
crazydoc
Master Baiter
The reason tube amps have standby switches is so you can leave the settings alone on your amp and axe between sets. If you turn the amp off, when you turn it back on to start playing again there will be a warm-up factor of up to a minute or so (while the tube filaments get hot) before you can get any volume. If you leave the amp on bet\ween sets, all sorts of noise and feedback can occur.
So somebody (Fender?) invented the standby switch. This (at least with the older Fender amps) leaves the filament voltage on, but disconnects the rest of the amp from its B+ supply voltage. See schematic (go to Schematics and Layouts, then Bassman or Bandmaster):
http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/
So when you get back on stage to start the next set, you pick up your axe, flip the standby switch on, and you're ready to make noise immediately at the same settings that you left.
The tubes will light up and be hot while it's on standby. It won't hurt to leave the amp on or in standby for days or months at a time, although some components may have their lives shortened minimally, and your electric bill may be a little higher.
So somebody (Fender?) invented the standby switch. This (at least with the older Fender amps) leaves the filament voltage on, but disconnects the rest of the amp from its B+ supply voltage. See schematic (go to Schematics and Layouts, then Bassman or Bandmaster):
http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/
So when you get back on stage to start the next set, you pick up your axe, flip the standby switch on, and you're ready to make noise immediately at the same settings that you left.
The tubes will light up and be hot while it's on standby. It won't hurt to leave the amp on or in standby for days or months at a time, although some components may have their lives shortened minimally, and your electric bill may be a little higher.
