8 replies to this topic

[Lesroy]

Hi all, Im pretty new to playing guitar and i got myself a second hand valve combo amp a while ago, but it weighs a ton, So my question is ,does it do the amp or valves any damaged when you roll e'm on there wheels on a bumpy suface, Im not talking far but say out to the car from a jam room or into a venue? The wheels are pretty hard on the amp so unless the surface is super smooth, it seems to vibrate a fair bit. Also is it cool to lay the amp flat on its back in the car for transport?

[cartoon]

Always let a valve amp cool down before moving. Depending on how tightly/securely the valves are seated in their sockets I have had some valves come slightly loose through moving. A part of your precheck is to make sure they are all in properly if you suspect they might have been dislodged. Remember not to touch anything but the glass part of the valve (when cool!!) especially not any exposed valve prongs or the socket itself. As for lying the amp down this will not affect the valves when cool and just make sure you dont launch off speed bumps. . Most amps have a cage to protect the valves from knocks and a spring loaded retainer over the top of the valve to help minimse aforementioned issues. Generally speaking the preamp valves (smaller ones in aluminium shrouds) dont move so much.

[Shichi]

I use a trolley for my amp and I've never noticed any issues with the valves coming loose. I've wheeled it across uneven surfaces numerous times, and the amp has been fine. I also rest the amp on its back when transporting in a car. Most valve amps are pretty tough - it can take a lot to loosen the valves.

[cartoon]

I have had problems with my laney vc30, cub12, and always had to straighten the el84's in my blues junior - maybe I'm just rough!

[Lesroy]

Thanks for the advice people.

[Gav]

Clay pigeon launcher. The only way. I say I say the ONLY way

[elwrongo]

I had a New years Eve gig in Freo one year and when I got there the whole city centre had been cordoned off. I had to roll my Fender Twin Reverb on its caster wheels from Freo Swimming Pool car park to the Orient Hotel in the West End. It took ages but the amp was fine. However, I was stuffed.

Edited by elwrongo, 09 February 2012 - 06:38 PM.

[Luke Drifter]

shaking the tubes loose is your only worry, and you can get 'valve retainers' and other gizmos to fix that

the tubes themselves are NOT like halogen carlight lamps (a miapprehension I sufferred under at first) and the only reason not to touch them with your bare fingers (a no-no with halogen globes) is that you might get burnt

they are as tough as all get out - thats why they were used in the cockpits of fighter jets (and in Russian fighter jets built until the 90's) cos you just cannot kill 'em unless you smash 'em

[Luke Drifter]

Heres a picture of the tube retainers that came as standard with my 61 Vibrasonic

you can buy aftermarket versions of these now to fit most amps, I believe

I don't have them on on any of my other amps, and I've never had a problem

I guess if you had the amp transported (on a removalist truck or airplane) you might want to just check that the tubes are properly seated before you fire the amp up for the first time

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