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Post subject: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:47 am
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Ok, so I finally got some new power tubes for the Bassman.

I found someone to bias them that lives a little over an hour away.

My question is this.

Can I plug them into my amp, turn on the power and let them "burn" awhile without flipping the standby in order to help them settle in before I take the trip down to see my guy for biasing?

I know from reading the forum that the tubes will drift somewhat with time after the initial install and I'm trying to save myself a trip. Don't want to take brand new tubes down to bias, take the amp home and play it for a month and have to take it back down to see what the new readings are and have to re-bias them after the break-in.

I'm kind of doubtful that the operating voltages the tubes see are there without flipping the stand-by but it sure would help if I could accomplish everything in 1 trip.

Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 7:01 am
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swerve wrote:
Ok, so I finally got some new power tubes for the Bassman.

I found someone to bias them that lives a little over an hour away.

My question is this.

Can I plug them into my amp, turn on the power and let them "burn" awhile without flipping the standby in order to help them settle in before I take the trip down to see my guy for biasing?

This do not help , tubes need standby on play position to burn in

I know from reading the forum that the tubes will drift somewhat with time after the initial install and I'm trying to save myself a trip. Don't want to take brand new tubes down to bias, take the amp home and play it for a month and have to take it back down to see what the new readings are and have to re-bias them after the break-in.

Most Fender amp play fine with average bias at 50 % power dissipation . You do not need to check bias in few months if job is well done

I'm kind of doubtful that the operating voltages the tubes see are there without flipping the stand-by but it sure would help if I could accomplish everything in 1 trip.
I you see a qualified tech , the job will be well done , if you see only a unqualified repairman.... ?

After bias , at the shop ,it is the best to live the amp work few hours in case a tube failure , It may happened


Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 7:26 am
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I agree with Stratele, turn the standby to "play" mode. You want current flowing through the tubes, during break-in. Just be sure the tubes are not red plating. Really, the tech should set the bias, let the amp idle for awhile, then recheck the bias. Don't worry about burning in the tubes, before checking the idle bias.


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:31 am
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I did not say to use the amp before a bias check . It is up to swerve .

I write there is no burning in standby mode


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 9:17 am
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Stratele, I meant "play" mode in the sense of B+ going to the anode plates. Not, playing the guitar through the amp. Should have been more clear: B+ to plates, volume at zero, no inputs this = burning-in at idle.

Sorry about confusion.


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 9:23 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Stratele, I meant "play" mode in the sense of B+ going to the anode plates. Not, playing the guitar through the amp. Should have been more clear: B+ to plates, volume at zero, no inputs this = burning-in at idle.

Sorry about confusion.



No confusion ,that what I understand first time. :)

I did not recommend to put the amp on "play position " until a bias check . It is up to "swerve" to do or not .


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:41 pm
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ok, just to be clear.
Unit unplugged
Install new power tubes.
Plug in unit.
Speaker, plugged in as normal
No guitar plugged in
Volume at zero
I can flip both toggles and let it burn for say an hour.
Power down & hit the road.

Biasing can then hopefully be accomplished in one trip with tubes that will have done the majority of their "drifting" and settle in for use, no?

Think I got it.

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:54 pm
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One hour may not be sufficient -- two would be better.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:32 pm
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swerve wrote:
ok, just to be clear.
Unit unplugged
Install new power tubes.
Plug in unit.
Speaker, plugged in as normal
No guitar plugged in
Volume at zero
I can flip both toggles and let it burn for say an hour.
Power down & hit the road.

Biasing can then hopefully be accomplished in one trip with tubes that will have done the majority of their "drifting" and settle in for use, no?

Think I got it.


No swerve, you are not getting it. Don't put the standby switch into play until the tubes are biased. Do not use the amp at all until the tubes are biased. Bias the new tubes before even turning the amp on. Do not turn on your amp with new tubes until the new tubes are biased.

stratele52 said it several times, I've repeated it in several different ways. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 3:51 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Stratele, I meant "play" mode in the sense of B+ going to the anode plates. Not, playing the guitar through the amp. Should have been more clear: B+ to plates, volume at zero, no inputs this = burning-in at idle.

Sorry about confusion.



I guess I AM confused.



...and not trying to sound ignorant but Shimm, I don't even see a comment from you prior to the last one so I'm not sure where you said anything several ways...

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 4:03 am
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Shimmilou is a expert often read on forum.

Retroverbial is not wrong when he said you can Power On without checking bias before . Often it is safe .

If you are bad lucky you may damage your tubes .

You choose .That what I said from the beginning


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 5:25 am
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Screw it.

Thanks for trying. Too many conflicting statements and something lost in translation.

I'll just take it and drop it off and make 2 trips if need be.

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1978 Fretless Precision, 1982 Bullet Bass USA,
1989 MIJ '54 Re-issue Strat


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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 9:25 am
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I think shimmilou's concern regarding the idle bias is that *if* there's a problem with the supply voltage and the amp is idling basically unattended for an hour or two, that might lead to red-plating and damage to the new power tubes or other output-stage components. This would be of legitimate concern and perhaps it's best to err on the side of caution and let your amp tech handle all aspects of the re-tubing.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Burn in
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 7:36 pm
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I've got a Bias Rite you can borrow if it makes it easier. Just plug the tubes into it, power up the amp, if the bias is not too hot you can leave the amp on for the burn-in period. If your amp has a bias pot then you can easily bias the amp yourself, it ain't that hard...


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