Guitar Amp Standby Switch

Right next to the on off switch on many tube amps is a second switch labeled standby.

Guitar amp standby switch.

Standby switch in tube guitar amplifiers. A standby switch does not extend the life of the valves in fact it is more likely to reduce their useful life. This is meant to let the heaters warm up before the high voltage is switched on. Three reasons that guitar amps should not require standby switches.

So why do many guitar amps have standby switches. This article will explain what the standby switch does and how to use it. Guitar amps operate at 500v or less most at under 100w. On marshall s fenders and most other tube amps this is achieved by switching on the power at the main switch leaving it for the necessary time then.

The use and need of a standby switch is an issue that comes up from time to time. Only use the standby switch when warming up of the amp. So essential in fact that all of carvin audio s 50 watt or more all tube guitar amp models such as the v3 x100b and belair come loaded with one. For short breaks simply turn down the volume control or mute switch if you have one and don t use the standby switch so there is not that nasty pop in the house sound system that could damage speaker drivers.

What you might not know however is that while that is a conveniently useful function of the standby switch that s not the main reason it s. Old books called it preheating. But let s get one thing straight. Don t use it as a beer break switch.

It s that switch that silences your guitar amp without actually turning it off which comes in handy when break time rolls around at rehearsal or at a gig. Now not all guitar amps have standby switches. Then anywhere from 15 seconds to a few minutes after powering up flip the standby switch to the on position and you re ready to goat whatever volume you like. When you first turn your amp on you want the switch to be in the standby position in which no sound will be produced while the tubes warm up.

Guitar amp power tubes are inexpensive compared to the cost of say a transmitting tube for a radio station. Let me say that a standby switch is a convenience supplied to guitar amps. Standby switches and folklore many guitar amps too many include a standby switch. A refresher and reminder to use that standby switch.

Fortunately the standby switch is very straightforward yet absolutely essential.