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Post subject: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 1:18 pm
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This week I just took the big leap from a solid state modeling amp to a tube amp, specifically the Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue. I've spent many hours playing different amps and that's the one that fits me.

Now I want to make sure I take care of it right. Some of the stuff makes sense, like don't transport it when it is still hot, etc.

But the standby switch, what a controversy out there. Use it or not? Use it a certain way or not? There are articles, YouTube videos with oscilloscopes, forums, and on and on about the Standby Switch.

Some of the information I found:
Use it when powering up your amp to allow the tubes to warm up before you apply voltage
Using it prevents cathode stripping
Cathode stripping is not a thing with guitar amps because the voltages don't get high enough (< 1,000 volts)
Don't leave it on for extended breaks because it will cause cathode poisoning
Cathode poisoning takes too long to occur for it to matter
The Standby Switch prevents voltage spikes to the filter caps
The Standby Switch was introduced by Fender on request from the musicians to get rid of hum during breaks
The Standby Switch is used because substandard components were used that could not take spike voltages during startup
The switch wears and develops a nasty pop after a while
Tube TVs and radios do not have the Standby Switch, so guitar amps don't need them.

OK, I did my research and ended up where I started (and yes, I even called Fender), which is use it or not?

Do you use the Standby Switch and why or why not?


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:29 pm
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I use it to allow the tubes to warm up, and when I am taking a break.
If I'm not going to be playing for 1/2 hour or more, I'll kill the amp completely.

It's really not a huge deal... the tube will not conduct until it is up to temperature anyways (which doesn't take long), if the tube arcs when it's cold, it's bad anyways and has probably already damaged other components.
I think it really is more of a convenient way to keep the amp quiet during breaks.
My Carvin has one, my Blues Junior doesn't.

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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:52 pm
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Question: When is an incandescent light bulb most likely to fail?
Answer: When voltage is first applied.

A vacuum tube can be likened to an incandescent light bulb -- a sealed glass vessel, devoid of air, with tungsten elements within which conduct electrical current.

These are the facts and they are INDISPUTABLE.

Armchair amp techs can argue with me and they can argue with God but they cannot argue with the laws of physics.

I have always been a proponent of the standby switch to bring my tubes to operating temperature prior to applying the B+ voltage, usually for a period of ten minutes. Likewise I switch my amps to standby during lulls and interludes. At the end of play I'll switch my amps to standby to allow the tubes to cool for a minimum of fifteen minutes prior to pack-up and load-out. I average fifteen to twenty years of service life from my tubes and I have never experienced an onstage failure during some 2000+ professional gigs. Let conscience and reason be your guide.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 4:40 am
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CB91710 and Retroverbial, thanks for sharing your experience. That helps a lot. I can’t argue with 20 years of experience and 2,000+ gigs.

The more I play the amp, the more I’m loving the sound, and I want to keep it working in top shape as long as I can.

I’m glad I made the switch from solid state to tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 4:48 am
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One thing Retro did not tell , he take care of his tubes amps, he can service them.

About the use of standby switch, he is right


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 11:06 am
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alelms wrote:
...and I want to keep it working in top shape as long as I can.


That's always been my primary goal and the first thing I tell my clients. I'd rather service an amp once every five or ten years than repair it every two or three.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 6:34 pm
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Thanks again for the advice, stratele52 and Retro!


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2018 1:08 pm
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I always use the standby mode to start the amp up, and let it warm up a small amount, the when shutting it off I go to standby, then off.

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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2018 7:52 pm
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It’s a ritual I was taught as a young lad.
Have never deviated from it.
Although .... I don’t do 10 minutes like RJ.
Turning the mains on is always the first thing I do and let it warm while doing other things.
I’d guess it’s somewhere between 60 and 90 seconds.
However long it takes me to set up a stand, remove the guitar from the case, attach a strap, plug in, tune up, hang it on the stand and then close and put the case somewhere out of my way and come back.

Usually 60 to 90 seconds.
On stage it can be longer while I wait for others to perform their respective rituals.

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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:26 am
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IMO 60 to 90 second is enough.

How to power off amps,
Power OFF switch before STANBY switch help to discharge filter caps.
Anyway your amp did not see any difference if reverse the use of the switches


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 3:44 am
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Thanks to all who posted. So, here’s where I am so far:

Use the Standby switch. It’s there and has a purpose. No real reason not to use it.
Power up the amp
Wait a few minutes or so (get my stuff together), and then hit the Standby switch
Play like I think I’m Jimi Hendrix, sound like a middle school kid
When done, power down the amp and then go to standby
Let the amp sit for 15 minutes or so to cool from the heaving rockin’ session I just had
Have a beer


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 3:51 am
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alelms wrote:

Let the amp sit for 15 minutes or so to cool from the heaving rockin’ session I just had
Have a beer


+1
Hot tubes may be fragile if you have to move the amp


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:28 pm
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alelms wrote:
Thanks to all who posted. So, here’s where I am so far:

Use the Standby switch. It’s there and has a purpose. No real reason not to use it.
Power up the amp
Wait a few minutes or so (get my stuff together), and then hit the Standby switch
Play like I think I’m Jimi Hendrix, sound like a middle school kid
When done, power down the amp and then go to standby
Let the amp sit for 15 minutes or so to cool from the heaving rockin’ session I just had
Have a beer
A good thoughtful answer and makes sense. To others, if this is the hardest thing in your life to figure out, then you have no real problems.


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:30 am
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Good one LawFlow! Although we all face ups and down in life, I'm fortunate enough that this is one of the hard things in life right now, especially since I have good beer in the 'fridge and new strings on the guitar.


Keep those tubes warm!


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Post subject: Re: Amp Standby Switch Controversy
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 10:23 am
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Hey guys. Been a long time. I use my standby switch because that's how I've always done it. never lost a tube on a live gig.
Since I started building amps as a hobby and having a blast doing it, I always look at videos to try and learn stuff and get other opinions on the technical side. Here's a video that was pretty interesting. Made me think a little and could be why old Champ Amps have no standby and don't eat tubes. At least mine never did. It didn't chance my mind though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CW3II3QKp4

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