Guitar Amp Standby Switch

Old books called it preheating.

Guitar amp standby switch.

Three reasons that guitar amps should not require standby switches. Now not all 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. Guitar amp power tubes are inexpensive compared to the cost of say a transmitting tube for a radio station.

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. Right next to the on off switch on many tube amps is a second switch labeled standby. The use and need of a standby switch is an issue that comes up from time to time. Low cost low voltage and low power.

Standby switches and folklore many guitar amps too many include a standby switch. 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. Don t use it as a beer break switch.

But let s get one thing straight. 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. So why do many guitar amps have standby switches.

A refresher and reminder to use that standby switch. Standby switch in tube guitar amplifiers. This is meant to let the heaters warm up before the high voltage is switched on. 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.

For example the carmen ghia and its directly heated 5y3 rectifier does not need a standby switch. Fortunately the standby switch is very straightforward yet absolutely essential. Guitar amps operate at 500v or less most at under 100w. 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.

Only use the standby switch when warming up of the amp.