To Turn off or put on standby: always wondered this

[Nermel]

Should I keep my amp on standby all day even I only play about 3 hours a day??

Is it better for my tubes?

 

[Elpelotero]

not worth it...How far apart are your breaks though?

 

[Mungo Zen]

Electronic components will degrade over time if there is any load on them. If you are not going to be using your amp for say more then 30-60 minutes, may as well turn it off. Just remember to flip it to standby before firing it up, 30 seconds by the guide, I usually have a few minutes time before I fire an amp up which is also fine.

 

[Elpelotero]

Exactly. That's good advice.

I generally hit Standy, tune my guitar, then feel the tubes. If they're warm, I fire up. If not I give a few minutes. Same thing when turning off.

 

[MarkIVwidebody]

why feel the tubes every time? wait 40 secs on standby and go..........

 

[dmcguitar]

i am under the impression that you can just turn it off... that is put the amp back in stand-by, wait a few seconds for the signal to completely stop, and turn the amp off. No need to let it cool down before removing all power.

 

[Nermel]

My concern was this: is it better for the tubes to be on all the time...or is it more detremental for them to be turned off and on about 5-7 times a day...that's all..

 

[thunda1216]

Electronic components will degrade over time if there is any load on them. If you are not going to be using your amp for say more then 30-60 minutes, may as well turn it off. Just remember to flip it to standby before firing it up, 30 seconds by the guide, I usually have a few minutes time before I fire an amp up which is also fine.

electronic components, especially caps, will degrade over time if there is *no* load on them! They like to be used!

I have a couple of tube amps that do not have standby switches and they have performed well over the years.

ty

 

[dmcguitar]

i would imagine that turning it on and off 5-7 times a day is ok if spread and warm ups allowed. If you are playing for 15 minutes, stop for 5, play for an hour, stop for 30 play, stop for 15, it would be silly. You would probably want to turn it off if you will be breaking for more than an hour though.

idle current is still current, and that will wear everything faster than be off (but not in the sense of never being used and drying up caps) and also im sure that will draw more on you electric bill if you have to pay that

 

[screamingdaisy]

If you're not going to be playing for a half hour or longer, shut the amp off.

/thread.

 

[MarkIVwidebody]

ditto