Voltage for tube amps - Variac, surge protector, Ken Fischer (Trainwreck Circuits) guitar amplifiers

[@flockoglock]

I've been telling my guitarist friends and customers the same thing for a long time, especially the ones who bring me their amps multiple times for the same repairs, and the amp dies at the same club as last time. Every guitarist/bassist needs a multimeter/voltmeter, variac, surge protector and $5 outlet tester. At the least, a surge protector and outlet tester. Great video!

[@BobGjika]

You know it!

[@mikieknight6607]

Those few (often times more than a few) volts difference on the primary can cause a significant rise in the secondary voltage. I have a friend who lives very close to the electric substation in his community. He was going though power tubes like crazy. He would bring the amp to me and Id replace the tubes and re-bias it. It was always fine at my place. When we had scratched our heads raw about it we finally thought of the wall voltage at his house. He started doing some checks and at one point measured 131 volts!

[@Bbendfender]

We never even thought about power sources back in the 70's and never had a problem. Today, I'm still playing the same old Fender amps and I use a Variac to protect them. I checked my wall voltage just today and it was around 123.4 V.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

That is some rock star tone with the fuzz added.

[@Mr_Gray_Sky]

There's a violence to your bends that I absolutely love. Great vibrato, too.

[@bluesbondsman]

I use a "Tone Preserver" and it monitors voltage and current draw. It allows you two drops in the voltage in two 6-volt stages. I'm not affiliated just a very happy customer with very happy Tube amps!

[@D.E.E.P.Y.]

Very nice video. Made me buy voltage regulator for hi-fi iamp based on 300B driving 805 tube, which is 50W SET.

[@danielrose703]

You just explained why I have these peaking transient hums. Thanks Bob.

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Holy Tone Monster..!! Dirty power is all over the place.. I was just working at an electronic company with 115VAC going from 104 VAC to 124 VAC.. They wondered why the calibrations did not work out when the customers received their chemistry lab machines.. RIP Ken..!!

[@mikieknight6607]

Your higher gain tones have a bit of a Billy Gibbons vibe.

[@joshtarnow492]

You got that JHendrix sound down!

[@freecitizen2760]

Thanks. I just bought a variac. I will buy a meter and wire it in. Good advice!

[@infectionsman]

put fuses on the hot of both input and output, something like 4 amps for a 5 amp variac just to be safe

[@StaffordsStudio]

Great info and channel ! I will taking about voltage for tube amps tonight in my live stream at some point thanks for sharing

[@carsonhess1070]

Love your playing and advice. Thanks Bob.

[@BobGjika]

glad you enjoyed the video

[@maxvockner]

I see a bass in your shop! Any bass amp hacks or tips tricks for a bass player amp builder. Or is the SVT just the king?

[@stevencancel1727]

Something in the circuit PRIOR to transformer and tube that sees that voltage surge and instantly sends it to ground it would only allow correct voltage to pass through

[@diabolicalartificer]

Re Class A; surge why not fit a HT/B+ delay and or reverse biased diodes from anode to ground? Also the 807 is essentially a 6L6 and sounds fine, at least to my ears, still, guitarists are pretty conservative where valves are concerned.

[@garrettmccormick7382]

Why wouldn’t an MOV in parallel with the PT primary solve the surge issue?

[@BobGjika]

Sorry for the long delay, just saw your comment. I do put them in my amps but if something bad happens I would much rather an mov burn up in the power strip than in the amp. And if your selling a product like you say it's a good idea to have that fail safe in there in case the user does not use any serge suppression device.

[@garrettmccormick7382]

@@BobGjika Makes perfect sense. Keep up the great work, love the stuff you build and I enjoy the videos! Maybe one day I’ll give a single ended output stage another go, I never could get rid of enough hum without a truck load of negative feedback...

[@rondobondo6600]

Omg this guy is a genius

[@kodykindhart5644]

Bob are there any amps on the west coast or pnw I can try out or go listen to? Thanks Love your work

[@kodykindhart5644]

Lmk I’d love to check one out Also check out super secret band if your so inclined Really happy with our lastest release Keep rocking you 2

[@kodykindhart5644]

Lmk I’d love to check one out Also check out super secret band if your so inclined Really happy with our lastest release Keep rocking you 2

[@daviewavie112]

Do you run your amps through a Variac during the whole gig? I read a lot about using a Variac to “bring up” an old tube amp slowly, but what about in every day use? Is it best to actually use the amps through a Variac?

[@BobGjika]

Yes, your amp should have the proper voltage at all times.

[@choctawhatcheekid309]

Variacs do not isolate 120 wall voltage they just vary it.

[@DerekSantaMonica]

lol so loud the blinds shake

[@carsonhess1070]

Derek Santa Monica Haha I just noticed that!

[@TheBoomtown4]

Surprising that’s your bridge pickup, so much body.

[@StaffordsStudio]

curtain shaker !

[@timw.6910]

🥰

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Pure bends

[@Stereostupid]

Unbelievable tone! Holy fuck