Ampeg SVP CL / tube preamp - Heat

[Jazzjames]

Hi everyone,

How warm shound an all tube preamp get during the course of a gig? I finished a gig this evening and I noticed my new setup was a little warm. Not hot, but for sure warm around the front where the control face is, and on the sides, where I can touch it through the big holes in the side of the case.

The power amp was also very slightly warm but not like the ampeg.

I've been using class D heads for a long time and my Aguilar doesn't get warm like this, so I just want to check I'm not cooking the gear!

James

[Bigwan]

Valves need to be warm to operate. Each valve has a heating element inside. Nothing to worry about. You should feel how warm a good old plexi gets after a few hours! Would be more worried about the power amp getting hot.

[Dood]

Yes to the above but you will want to still make sure your rack case is allowing enough air circulation via vents too.

[HazBeen]

The SVP has several valves which in essence are light bulbs and will generate heat. Yes to the gents above, personally I would give the SVP room above and below. You may get away with mounting an external fan that directs air to the pre.

[Jazzjames]

Thanks guys. I'm going to monitor it on this weekend's gigs and if it gets more than warm at any stage, I'm going to drill some holes in the top of the case above the vents to let the air straight out. There's room all around the preamp but it's relatively tight.

[krispn]

Yup mine does the exact same - I bought a little fan from amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RAM-150mm-6-inch-Clip--Transformer/dp/B00KCL33GA/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1479926824&sr=8-10&keywords=ram+air+fan

I point it into the rear of the rack case to provide good air circulation - p[lus this way its at the back and doesnt make the rig untidy to look at. Well worth the money!

[Jazzjames]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I've played a few gigs with this setup now, it doesn't get above warm, so I'm gonna leave it as it is. Perhaps in the summer I'll get a fan to get the air moving, but right now it gets up to a warm temperature and then stays there.

And it sounds mega. So much strength to the sound.