Winter Tube Amp Care

[bobbass4k]

I'll be leaving my amp (Simms Watts PA 100, all tube) down here for a month while I go back home for xmas . My radiator will be off and it gets mighty chilly in here. My main concern is if the tubes get really cold they might crack when I start using the amp again. Is there anything I can do preventatively? Or would I just have to make sure to acclimatize them gradually before using it? This is my first tube amp if you can't tell.

[Mr. Foxen]

If you leave it in the same room, just let it warm up with the room when you are back. The risky bits are taking it from a cold place to a warm moist place, and condensation forming on it, then you have water and electric. Avoid that by giving it time to acclimatise. The other is taking a hot tube amp into a cold wind, like a rapid clear out from a gig, when a cold blast of wind can shatter your valves through thermal shock.

[bobbass4k]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1058079' date='Dec 14 2010, 12:14 AM']If you leave it in the same room, just let it warm up with the room when you are back. The risky bits are taking it from a cold place to a warm moist place, and condensation forming on it, then you have water and electric. Avoid that by giving it time to acclimatise. The other is taking a hot tube amp into a cold wind, like a rapid clear out from a gig, when a cold blast of wind can shatter your valves through thermal shock.[/quote]


Cheers dude, I was wondering whether it would be you or umph first

I might drape a precautionary sheet over it in case just in case it does get moist in here but I figured it was just a case of making sure the valves had a chane to warm up slowly.

[Musicman20]

Just warm the room up. If you have a cover for it, that will help