If you play electric guitars, you must have at least once used a tube amp. This is one of the oldest and most effective types of amps that guitarists have been using for years. However, while being one of the most impressive amps, a tube amp comes up with some issues too. But one of the main questions often arises in mind, is how long can a tube amp stay on.
On average, a good tube amp can stay on for as much as 6 to 8 hours. This is what we have experienced, and if your amp is in good condition, then you only need a 30 minutes break to reuse it again. So, staying on time should now not be an issue for you to get a tube amp.
Now, if you are looking to know exactly how long a tube amp can stay on and how certain conditions will affect its timing, this is the article for you. Here we will elaborate to you in detail about everything about a tube amp’s timing.
Contents
What Is A Tube Amp?
A tube amp or a valve amp is one of the oldest types of a guitar amp that uses vacuum tubes to run. A tube amp allows you to reduce distortion to the lowest and allows increased amplitude with the help of its vacuum tubes.
The best part about a tube amp is that if the machine is in perfect condition, you will be able to play music to the highest levels with minimum distortion. So, if you want to enjoy music all the way up with reduced distortion and tube amplifiers are what you need to bet on.
6 Things That Damages Your Tube Amp
Most people complain about the stay on time and an average life of a tube amp. However, we mostly do not know the factors affecting its life and timing. So, below we have come up with some of the major things that damage your tube amp.
Turning On And Off Frequently
One of the things that affect the tube amp the most is turning it on and off frequently. When you take short breaks during your jamming session, it affects the life of your tube amp. Turing the tube amp on while it’s cold will put a strain on the tubes, eventually affecting their average life.
So, when you are one of those who take frequent breaks during their jamming session, we suggest you put your tube amp on standby. It will help you maintain its timing and improve its average life.
Using A Tube Amp Without Speakers
We think that if we have an amp, we do not need to have a speaker. Well, in most cases, it works perfectly, but it is always suggested to connect speakers even if you have amps connected. So, if you want to help your tube amp last long, it is suggested to connect speakers.
Speakers reduce the output stress from your amp, and they barely heat up. So, connect speakers, and it will help your tube amp perform well for a long time.
Humid Environment
It may sound weird, but a humid environment is also a risk factor for your tube amp. Tube amps are one of the oldest technologies we have in music, and they are not water-resistant.
So, if you are using them in a humid region or they get wet in any way, they will probably stop working. So, it will be good if you keep them away from water if you cannot keep them away from humid regions.
Putting It On Standby For Long
Those who use tube amps know that they have an average lifespan between 500 to 800 hours. So, if you are leaving your tube amp on standby for so long, it will affect the average life of your amp.
Though it is suggested to leave the tube amp on standby during small gaps, leaving it on standby all night is never a good option. So, if you do not want to damage your tube amp, avoid putting it on standby for long hours.
Plugging Into The Wrong Voltage
The voltage varies from place to place, and you must know at what voltage your tube amp works the best. However, if by mistake you plug a tube amp into the wrong voltage socket, there are going to be issues that you would never like to face.
Connecting a tube amp to the wrong voltage can even spark a short circuit. So, always be cautious while connecting a tube amp and double-check if you are connecting it at someone else’s place. This will help you protect your tube amp.
Keeping Tube Amp Unused For Months
Vacuum tube technology is too old to be used today. However, if you are using it in any way, you need to be a bit careful about it. If you have a tube amp, it is suggested to turn it on after every few weeks. Even if you are not going to play, turn it on and let the amp warm up.
If you leave the tube amp off for a long while, there are possibilities that it will stop working or malfunction. So, keep testing your tube amp every few weeks to keep it in good shape.
Is It Fine To Leave My Tube Amp On All Night?
Though you can leave a tube amp on all night, you bet that you would never like to do so if you know how bad it can be for your tube amp. The tube amp uses vacuum tubes to operate. These tubes are quite sensitive to heat, and leaving an amp on all night will surely affect the tubes.
It is worth remembering that if the tubes of a valve amp are not in good condition, there is no way to get better results from the amp. Along with it, keep in mind that leaving a tube amp on all night will affect its average life, and you will have to change your tube amp more often.
So, if you have a tube amp, we will never suggest you leave it on all night. This is how you will help your amp last long.
Is It Normal For A Tube Amp To Get Hot?
Believe it or not, even in normal circumstances, the glass enclosure of a tube amp can reach as high as 300 Fahrenheit. This all happens because of the tubes installed in a valve amp.
The tubes are sensitive to heat and heat up quite quickly. So, if you are using a tube amp, you must expect it to heat up even if you are playing it lightly.
Now, if you want to reduce the heating up process of a tube amp, you will have to follow certain things. First of all, you need to ensure that the ventilation of the amp is at its best so that it can exert heat easily. Secondly, you must check that the amp is biased rightly for its power tubes.
Lastly, it will help if you connect a good speaker along with your tube amp. It will reduce the output pressure from your tube amp. This is all you will have to do to keep your amp cool.
Does Leaving A Tube Amp On Affects Its Life?
You must not leave any amp on all the time. And, if you have a tube amp, it will be utter negligence to leave your amp on all the time. Tube amps come with vacuum tubes, and they are quite sensitive to heat.
Along with it, leaving an amp on all the time will reduce its average life. So, no matter what kind of amp you have, you are not supposed to leave it on all the time. Even if you are leaving it on standby, it will affect your amp.
So, whenever you are going to take long breaks during your jamming session, it will help to turn off the amplifier.
Should You Keep An Amp On Standby Before Turning it Off?
Certainly, it is suggested to keep an amp on standby before turning it off. This is how you keep your amp in shape and helps it to improve its average life. For a tube amp, it is ok to keep it on standby for 30 seconds, and then you are good to turn it off.
The reason why we do this is to drain the filter caps of your amp. It allows you to keep your amp safe from a sudden power cut and helps to improve its life and keeps the machine in good condition.
Along with it, in some of the modern-day amps, you will get a pop when you turn them off immediately after use. So, this is why keeping an amp on standby is better before turning it off.
Conclusion
To conclude, we can say that now you know well how long a tube amp can stay on. With this article, we have tried our best to introduce you to every aspect of keeping a tube amp on and how you will be able to keep it in the right shape without affecting the quality of sound produced.
Above you will also find some basic tips about keeping an amp on standby and how to turn it off perfectly. However, if you have any issues regarding tube amps, do let us know. We would be glad to help you out in this regard.