Survival Tips For Tube Amps

To prolong the life of tubes, observe these tips and recommendations:

· Match the impedance of your speaker cabinet(s) to the amplifier. Improper impedance matching will contribute tube wear and is a leading cause of premature tube death.

· Do not turn on the amplifier if it isn't connected to a speaker.

· Allow the amplifier to cool off after playing before you move it. This lets the internal components of the tubes cool down, making them less susceptible to damages caused by vibrations, thus prolonging their lives.

· An amp that is physically cold should be allowed to warm up to room temperature before it's turned on. The heat generated inside the tube can crack a cold glass housing.

· Replace output tubes on a regular basis, before trouble starts. Typically, this means at least once a year. If you play long and hard, every day, this could mean as often as every 4 to 6 months.

· Always have the amplifier's biasing checked after replacing the output tubes. This should be done ONLY at a qualified service center. Improper biasing could result in the tubes running too hot, which greatly reduces the life of the tubes - or too cold, which results in distorted sound regardless of level settings. Do not play the amplifier if it exhibits these symptoms - get the bias adjusted immediately to prevent tube failure or other damage.

· If the locating notch on the base of a power tube breaks off, you should replace the tube. (Rather than take the risk of damaging the amplifier by incorrectly reinserting the tube, it is less costly in the long run to consider it defective and unusable)

· Protect the amplifier from dust and moisture. If liquids get spilled into the amplifier, or if the amplifier gets dropped or excessively jarred, turn it off, unplug it and have it checked out at a service center before using it

· Proper maintenance and cleaning combined with regular trips to your service center will insure the best performance and longest life from your amplifier

CAUTION: Tube replacement should be performed only by qualified service personnel, familiar with the dangers of hazardous voltages which could be present when changing tubes! Do not risk exposing yourself to such hazards by performing tube replacements yourself if you are not qualified!