Guitar Amp Standby Switch

When a tube amp is switched on it should be run in standby for at least 30 seconds preferably a minute the longer the better before applying the dc rail voltage to the power amp tubes.

Guitar amp standby switch.

Now not all guitar amps have standby switches. Only use the standby switch when warming up of the amp. What you might not know however is that while that is a conveniently useful function of the standby switch that s not the main reason it s. Low cost low voltage and low power.

This article will explain what the standby switch does and how to use it. But let s get one thing straight. Standby switch in tube guitar amplifiers. Don t use it as a beer break switch.

So essential in fact that all of carvin audio s 50 watt or more all tube guitar amp models such as the v3 x100b and belair come loaded with one. A standby switch does not extend the life of the valves in fact it is more likely to reduce their useful life. Then anywhere from 15 seconds to a few minutes after powering up flip the standby switch to the on position and you re ready to goat whatever volume you like. Three reasons that guitar amps should not require standby switches.

When you first turn your amp on you want the switch to be in the standby position in which no sound will be produced while the tubes warm up. Old books called it preheating. Guitar amp power tubes are inexpensive compared to the cost of say a transmitting tube for a radio station. For example the carmen ghia and its directly heated 5y3 rectifier does not need a standby switch.

Right next to the on off switch on many tube amps is a second switch labeled standby. For short breaks simply turn down the volume control or mute switch if you have one and don t use the standby switch so there is not that nasty pop in the house sound system that could damage speaker drivers. Let me say that a standby switch is a convenience supplied to guitar amps. So why do many guitar amps have standby switches.

On marshall s fenders and most other tube amps this is achieved by switching on the power at the main switch leaving it for the necessary time then. A refresher and reminder to use that standby switch. It s that switch that silences your guitar amp without actually turning it off which comes in handy when break time rolls around at rehearsal or at a gig. The use and need of a standby switch is an issue that comes up from time to time.

Standby switches and folklore many guitar amps too many include a standby switch.