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Post by bloozeman on May 13, 2016 17:01:53 GMT -7
Got my carmen ghia in and just wondering, why is this amp built with no standby switch but most other Zs are? Is there a specific reasoning for this? Just curious
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Post by limenine on May 13, 2016 18:12:23 GMT -7
I don't recall the science behind it, but I remember this coming up before and Doc saying that some amps need a standby and others do not.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on May 13, 2016 19:12:54 GMT -7
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 25, 2021 9:29:38 GMT -7
I read the Docs thoughts on stand by switches. One thing he said and I've always known is use a stand by switch with a solid state rectifier. The Z-Mini does not have a tube rectifier nor does it have a stand by switch. I wonder why that is.
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Post by John on May 25, 2021 12:30:30 GMT -7
5 year old thread...
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 25, 2021 13:48:57 GMT -7
I'm well aware of that, but now it went to the top and maybe someone has an answer.
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Post by DRZ on May 25, 2021 15:45:29 GMT -7
I'm well aware of that, but now it went to the top and maybe someone has an answer. You seem to be a bit pushy wanting an answer " Too Many Amps ". Well I'll offer my insight into amp design . If you take the time to notice all Vintage amps of 5 watts or less do not have a Standby Switch. For example the Fender Champ , and the Gibson GA-5 which the mini is based on are two examples. Why you ask, well these are not stage amps, they are student amps you turn on and play mostly at home and turn off when you're done ,and they have for the most part only 2 tubes total. The Carmen Ghia is a more powerful amp but again it was based on the Hammond Organ reverb amp which on its original design did not have a Standby switch, so I didn't add it, with a slow start 5Y3 rectifier no Standby is needed . Also if you notice all HIGH PRICED tube stereo amps have no Standby switch, like the low powered Guitar amps they are turned on enjoyed then turned off. The Standby Switch is a feature added to Guitar amps , which in my opinion is really not needed. But it does offer a use for players on stage during a break to leave filament power on and the tubes heaters and removes High Voltage on an unattended amp on an empty stage. I hope this helps RECTIFY your confusion.
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on May 25, 2021 16:10:53 GMT -7
Not that Doc needs my affirmation but I will add “what he said” ^^^
As I’ve gotten into amp building myself, Ive come across more and more experienced builders who see no need for a standby on guitar amps. Lots of stuff like standby and ground switches got carried over to different amps without knowing why. They’re mostly pointless with a slow warm up rectifier like a 5AR4. Some solid state hi fi amps don’t even use them though. The folklore of cathode poisoning or stripping is not taken seriously by many serious players, builders, and engineers.
Now if you really want a mute switch on your amp, then a standby can be convenient but there’s easier and arguably safer ways to mute an amp between sets.
Just what I’ve been learning as of late.
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Post by adam on May 25, 2021 16:10:58 GMT -7
Who knows what you hear on this stuff, but I remember hearing Friedman say he never uses them, and something else about Leo Fender adding it to help facilitate something with repair or adjustment. I have no idea. I guess my take is just let the thing warm up to operating level (standby off) before you make it do real work. Like an old car or something. It's almost like we are superstitious about this stuff. Then there's that other side about leaving an amp on standby for long periods of time builds up something that shouldn't be there in the glass. I don't know, just let it warm up and play, and when done, turn it off with standby on. I'll let you know how that goes when one of my Z amps goes down, but here's to guessing they just aren't going to in my lifetime. That's me putting it out there in the universe and that's how it's going to play out.
