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Post subject: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:53 am
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I just bartered an upgrade from a Pro Reverb to a Super Reverb from a guy who wanted something a little quieter for playing at home. During our transaction, he told me that it's somewhat important to power up and down properly or the lifespan of the tubes could be reduced.

I figure that I could get more reliable information here. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:52 pm
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I power all of my amps up by letting them warm up then idle for several minutes before hitting them with high voltage via the standby switch.

When powering down, I pull the standby switch and let the amp idle for ten or fifteen minutes prior to a complete shut-down.

It's been decades since I've lost a tube and mine typically last me a decade or more.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 5:53 am
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Power on ; It help tubes if they are hot before they receive "high"voltage with stanby in "play" position .
Power off ; do what you want , this do not matter to the amps / tubes .

To me the only reason to go in '"OFF "with " Stanby " first , it is the" Stanby" switch will be in the right position for the next power "ON".


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:56 am
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Thanks, guys. On another note... how important is it to match the tubes? I had one "red-plate" on me in the Pro Reverb. I pulled the power tubes and noticed that one was RCA the other was Zenith.


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:02 am
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Output tubes should be matched from the aspect of transconductance but they needn't be necessarily the same brand. Of course they should be biased correctly for optimum sonic performance and the amp's overall health.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:17 am
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This is my third Fender Reverb tube amp over the last 12 years. All this time, I thought the "standby" switch was a matter of convenience. This makes me wonder how many tubes I needlessly destroyed. Can the immediate, full power switching hurt the other tubes or just the 6L6?

I guess the tube-matching thing is best addressed by playing it safe and buying them in pairs or study up on the specs.


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 11:55 am
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Jehu wrote:
Can the immediate, full power switching hurt the other tubes or just the 6L6?


All of the tubes require high voltage to one degree or another, 400+ VDC for the output stage and somewhat less than 250 VDC for the pre-amp stages. I liken the use of a standby switch to that of a dimming rheostat, which usually extends the service life of an incandescent light bulb significantly. Others do not share my view so you'll have to weigh the varying opinions and draw your own conclusions.

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 1:09 pm
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Jehu wrote:
This is my third Fender Reverb tube amp over the last 12 years. All this time, I thought the "standby" switch was a matter of convenience. This makes me wonder how many tubes I needlessly destroyed. Can the immediate, full power switching hurt the other tubes or just the 6L6?

I guess the tube-matching thing is best addressed by playing it safe and buying them in pairs or study up on the specs.


The use of stanby switch when power amp ON is like driving your car slowly few miles for warm up the engine and gear box before you take highway at 75 miles per hour .

This do not mean if you forget sometimes to do that you will destroy your car engine.

Many thing can save tubes or shortened their life , not only the use of standby


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 5:13 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Jehu wrote:
This is my third Fender Reverb tube amp over the last 12 years. All this time, I thought the "standby" switch was a matter of convenience. This makes me wonder how many tubes I needlessly destroyed. Can the immediate, full power switching hurt the other tubes or just the 6L6?

I guess the tube-matching thing is best addressed by playing it safe and buying them in pairs or study up on the specs.


The use of stanby switch when power amp ON is like driving your car slowly few miles for warm up the engine and gear box before you take highway at 75 miles per hour .

This do not mean if you forget sometimes to do that you will destroy your car engine.

Many thing can save tubes or shortened their life , not only the use of standby

Turn it on and start jamming! I do. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:20 am
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Cap47 wrote:
Turn it on and start jamming! I do.


Back in the day, when a blackplate RCA 6L6GC cost $4.25 at the local Wynn-Dixie, you could get away with that.

Today, we're a little more conscious about the health of our bottles.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:12 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
I power all of my amps up by letting them warm up then idle for several minutes before hitting them with high voltage via the standby switch.

When powering down, I pull the standby switch and let the amp idle for ten or fifteen minutes prior to a complete shut-down.

It's been decades since I've lost a tube and mine typically last me a decade or more.

Arjay


Also, slow-startup tube rectifiers help, IMHO. Lets the heaters warm-up, a bit, before B+ is applied. For those amps using 5Y3GT rectifiers, the 6087 and 5Y3WGTB has slow-startup feature and subs for the 5Y3GT.

One of the better reasons to use a good 5AR4/GZ34 over the 5U4GB (fast start). For amps that can use either.

:D


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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 5:33 am
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I agree Beemer
You might remember that my 74 Super reverb didn't want a 5U4GB and i couldn't get a proper bias reading until I swapped out the GZ34 / 5AR4 (mullard) and its been perfect since even though the tube label says 5U4G

74 must have been a transition year since there was still a tube rectifier, no master volume but that horrible baffle that is falling apart on everyone I see of that time period lol

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Post subject: Re: Super Reverb - Power up/down sequence
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:45 am
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Mis-labeled tubes can really be a great buy. Like those mil-spec 5AR4 mis-labeled 5V4GA. You need to know plate structure, tube dimensions, base structures, to find the gems. I bought a bunch of H&K labeled 5Y3WGTA, but are really Bendix Red Bank 6106. One of the best 5Y3GT variants ever made.

Put this into your tweed Champ and forget about ever having to change rectifier tubes, again. Slow warm-up to boot! Cost me like $20 per bottle, 5 years ago. 6106 go for $100 each NOS, if you can find one.

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