Tube Amp Maintenance & Care. What's Your Secret ?

Oh damn. I never heard about the caps drying up. I can go for a month without playing my AC30. I guess i'll play with it after i come home from jamming later. Kudos to the threadstarter for opening this thread and whoever contributed. Especially the dude who mentioned about the caps. :)
 
gsonique said:
Maybe you have point ...but how abt caps from factory ...who knows how long they sit on the shelf ?!!

What i see ...the problem with amps in regards to what you said ...is usually due to oxidization on the jacks and pots or whatever connecting parts rather the components.... after stored in bad humid conditions.
Click to expand...

Probably once they get the caps, they use them almost immediately? Fender, Peavey and Marshall churn out amps by the truckloads and boutique builders only stock up parts when there's a demand for their amps.

While it is true that a combination of all those parts having severe oxidisation can and will attribute to an amp's malfunctioning, I don't think the filter cap issue should be overlooked too. I'm no amp tech but if a lot of people, amp techs included, keep bringing it up then why risk it? All it takes is just a flick of the switch to warm up my amp every week and I have no problem with that. Better be safe than an expensive sorry.
 
how bout tube amp being in an aircon room?

my amp is in my room so when i sleep the aircon is on and if not,it will be off. so will this temperature change affect tube lifespan?
 
Kimmi said:
how bout tube amp being in an aircon room?

my amp is in my room so when i sleep the aircon is on and if not,it will be off. so will this temperature change affect tube lifespan?
Click to expand...


Yes it will
what amp is that ?
send it to me
i have a climate controlled room for tube amps
will take good care of your amp for you
 
PAF said:
Probably once they get the caps, they use them almost immediately? Fender, Peavey and Marshall churn out amps by the truckloads and boutique builders only stock up parts when there's a demand for their amps.

While it is true that a combination of all those parts having severe oxidisation can and will attribute to an amp's malfunctioning, I don't think the filter cap issue should be overlooked too. I'm no amp tech but if a lot of people, amp techs included, keep bringing it up then why risk it? All it takes is just a flick of the switch to warm up my amp every week and I have no problem with that. Better be safe than an expensive sorry.
Click to expand...

if you really wanna be kiasu
get a huge variac
and bring the operating voltage up slowly

google "forming capicators" for more info

and with a huge variac
you can also try the van halen mod
 
gsonique said:
What i see ...the problem with amps in regards to what you said ...is usually due to oxidization on the jacks and pots or whatever connecting parts rather the components.... after stored in bad humid conditions.
Click to expand...

That's what I remembered too, during my AMPLIFIER DESIGN module in electronics.

Plus, those articles were written for Temperate Climates, where the air is MUCH drier than what we experience in Singapore... Even with air-con on, the humidity is still 75%. (My office has a humidity gauge)

Can't remember much though... Returned to teacher liaoz...
 
Ratboy: haha thanks but i kind of use it everyday.i kind of wanna learn how to store it properly. i tot of just leaving it in the other room with limited temp change.one a week the room will be used and there will be aircon and on other days of the week. it just remains unused so there won't be temp flux.
 
Belive it or not, I have a rather thick blanket for my amp head when it's not in use. I'm guilty of sleeping with the air conditioner on every night and the rest of the day when no one is home, the room is just dead warm and stuffy. I am afraid of dew happening in the amp as well.

:)
 
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Whitestrat said:
That's what I remembered too, during my AMPLIFIER DESIGN module in electronics.
Click to expand...

hmm, ever wonder why guitarers like class A type of amp wheras in engineering pov, class A amp is the least efficient one and waste lotsa power in term of heat.

anyway, i did those amplifier design module back then in mid 90s, i cant never connect those thing with audio/instrument amps design. It just seem like both camp are looking at different things. One is in term of voltage/reading/measurement and the other sound.
 
junkiemanxl said:
I'm guilty of sleeping with the air conditioner on every night and the rest of the day when no one is home, the room is just dead warm and stuffy.
Click to expand...

What you actually need in the day is to keep the air in your room well circulated. Nothing more, nothing less. Open your windows. Let it air...
 
Whitestrat said:
What you actually need in the day is to keep the air in your room well circulated. Nothing more, nothing less. Open your windows. Let it air...
Click to expand...

Yeah i would love to do that but there's a ban on open windows in my house due to 2 hyper active kids climbing and running around for fear of them falling out. " The Paranoid Mother In Law Rule 3:16-9 "

Not much i can do about it.

Hehe
:)
 
apart from the replacing of tubes when it wears out

i dont really see a need to do much maintenance.
 
amp good practice

do NOT test to see if the power is on by taking out the tube and sticking in a finger.
 
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