Accidentally powered on head, cab not plugged in...

[Logan L.]

Once I DID plug it in, I'm getting a really noise/gnarly buzzing and popping noise and you can barely hear the guitar. I just got this thing back from Mesa and I'm hoping I didn't just ruin it. Anyone ever do this.

 

[mrd]

:shock:

How long was it on with no load and how loud was it? What amp?

 

[Logan L.]

it's a 2-channel triple rec. I plugged it in, let it warm up for about 20 seconds on stand by, then turned it into the "on" position. I must have only played for 20-30 seconds max before realizing that I hadn't plugged in the speaker. I am using a 2x12 mesa cab and I was plugged into the 4ohm jack. I was playing the overdrive channel. Thanks for the quick response : )

 

[Logan L.]

oh, and the volume was all the way down.

 

[mikeymike]

Once I DID plug it in, I'm getting a really noise/gnarly buzzing and popping noise and you can barely hear the guitar. I just got this thing back from Mesa and I'm hoping I didn't just ruin it. Anyone ever do this.

that is scary man. i hope it's okay.

 

[1vic1]

if the volume was right down it might be ok otherwise ya trannie and your power tubes are fried

 

[mrd]

If you had it on for 20-30 seconds with no load then I might be worried.

Get new power tubes and hopefully your tranny isn't fucked.

 

[manicsix]

it's a 2-channel triple rec. I plugged it in, let it warm up for about 20 seconds on stand by, then turned it into the "on" position. I must have only played for 20-30 seconds max before realizing that I hadn't plugged in the speaker. I am using a 2x12 mesa cab and I was plugged into the 4ohm jack. I was playing the overdrive channel. Thanks for the quick response : )

20 secs to warm up on standby? Is it just me or does that seem a bit cruel to your amp?

 

[clutch71]

While not good for it, I wouldn't have thought within 20-30 seconds that you would hurt anything. Someone played a ROV combo I had with out a load for what they claimed was about 5 minutes. All it did was blow the fuse and both power tubes.

Swapped power tubes and fuse and it was fine. Would kind of suck to have to retube the triple but I guess that's where I'd start.

 

[Rocky]

Mesa amps are rugged enough to handle that. You are probably just fine.

Now here is a question. How can a person 'play' an amp for 5 m ins without a speaker hooked up? I would hope that the lack of any sound would trip some sort of thought process.....

 

[JF Omalycat]

Now here is a question. How can a person 'play' an amp for 5 m ins without a speaker hooked up? I would hope that the lack of any sound would trip some sort of thought process.....

I was wondering the same thing. :?

Anyhoo, I did the same thing once with my old Ampeg. The speaker cable worked itself out of the cab while I was playing, and I stood there confused for a minute until I realized what had happened. I plugged it back in (while still on!) and bam, puff of smoke and a ear piercing squeal came rocketing towards me.
I was pretty sure I screwed up the tranny, but nope, just the power tubes, and a capacitor (???). Thank God....

Best of luck.

 

[edgarallanpoe]

Once I DID plug it in, I'm getting a really noise/gnarly buzzing and popping noise and you can barely hear the guitar

I actually think that is a good sign. If it were the tranny, I would doubt you would hear a **** thing but I could be wrong. My guess is that you fried the power tubes and/or possible something small. It sucks, but at least it isn't a major repair like a tranny.

 

[clutch71]

Now here is a question. How can a person 'play' an amp for 5 m ins without a speaker hooked up? I would hope that the lack of any sound would trip some sort of thought process.....

I was wondering the same thing. :?

Anyhoo, I did the same thing once with my old Ampeg. The speaker cable worked itself out of the cab while I was playing, and I stood there confused for a minute until I realized what had happened. I plugged it back in (while still on!) and bam, puff of smoke and a ear piercing squeal came rocketing towards me.
I was pretty sure I screwed up the tranny, but nope, just the power tubes, and a capacitor (???). Thank God....

Best of luck.

Here's the old post. 5 minutes may have been an exageration. I don't remember.

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=14586&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I talked to the guy that bought it and he had no issues with the amp.

 

[bryan_kilco]

back in my stupid days, I would run my Mark IV for probably....****....an hour or more without a load, while recording to my computer.
I had no idea about having to have a load on the amp.
I've done the same with my Peavey Transtube many times, and one day it finally just shut off while recording.

my Mesa never fried, that I know of, from running with no load.

 

[LUCRETIA]

whats your id on ebay?

 

[mikeymike]

back in my stupid days, I would run my Mark IV for probably....sh!t....an hour or more without a load, while recording to my computer.
I had no idea about having to have a load on the amp.
I've done the same with my Peavey Transtube many times, and one day it finally just shut off while recording.

my Mesa never fried, that I know of, from running with no load.

That's crazy. I did that to a Peavy JSX using the recording out. Nothing happened to it. However I think it was pretty messed up since the owner ran it on EL34 bias while using 6L6GC's and played a couple shows like that. He was a complete moron.

 

[jvk]

Oh, and I think in the manual it says "dont never ever ever turn on this amp otherwise you will pay for it in tears" or something to that effect.

If you run a tube amp without a load, you can fry the output transformer. And it won't be a cheap repair. If you're luckly and the output transformer didn't fry, then you probably fried your output tubes and/or the resistors in the power amp part.

Good luck in getting it fixed.

 

[mikeymike]

Oh, and I think in the manual it says "dont never ever ever turn on this amp otherwise you will pay for it in tears" or something to that effect.

If you run a tube amp without a load, you can fry the output transformer. And it won't be a cheap repair. If you're luckly and the output transformer didn't fry, then you probably fried your output tubes and/or the resistors in the power amp part.

Good luck in getting it fixed.

How much is a recto output transformer? I've always wondered... are they like over 200 dollars?

 

[jvk]

I could be wrong, but I remember Mesa charging $350 to put a new one in.

 

[mikeymike]

I could be wrong, but I remember Mesa charging $350 to put a new one in.

That's not too terribly bad. I was thinking they're like 700 bucks. 350 to install one means they charged labor in that price yeah? still its not something you wanna be throwing away on an accident.. lol