Tube Amp Warm Up

**just strum** · May 2nd, 2009, 03:31 PM

Okay, in the "Geez, I thought everyone knew that" column.

What is the reason for the tube amp sounding better after it is warmed up? I notice the difference when I play either the Epi Vjr or the BH. So as the tubes warm up (assuming that's it) what causes the amp (amph) to sound better? Or is this one of those "It must just be me" things?

A little side not on the BH Hothead

I just noticed the panel for channel two (zoom in)

http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/qua...0bcdd61730.jpg

**Big K** · May 2nd, 2009, 09:07 PM

crank it up!!!!!

**sumitomo** · May 2nd, 2009, 09:23 PM

Yep when they warm up the juices start to flow! Sumi

**markb** · May 2nd, 2009, 09:36 PM

The power voltages settle down and the tube components get to operating temperatures. No black magic or zen secrets involved, sorry

**tot_Ou_tard** · May 3rd, 2009, 05:10 AM

What Mark said.

It is certainly true that tube amps sound better after warming up.

**just strum** · May 3rd, 2009, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by markb

No black magic or zen secrets involved, sorry

I find this very disappointing.

**Plank_Spanker** · May 3rd, 2009, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by markb

The power voltages settle down and the tube components get to operating temperatures. No black magic or zen secrets involved, sorry

Everything stabilizes and settles into the groove......................

**mrmudcat** · May 3rd, 2009, 05:46 PM

Also to add, is to turn tube amps on let the tubes get warm(few minutes) and then hit the stanby switch(if you have one

) if your not ready to play.Alot of cats these days turn their amps on then immediately hit the standby switch

My humble opinion is this is the wrong way or technique.I would like to hear other opinions on how they get their amps warmed up.......hopefully not sidetracking this thread but adding to the discussion at hand!

**oldguy** · May 3rd, 2009, 06:01 PM

I always flip 'em on and leave 'em on for 10-15 minutes. I only used the standby switch during breaks back in the day when we played as weekend warriors. When the tubes were hot they just sounded better. The old Fender Super got hotter and better as the night went on................ I also cranked it to 8 or 9 on the volume and used the guitar volume to adjust the level to where I wanted it. It seemed to be more touch sensitive that way.

**markb** · May 3rd, 2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by oldguy

I always flip 'em on and leave 'em on for 10-15 minutes. I only used the standby switch during breaks back in the day when we played as weekend warriors. When the tubes were hot they just sounded better. The old Fender Super got hotter and better as the night went on................ I also cranked it to 8 or 9 on the volume and used the guitar volume to adjust the level to where I wanted it. It seemed to be more touch sensitive that way.

Just the way I used to use my Fender/Rivera Concert. I could never get on with its distortion channel. All those gain controls and pull switches, far too confusing

**just strum** · May 3rd, 2009, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by mrmudcat

...hopefully not sidetracking this thread but adding to the discussion at hand!

Not at all, this is the sort of stuff I'm looking for.

**Mick** · May 4th, 2009, 01:54 AM

A quote from my Fender ProTube Twin-Amp User Manual...

POWER - Switches power ON and OFF to the
amplifier. (Reduce the “shock” to amplifier tubes at
power-up, extending their life span, by turning the
POWER switch ON with the STAND BY switch
DOWN for the first minute, then UP for normal use.

STAND BY - In the DOWN position, this switch puts
the amp on stand by. Audio is muted and power is
supplied only to the tube filaments. Use STAND BY
in place of switching POWER OFF during short
breaks (one hour max.). This eliminates the normal
warm-up time when STAND BY is switched OFF (UP)
when returning to play the amplifier and also extends
the life span of your amplifier’s tubes.

**Rx Tone** · May 5th, 2009, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by mrmudcat

Also to add, is to turn tube amps on let the tubes get warm(few minutes) and then hit the stanby switch(if you have one

) if your not ready to play.Alot of cats these days turn their amps on then immediately hit the standby switch

My humble opinion is this is the wrong way or technique.

That's exactly right.It slams the power tubes before they've warmed up and shortens tube life.

duhvoodooman*** · May 4th, 2009, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Plank_Spanker

Everything stabilizes and settles into the groove....

Precisely.

:

**Kazz** · May 3rd, 2009, 06:36 AM

Loud...and F'N Loud....funny.

Mark....not sure I can explain it any better than the others have...but it goes back to the Tube TV days....the picture was always better once they warmed up. I always turn my amp on and let it warm up while I am getting everything else ready to play....

**Rocket** · May 5th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Generally, amp manufacturers build their amps so that any idiot could use one... and 8-times out of 10, they're right!

**ibanezjunkie** · May 10th, 2009, 05:11 AM

well

you know when you turn on a tube-driven amp, it takes a while for the sound to come through?

thats because the tubes have to warm up for the 'juices to flow' as was said earlier.

once the tubes reach the 'magical' tempratures, the sound quality improves and the sound gets alot warmer.

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