sorry about the mix-up.
 
#24
Psycho: I'm sorry if I misled you. The bum info that I got was from the guy that sold me the amp, not Ampeg.

This amp is not an SVT-3PRO. It's an SVT-III. It's an earlier version of the SVT-3PRO and of a lower power. It's power rating is the same as the B-2R. I think this is were the seller got himself confused. Since he didn't have the owners manual, he just guessed when he answered some of my questions prior to the sale. I didn't know any better myself, so like a dummy, I just believed him and let it go at that.

The question came to mind a couple of weeks ago when I was in Sam Ash. Since they are discontinuing all St Louis Music Co products, they have all of the Ampeg (and Crate) marked down to 50% off (at least the store I go to has). Anyway, I picked up a B-2R to move it as I wanted to pull out a 410HLF cabinet to try it, and was amazed at the weight difference. I called Ampeg the next day, they set me straight, and sent me an owner's manual, free.

I've had the head since January and have been using it almost every weekend, sometimes twice on a week end. It's been OK so far and both of my bands like it's sound. I do too. I've been running it through a 1x15 and 2x10 set up, both Ampeg, bought them with the head from the same guy. It was a package deal.

BTW, I bought the 410HLF for $475, retail $950. It sounds great. Not a light weight, but manageable if you have a van or similar type vehicle. It's a bear to get in and out of the back seat of a car.

I hope this clears up any confusion.
 
#29
Solid state? I turn it off during breaks. I cannot count nor believe the number of idiots - people who must have a serious death wish - who will come up onto a stage and try to play someone's axe. I usually turn off the PA as well if its up on stage, for the same reason. Idiots with no concept of what "private property" means.

Somehow, drunk as they usually are, they can always find the master volume faster than I can, so that's not a solution.

Shall we put this thread back in the grave, gentlemen and ladies of TalkBass?
 
#30
The use of the standby switch on startup is well accepted, but there are detractors. I use the procedure described earlier.

Turning the amp off, it doesn't matter. Hit both switches at once if you want. I would think you'd want the standby in standby position when you shut down, so it's in that position when you start up.

I leave everything on at gigs. No need to add additional wear and tear to the on/off switches. I've not had anyone try to play my bass when I'm on break since the 60's.
 
#36
Note that during aging tests I have had amps powered up for months at a time. I also have some PA installations that I managed that operate 24/7 for many years at a time without the power being turned off.
 
#40
cfsporn said:
Is inrush current any better or worse when an SMPS is used?
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Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) inrush thermistors are common in all types of amps. They limit current at startup, as the component heats, the resistance drops and current limiting is decreased. The hot on resistance and current capacity varies with the model number. The 10 ohm, 5A C60 is common in many Fender type tube amps. Switch mode power supplies use them as well.
 
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