Leaving tube amps on all day?

[theleman]

I got this old VOX ADV30T amp, and it is said to have a single 12X7 rectifying tube in the amp.
Just wondering, if it is OK to leave the amp on all day, or should it be switched off when not being used.
If it is left on all day, would it reduce the life of the tube? Or keep switching on and off a few times during the day would reduce the tube life more?

 

[jman72]

The 12ax7 preamp tube in that amp was used as a 1 watt power tube (not as a rectifier) that supplied signal to the solid state power amp. 12ax7's seem to last a long time (and are easy to get if you need one), so I don't think turning it off and on will affect it much. If it were me, I'd just use it when I needed it rather than leaving it on.

 

[Boreas]

It is going to take a long time to wear out the tube with normal play. Tube amps generate heat. What is the electricity costing you (and everyone else)? Turn it off when not in use.

 

[basher]

Since I've been working from home the last two years, I've usually kept a tube amp on all day, ready for when I take breaks. I haven't noticed any issues. And the ambient noise is a comforting reminder of my true purpose in life.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Turn it off when you're not using it.

 

[Dismalhead]

Probably not a big deal. I've accidentally left amps on for a couple of days and never had any issues, but why leave it on? Is there any benefit?

 

[Greggorios]

I wouldn't ever leave it on for an extended period of time, certainly not all day. If I play then need to take a break for an hour or less I'd probably just leave it on but not much beyond that.

 

[CCK1]

Turn it off, but generally the only harm done in leaving them on is to slightly decrease tube life and unneeded use of electricity. I once left a Traynor YBA-3 powered on for 2-3 days due to being overserved in my own basement. Didn't seem to harm it a bit. That was 10 years ago and it still has the same tubes and still sounds great.

 

[dougstrum]

I have forgotten and left an amp on for for a few hours with no problem
But you should really turn it off when you are done~

 

[1stpitch]

A friend has a Deluxe Reverb that I swear sounds to both of us to get "creamier" after it's been on for about 2-3 hours. I haven't noticed any difference on my Marshall DSL.

 

[Ronkirn]

In the realm of high end audiophiles it's not at all uncommon to find leaving tubed amps, preamps, etc., on 100% of the time... the general assumption is, doing so results in superior overall sound... and since there are no myths, no totally outrageous claims for whatever aspect of an Audiophile's system you care to mention in that world.. you can bet it's true.. just don't bet much..

I would suggest.. if you elect do so, be certain your tube's biases' are properly adjusted.. AND.. if you're "red plating" 'em, expect to be buying new tubes soon.. and if you ARE "Red Plating" them.. What.. so exactly how many times were ya dropped on your head as a baby anyway?

 

[fenderchamp]

A friend has a Deluxe Reverb that I swear sounds to both of us to get "creamier" after it's been on for about 2-3 hours. I haven't noticed any difference on my Marshall DSL.

I always start to love my amplifier more by the end of a gig when it's good and hot and has been played for a few hours+.

I'm not sure I'd leave a tube amp on all the time though. It just seems a little silly.

 

[northernguitar]

Incredible waste of electricity to leave it on.

 

[corliss1]

It won't hurt or help it, but you're just burning electricity. LOTS of tube gear back in the day (phone system, radio gear, TVs, scientific, etc) ran 24x7 for years or even decades.

 

[Engine Swap]

I've been turning my Deluxe reverb on and off since 1985 and it still has the same rectifier tube.

 

[VintageSG]

Highly unlikely to hurt anything other than your wallet.
Once temperatures have stabilised, they won't get higher, but it'll waste electricity. A solid state will waste a lot less than an all valve amp, but it's still wasteful.
Think back to the days of valve radiogrammes/stereos and televisions in the home. The radio may have been switched on at 7am and run until 11pm, without issue.
No harm, no foul.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

What advantage are you hoping to gain with leaving it on? These circuits are built to be switched off when not being used.

 

[Tmcqtele65]

I always start to love my amplifier more by the end of a gig when it's good and hot and has been played for a few hours+.

I'm not sure I'd leave a tube amp on all the time though. It just seems a little silly.

Last Christmas - I had a bunch of unused PTO and as a result found myself playing for 8-12 hours a day....my Fender Bassbreaker 15 really sounded awesome after being on for several hours. Just more of everything that is typically great from tubes.

 

[sax4blues]

I turn my gear on/off just because that’s how I live my life. Leaving a room, turn the lights off.

With no first hand data or technical knowledge to support my feelings, I can’t imagine there’s any noticeable negative impact of having an amp on all day.

 

[Boreas]

If I was still living with my parents, I can guarantee it would be turned off when not in use. In fact, I likely would have had to wait until they were out getting groceries before I could turn it on! People that grew up during the depression didn't waste anything.