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leaving instrument cable plugged in on an amp - any problems?

Do you leave it plugged in?

  • Yes, and I've had issues

  • Yes, and no issues

  • No, just like you I always unplug

  • Constantly unplugging it can actually be a bigger issue than leaving it plugged in

Results are only viewable after voting.
#21
I don't know much of anything about electronics that wasn't summarized to me using pleasant and digestible analogies like I was eight, so I just leave everything plugged into everything else and don't think about it, with the exception of my bass which stays unplugged because somebody on the internet told me it should.

--^@
 
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#23
primusfan1989 said:
Leaving the cable inside the input jack when not in use is an accident waiting to happen
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I would agree if it's sticking out the front of a head with the cord draped down to the ground.
In my case the input jack is on top (combo amp) & I coil up the cable on top of the amp.


Chicory Blue said:
my bass which stays unplugged because somebody on the internet told me it should.
Click to expand...

Passives can be left plugged in, but in an active bass, plugging it in completes the circuit, thus turning on the battery.
 
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#24
Killed_by_Death said:
I would agree if it's sticking out the front of a head with the cord draped down to the ground.
In my case the input jack is on top (combo amp) & I coil up the cable on top of the amp.




Passives can be left plugged in, but in an active bass, plugging it in completes the circuit, thus turning on the battery.
Click to expand...

Right! Mine's active, so any time I fall asleep with the bass still plugged in- which is tragically often- I loathe myself and wonder if the bass forgives me.

Bribing it with a fresh battery helps me feel better.

--^@
 
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#28
Just expressing my views...

When I knew very little I used coil cords some very noisy almost microphonic
You could buy one almost anywhere in early 70s. R shack and department stores were open Sundsysvehhn a cord disaster struck

Later those who "knew better" introduced me to straight cords. Later I was admonished for using angled end to my instrument

Much later I used Monst cables and bought one with an angled jack

"To my surprise " I have had no issues with the angled jack and my next inst cord will have an angled jack asI find that it has less stress than a straight end

Oh I still tuck it behind my strap....just like those who knew best taught me decades ago

And when not in use I do not leave my cable in my amp. Just the way I do it. Doubt there would be any issues regardless
 
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#30
From a connector point of view, the jack is much more likely to fail mechanically from repeated insertions and removal than from having a plug inserted for months/years at a time.

Then again, an amp with a cord plugged into it is an invitation to trip over the cord and pull the head to the ground. Or, on the other end, pulling the instrument off the stand and crashing to the floor, but you asked about amps.

This, like many questions on TB, really has no binary answer.
 
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#35
Killed_by_Death said:
Apparently it's actually better for a tube amp to be turned directly off instead of going into standby first.
I'm sure someone will argue the opposite however.
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The information I got regarding this was from a post about power strips that @AgedHorse commented on. To summarize, he stated something to the effect there are heavy duty power switches built into the amps that are better dealing with the power requirements with bigger tube amps. It was noted that using the power switch on the power conditioners or power strips to power up and down tube amps and racks could damage or destroy these power switches on the strips/conditioners, that aren't rated to handle the power.

He of course could explain it in a way that makes more sense and logic, but with me that's probably as good as it gets. There is a long thread regarding the debate on power conditioners, and if you have the time to sit and read through it, his points will be there. It's actually a good read, and the reason I go directly into the wall with my power amps now, bypassing my power conditioner.. I still run my rack mounted effects through my furman.

Sorry didn't mean to ramble.

Edit to say I'm not talking about going into standby first (even though I always do) I was talking about powering from a power strip and I had the wrong horse quoted. It's fixed now. Sorry for misreading you post. I'm either tired or old today.
 
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#36
YosemiteSam said:
Then again, an amp with a cord plugged into it is an invitation to trip over the cord and pull the head to the ground. Or, on the other end, pulling the instrument off the stand and crashing to the floor, but you asked about amps.
Click to expand...
For this exact reason I always unplug from bass and amp. Input Jacks are cheap, any piece of gear you own for more that 5 years you have a pretty good chance of needing a jack replaced, fixing amps or instruments that fall over is not cheap and I try to take steps to avoid said catastrophes...like unplugging and wrapping up the cable (I don't unplug and wrap in between sets or brakes during rehearsals, just between using the equipment )
 
#37
JGbassman said:
The information I got regarding this was from a post about power strips that @Dark Horse commented on. To summarize, he stated something to the effect there are heavy duty power switches built into the amps that are better dealing with the power requirements with bigger tube amps. It was noted that using the power switch on the power conditioners or power strips to power up and down tube amps and racks could damage or destroy these power switches on the strips/conditioners, that aren't rated to handle the power.

He of course could explain it in a way that makes more sense and logic, but with me that's probably as good as it gets. There is a long thread regarding the debate on power conditioners, and if you have the time to sit and read through it, his points will be there. It's actually a good read, and the reason I go directly into the wall with my power amps now, bypassing my power conditioner.. I still run my rack mounted effects through my furman.

Sorry didn't mean to ramble.
Click to expand...
Was someone somehow under the impression that more power goes through the amp than the power strip to which the amp is plugged into? That makes no sense.

I turn off my amp, but that's so I know its off. There's no difference between killing the power from a power strip, the circuit breaker, or sawing a tree down onto the power line.
 
#39
Meyatch said:
Was someone somehow under the impression that more power goes through the amp than the power strip to which the amp is plugged into? That makes no sense.

I turn off my amp, but that's so I know its off. There's no difference between killing the power from a power strip, the circuit breaker, or sawing a tree down onto the power line.
Click to expand...

I'm not in a position to discuss the fine points of this, as I'm just (sort of) quoting someone that have far more experience and knowledge in this matter than I.
 
#40
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