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Post subject: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:19 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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After reading a couple of threads lately about smoking amps and other issues with long periods of non use I wondered if any of you have thoughts on minimal amouts of playing time for amps that are frequently inactive. Most of my playing is done with my smaller amps and I seldom play my Super (it's just to big to lug around anymore). For the last 15 plus years it has seen little use and spends most of it's time in the back of a closet. I love it's tone and don't plan on getting rid of it but also realize that letting it sit idle for months at a time probably isn't good either.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:35 pm
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If nothing else, just fire up your Super and merely allow it to idle for awhile with the volume set at minimum. Ten or fifteen minutes every three months should be sufficient to keep the electrolyte in the filter, bias, and bypass caps from congealing into a hazardous mess.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:25 pm
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Rock Star
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+1
I'll play my amps a little at least once a month,that's the ones that don't get much playing time...I guess my '66 Pro Reverb has gotten the least time this summer..I need to get it out somewhere and crank it!


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:51 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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A few minutes once a month should be good at low levels


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:42 pm
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I rotate my amps, playing one every week for a couple hours, seems to do the trick and it can be inspiring to play a different amp and getting a bit different sound :mrgreen:

T2

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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 1:35 am
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T2Stratman wrote:
I rotate my amps, playing one every week for a couple hours, seems to do the trick and it can be inspiring to play a different amp and getting a bit different sound.


+1

I generally play a different rig (and guitar) for each gig. Thus, by the end of a two-month period every amp in my herd has received a vigorous "aerobic workout". My '68 Bronco never sees any stage use so I play it weekly at home when learning new material and working out song arrangements.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:18 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Thanks guys, great suggestions.


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Post subject: Re: Vintage Amps and Inactivity
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:28 pm
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Don't let your amp die, vette man.

"Flex its muscles" periodically and it'll probably outlast all of us.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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