Question:
Ok so, everytime I turn on a tube amp I switch the standby before I turn the amp on, mainly because Ive been told to flip the Standby switch before I do anything else.
However, it never seems to do anything, so I was wondering what exactly the standby does, and why is it so dang important to flip it on before you turn the amp all the way on?
Mainly everytime I use an amp with a std-by switch, and I just ignore it, the amp acts the same way regardless of whether or not I used the std-by switch.
Anyways, that's just been bugging me for a while, and Id like it if someone could help me out here.
Thanx.
Answer:
The standby switch allows your tubes to warm up when you play. It's better to have warm tubes when you play with it. When you are not playing with your amp it's ok to leave the standby switch on for like an hour at a time. Try not to keep it on for to long because your tubes will be wear out more, and they will not last very long.
Answer:
Originally Posted by thomaspg70 The standby switch allows your tubes to warm up when you play. It's better to have warm tubes when you play with it. When you are not playing with your amp it's ok to leave the standby switch on for like an hour at a time. Try not to keep it on for to long because your tubes will be wear out more, and they will not last very long. sorta...
if you've ever powered on a tube amp without standby and immediately tried to strum a chord you'll notice that it takes 15-30 seconds for the amp to actually produce sound. this is because tube amps have a bit of a warm up time. the stand-by switch allows the tubes to warm up without feeding them a signal. this, like thomas mentioned, is handy if you need to make some changes to your amp and want to cut out the signal without turning off your amp. I use the stand-by switch alot when i'm trying to adjust my effects order and such.
Answer:
You're doing it backwards. Leave the standby switch in the non-operational mode (on or off for standby is confusing), turn the power switch to on, wait 15 seconds or so, and then flip the standby sw. to the operational position - I'll call that on, since the amp is fully functional. When finished playing turn them both to off (non-operational). If you are going to be returning in like 10 to 30 minutes (don't know the magic amount of time) to play again, instead of turning both off, leave the power on, and switch the standby to the "off" or standby position (amp is non-operational).
The standby turns the B+ voltage (high voltage) off to the tubes. whenever the power switch is on, the heater aka filament voltage is applied to the tubes. The filament needs to heat up for 10 seconds or so before they will produce any sound. Turning on the high voltage without the filament being pre-heated a bit of a "hardship" for the tubes, as they draw more current I guess before the filament has heated up. Bottom line, its whole purpose is to help extend tube life. I have no idea as to the extent it helps. 1%, 5%, 20% longer life...??? dunno, but its not hard to do and its free, whereas tubes ain't.
Answer:
I've always heard that the amp should also be put in standby for a few seconds before powering off, helping the tubes last longer.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. I've always heard that the amp should also be put in standby for a few seconds before powering off, helping the tubes last longer.
I can't imagine why that would help, I've never read that in any tube/amp sites ...but ... When its powered off, the power is gone, so how is it going to draw a bit of excessive current due to the filament not being heated when there ain't any current available, and the heater stays lit for a short bit anywho...?

Answer:
Seems like I'll have to look into this...
Answer:
From the "Tube Amp Tips" thread...
"Always use the standby switch when powering up and powering down your tube amp. The standby switch allows the amp to sort of "warm up" and allows the tubes to settle into a sort of equilibrium state before they get slammed with high voltage. If you allow the amp to warm up or down in standby for about 30 to 60 seconds when powering up or down, you'll find that the tubes last longer."
So I've been putting the amp in standby before powering off.
Answer:
Yes, you can never play it too safe.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. From the "Tube Amp Tips" thread...
"Always use the standby switch when powering up and powering down your tube amp. The standby switch allows the amp to sort of "warm up" and allows the tubes to settle into a sort of equilibrium state before they get slammed with high voltage. If you allow the amp to warm up or down in standby for about 30 to 60 seconds when powering up or down, you'll find that the tubes last longer."
So I've been putting the amp in standby before powering off. hmm...it would be interesting to compare cool down rates between straight powering off and going to standby before powering off.
personally i always flip to standby, but this is only so it's already in standby the next time i power up. however, thinking mathematically, i can't think of a single reason why powering down in standby would actually make a difference.
Answer:
personally i always flip to standby, but this is only so it's already in standby the next time i power up.
Easily fixed by flipping both switches at the same time.
Wonder if I've been wasting time now.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. From the "Tube Amp Tips" thread...
"Always use the standby switch when powering up and powering down your tube amp. The standby switch allows the amp to sort of "warm up" and allows the tubes to settle into a sort of equilibrium state before they get slammed with high voltage. If you allow the amp to warm up or down in standby for about 30 to 60 seconds when powering up or down, you'll find that the tubes last longer."
So I've been putting the amp in standby before powering off.
Yes, I have seen that stated on this forum before on a few occasions, but was it from an amp tech? Or directly quoted from an amp tech? Or just a common misconception? There may be something to it, but a statement posted in a forum doesn't make it correct. It certainly isn't a big deal, but now my intellectual (no comments please..) curiousity is up. I'll see if I can get an answer from an authority.

Answer:
This thread is a lot more informative than I expected.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. I've always heard that the amp should also be put in standby for a few seconds before powering off, helping the tubes last longer.
I've heard the opposite claimed... not so much on tube life.. I think it had to do with the capacitors, if I remember right.
However, the claim was that it was better on the amp to do a straight poweroff.
Answer:
Well, I guess we have a conundrum.