Tube Amp Warm Up

[msteeln]

...is turning the volume full bore helpful in getting things all warm and fuzzy, or does it not, and, does it hurt the amp any to do this (or not) with the guitar cord not plugged in the amp?
Stupid minds want to know!

Q #2 - doesn't the standby mode do quicker damage to the amp, maybe the tranny? I heard long ago that stand-by mode was injurious to the amps internals.

[Plank_Spanker]

...is turning the volume full bore helpful in getting things all warm and fuzzy, or does it not, and, does it hurt the amp any to do this (or not) with the guitar cord not plugged in the amp?
Stupid minds want to know!

Q #2 - doesn't the standby mode do quicker damage to the amp, maybe the tranny? I heard long ago that stand-by mode was injurious to the amps internals.

Diming out the amp without an input will do nothing to futher warm the amp up. Without an input, the tubes are idling. It won't hurt the amp as long as you remember to turn it down or put it in standby before you plug your guitar in..............................speakers don't react well to that loud ground hum thump you get when you plug / unplug a guitar with the volume up.

As for standby, it will not damage your amp, either. It's there for a reason - to allow the tube filaments to warm up and the high voltage power supply to stabilize before you throw the coals to the amp. Some tube gurus argue that leaving the amp in standby for long periods will cause cathode stripping in the power tubes (perhaps tung or some other tube gurus here can chime in on this). Personally, I've never experienced any ill effects from going to standby at breaks and whenever I'm not playing the amp for short periods but want to leave it warmed up and ready. I use my standby switch like a mute switch.

As for the output transformer, the best way to fry it is to play with no speakers or grossly mismatch the speaker's impedance to the amp's. It's the Achilles Heel of tube amps, and you need to protect it with careful use of the amp. Output transformers are a very expensive component to replace.

[markb]

As for the output transformer, the best way to fry it is to play with no speakers or grossly mismatch the speaker's impedance to the amp's. It's the Achilles Heel of tube amps, and you need to protect it with careful use of the amp. Output transformers are a very expensive component to replace.

As a friend found when his AC50's impedance selector plug jumped out of its socket in mid-set. Great stage effect but thunderflashes are so much cheaper