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 25, 2021 16:14:43 GMT -7
I'm well aware of that, but now it went to the top and maybe someone has an answer. You seem to be a bit pushy wanting an answer " Too Many Amps ". Well I'll offer my insight into amp design . If you take the time to notice all Vintage amps of 5 watts or less do not have a Standby Switch. For example the Fender Champ , and the Gibson GA-5 which the mini is based on are two examples. Why you ask, well these are not stage amps, they are student amps you turn on and play mostly at home and turn off when you're done ,and they have for the most part only 2 tubes total. The Carmen Ghia is a more powerful amp but again it was based on the Hammond Organ reverb amp which on its original design did not have a Standby switch, so I didn't add it, with a slow start 5Y3 rectifier no Standby is needed . Also if you notice all HIGH PRICED tube stereo amps have no Standby switch, like the low powered Guitar amps they are turned on enjoyed then turned off. The Standby Switch is a feature added to Guitar amps , which in my opinion is really not needed. But it does offer a use for players on stage during a break to leave filament power on and the tubes heaters and removes High Voltage on an unattended amp on an empty stage. I hope this helps RECTIFY your confusion. Hey Doc, thanks for taking the time to respond, it's much appreciated. I wouldn't call myself pushy at all. I currently own 20 of your amps and I recently added a Mini-Z to the collection. I was just curious about the stand by switch since it doesn't have a rectifier tube nor a stand by switch. I thought I read in your blog to always use a stand by switch with a solid state rectified amp so I was just curious about this 1 amp. I understand that a stand by switch isn't really necessary as you have stated. I've owned many high end Hi-fi stereo amps over the years and as you've also mentioned, none of them have a stand by switch. Like I said, I have 20 Z's at the moment and this Mini is absolutely brilliant. I enjoy this as much as any of my Z's. It's got a voice all is own and a fine one it is. The only thing I did was add a 3-way bright switch like I do to many of my amps. Thank you for "RECTIFYING" my situation.
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Post by DRZ on May 25, 2021 17:02:11 GMT -7
Thank you for your support Tom. It truly isn't an easy question to answer in totality, but I gave it my best shot.
Z
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 25, 2021 17:08:15 GMT -7
Thank you for your support Tom. It truly isn't an easy question to answer in totality, but I gave it my best shot. Z Your explanation is fine and I value your input as always. I'm never on a stage without at least 1 Z and I never will be. Your amps give me everything I need.
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Post by John on May 26, 2021 4:20:52 GMT -7
I'm well aware of that, but now it went to the top and maybe someone has an answer. I hope this helps RECTIFY your confusion. Oh man....don't quit your day job...
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Post by helmi on May 26, 2021 16:05:37 GMT -7
I hope this helps RECTIFY your confusion. Oh man....don't quit your day job... Cut the guy some slack. I laughed! lol
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 26, 2021 16:49:18 GMT -7
Oh man....don't quit your day job... Cut the guy some slack. I laughed! lol I guess some people like John feel better when they belittle others. I'm cool with that. I do plenty of work on amps and I have a nice guitar repair business on the side "not the day job I should keep, but a great sideline". I didn't find anything unreasonable about my wondering why the solid state rectified Mini doesn't have a stand by switch. I wasn't implying that it should, I was just curious why it didn't. The Doctor gave me his thoughts and I thanked him. The examples he gave me of other "student grade" amps he gave me did have tube rectifiers so I can see why they didn't have a stand by switch. The Mini obviously doesn't need one either since there are many of them out there working perfectly. I just thought maybe I could learn a little something. If that's funny, so be it.
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Post by helmi on May 26, 2021 17:08:50 GMT -7
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sir, I don’t know what your replying too, but my post was directed at john’s post to Dr. z about his “rectifier” joke. It had nothing to do with you whatsoever. Us members who have been here a long time like to bust each other’s chops once in a while. all in good fun. In this miserable society, world, and life, it really is good to laugh once in a while!
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 26, 2021 17:19:23 GMT -7
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sir, I don’t know what your replying too, but my post was directed at john’s post to Dr. z about his “rectifier” joke. It had nothing to do with you whatsoever. Us members who have been here a long time like to bust each other’s chops once in a while. all in good fun. In this miserable society, world, and life, it really is good to laugh once in a while! I get it, I didn't direct it at you, I just responded to John's quote within your post. You are correct though, these are trying times we are living in and a little ball busting in good fun is a good thing. My apologies to John as well if I came off as a ****, it wasn't my intention and I really enjoy this community. Many good people and lots of good information here as well. Again, my sincerest apologies to all. Sometimes meanings get lost in written words as opposed to actual speaking. I'm glad I at least made you laugh, that's always a good thing.
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Post by Lefty on May 27, 2021 5:11:27 GMT -7
Use more smilies 😉😆✊🏻
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