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Deluxe Reverb-Quick Quesitons

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:13 pm
by IroniaSudby
So i have a Deluxe Reverb. I never had a tube amp before so i was
wondering what the standard rules are for takeing care of them.

How should i turn it on/off? and how long should i wait after turning it off before turning it back
on and stuff like that. Is there somewere i should read to know how these things are supposed
to be handled.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:19 pm
by benecol
If memory serves, there's no standby switch on a DR, so just switch it on, and give it a few seconds to warm up. Similarly, when you switch it off, just give it a couple of minutes before you move it. I turn it on with the volume on zero, then turn it up, but I get the feeling I'm being a superstitious fool.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:20 pm
by hotrodperlmutter
better safe than sorry.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:22 pm
by IroniaSudby
Someone said that the standby switch is nothing more then to turn
the noise off but i guess better safe then sorry.

Also, weird thing.

I checked in the back of my DR and the power switch was off (facing down)
and the Standby was facing up....but i never touched the Standby. Every time
i turn it on, it warms up for like 20-30 seconds and im ready to go. Weird....

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:27 pm
by Thom
Ok, so switch both power and standby switches to off.
To turn the amp on, turn the power switch on and let warm up for a minute or two, then switch the standby switch on.
When turning off, I usually do the reverse and switch to standby then power down, but there's actually nothing wrong with flipping both switches off.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:29 pm
by Sloan
A refresher and reminder to use that standby switch. When a tube amp is switched on it should be run in standby for at least 30 seconds, preferably a minute (the longer the better) before applying the DC rail voltage to the power amp tubes. On Marshall's, Fenders and most other tube amps, this is achieved by switching on the power at the main switch, leaving it for the necessary time, then switching from standby to normal operation. The results of not carrying out this procedure can vary from annoying, to downright expensive.

basically, leaving the amp in standby for a bit lets the tubes 'warm up' gradually rather than just being blasted with voltage instantly - which could wear them out faster.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:41 pm
by IroniaSudby
If im done playing, for a bit or for a while. Is it okay to just turn the amp off
rather then leave it on standby?

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:46 pm
by Sloan
IroniaSudby wrote:If im done playing, for a bit or for a while. Is it okay to just turn the amp off
rather then leave it on standby?
yeah, if your gonna be back in like 10 minutes then just leave in standby though. then you don't have to wait for it to warm up again.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:52 pm
by IroniaSudby
Ah i gotcha, Standby is basically for "Gotta Warm it up or go to dinner" type applications.

Ill just turn the amp off since i don't really know when im gonna wanna play, but ill make sure
to use the standby function for warming up from now on.

Thanks for the help guys.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:56 pm
by Mike
When I turn the amp I on, I turn on power, then standby after a minute or so.

Off I just flip it off as this discharges much of the filter cap voltage, then flip standby off ready for the next power up.

Don;t get too hungup on "off time", amps are fine on standby for a few hours. Just don't leave it on overnight.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:57 pm
by benecol
benecol wrote:If memory serves, there's no standby switch on a DR
Gawd, what an idiot. Sorry.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:59 pm
by IroniaSudby
Alright, just got a bit worried as i was watching this video
and the guy comes out and says "Well Tube amps CAN DIE AT ANY MOMENT
FROM ANYTHING ANYWHERE.."

I was caught off guard and now at least i know how to properly do the dew.

Thanks again.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:01 pm
by Mike
Nah they're not that fragile, they were used to build rock and roll obviously

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:49 pm
by chisa
benecol wrote:If memory serves, there's no standby switch on a DR, so just switch it on, and give it a few seconds to warm up. Similarly, when you switch it off, just give it a couple of minutes before you move it. I turn it on with the volume on zero, then turn it up, but I get the feeling I'm being a superstitious fool.
you don't need to bother about waiting before you move it when you turn it off. there is a superstition about hot valves but it is just that, you can move it as soon as you have finished using it

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:51 pm
by chisa
just don't touch the tubes straight away :lol:

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 11:56 pm
by Will
IroniaSudby wrote:"Well Tube amps CAN DIE AT ANY MOMENT FROM ANYTHING ANYWHERE.."
My Ampeg Jet has been making me feel this way lately :lol:

I seriously can't keep that thing going for more than a month without needing to change something out.

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:15 am
by Bacchus
Will wrote:
IroniaSudby wrote:"Well Tube amps CAN DIE AT ANY MOMENT FROM ANYTHING ANYWHERE.."
My Ampeg Jet has been making me feel this way lately :lol:

I seriously can't keep that thing going for more than a month without needing to change something out.
That wouldn't happen if it was a shitty, cheap, Chinese amp.

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:42 am
by Will
BacchusPaul wrote:
Will wrote:
IroniaSudby wrote:"Well Tube amps CAN DIE AT ANY MOMENT FROM ANYTHING ANYWHERE.."
My Ampeg Jet has been making me feel this way lately :lol:

I seriously can't keep that thing going for more than a month without needing to change something out.
That wouldn't happen if it was a shitty, cheap, Chinese amp.
I'm such a fucking hypocrite. I hate on Chinese amps cause they're "unreliable", but then my own American-made amp can't even work right despite days and days of teching and repairs. Meanwhile my Orange Crush is on for hours at a time and never fails.

I think I'm just a solid-state guy.

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:28 am
by hotrodperlmutter
neither switch really fucking matters when some other asshole is playing your amp while you're on the drums. when you're done, it always goes like this:

douche - "wow, that was awesome!"
me - "i know, why didn't we record it?"
douche - "good point." both switches off at once
me - "awwwww dude, srsly? standby first, asshat!"
douche - "oh sorry man, i do it like that on my fender 212FM all the time."
me - "GTFO."

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:48 am
by Will
Read this:

http://psg.com/~dlamkins/lamkins-guitar ... dby-switch

A good explanation of what a standby switch is supposed to do, why it can hurt or help your tubes, and why it actually makes no difference.