Average warm up time?

[jb's 52]

Hey all,

How long does your Mark V take to warm up? For gigs and rehearsal, I plug my amp in first thing, turn it on, and leave it in standby while I set up the rest of my gear. This takes me roughly 10 mins max often times less. We're normally, up and playing in 15-20 mins at the most.

With that, I don't really hear my amp open up or warm up until a couple songs into it. Other than heating my tubes with a blow torch, does anybody do anything else that might kick start this process?

Thanks!!

 

[APEMAN]

-

 

[jb's 52]

Hi,

if it has to go fast I turn the fan off for the warmup..... but don't forget to turn it on later....

When I bought my M5 at Mesa Hollywoodstore they switched on the amp (power and standby) without a load - I was shocked[!] and switched the standby off ..... later they told me switching the amp on without a load will warm it up faster.... (???)

I would never do it and I don't recommend it - it will hurt your amp!

Hmm...I like the fan idea...and the w/o load idea is funny too...

I'm just worried I'd forget to switch on the fan and the second one is scary. Gives me an idea though, maybe I don't need to leave the standby on so long. Hell, old amps never had a standby.

 

[Scary]

I usually make it about 10 seconds before I can't hold out anymore. I'm a 10 watt player though so i'm sure that helps things warm up quick.

 

[thunder100]

The manual says somewher 30 seconds from Power ON to Stanby OFF

Roland

 

[rabies]

I really can't believe that comment about the Mesa Hollywood guys, can't imagine they'd do that. But if they did, I'd seriously report that to Petaluma. Do it.

 

[APEMAN]

-

 

[MusicManJP6]

The manual says somewher 30 seconds from Power ON to Stanby OFF

Roland

Yep, that's all I usually give it to warm up before turning standby off. As for it opening up later.... I have never really heard the tone change from 30 seconds in and beyond...

 

[jb's 52]

The manual says somewher 30 seconds from Power ON to Stanby OFF

Roland

Yep, that's all I usually give it to warm up before turning standby off. As for it opening up later.... I have never really heard the tone change from 30 seconds in and beyond...

Yeah...

I think I started noticing it about two months ago. I played a gig last night and the sound guy said the MV sounded really, really good and he dug our Mesa/Marshall mix. He also commented that my MV sounded a little "brittle" at first but that it really opened up nicely in the end.

I've noticed it in other tube amps I've had, but it's a shame I can't get that sound from the get go...hehe...call me impatient

 

[MusicManJP6]

He also commented that my MV sounded a little "brittle" at first but that it really opened up nicely in the end.

I've noticed it in other tube amps I've had, but it's a shame I can't get that sound from the get go...hehe...call me impatient

I wonder if it was just a matter of his ears adjusting or him making the mix better by the end?

 

[APEMAN]

-

 

[SteveO]

Most of the time my amp warms up faster than my fingers do, so it's pretty much a nonissue for me!

 

[domct203]

Switching the amp on and immediately out of standby will not hurt the amp at all, it will just shorten the life of the powertubes.

Dom

 

[rabies]

Switching the amp on and immediately out of standby will not hurt the amp at all, it will just shorten the life of the powertubes.

Dom

+1

also when you shutdown, the standby is not a factor (i.e. you can turn off standby and turn off power at the same time, standby is really only designed for warming up tubes so they're not shocked).

you can turn on stand by and mute the amp with guitar volume, footswitch, etc. and turn up the master volume to warm it up. most guys don't do this, it can get scary if you unmute...

 

[bassmantim71]

Power up:

- turn on amp
- plug in guitar, check strap is not twisted, tune guitar
- hit standby switch & play

Power down:

- put amp into standby
- put away guitar & pick
- turn amp off


Works everytime 8)

 

[mule#1]

He also commented that my MV sounded a little "brittle" at first but that it really opened up nicely in the end.

I've noticed it in other tube amps I've had, but it's a shame I can't get that sound from the get go...hehe...call me impatient

I wonder if it was just a matter of his ears adjusting or him making the mix better by the end?

+1 on that.