foam to protect tubes

[jfjohn]

my local repair shop suggest that  if you put your head on top of the cabinet, then put a layer of foam (like those egg crates) between the amp and the speaker cab.  this saves the tubes from the vibration.  anyone do this?

[Geoff]

Yes!  I cut out a piece of the dark gray eggcrate foam and use it between my heads and cabs.  The amount the foam compresses depends on the weight of your head, of course.  You probably want to experiment with a couple of pieces or different thicknesses to see what works best for you.

I haven't done any scientific testing on the efficacy of this method   but informally,  it seems to reduce the vibration introduced into the head somewhat.  I don't think it hurts anything...and it might just buy some time on the tubes.

If you can get dark foam or somehow dye the lighter foam, nobody in the audience will even notice you're using it.

Good luck!

[youDEVILyou]

ohh


yea i meant to ask
drum pressures have got to be bad for electronics.


any sugestions as to where you put your sunn amps when practicing with a drummer.

[Geoff]

I would just use good common sense when deciding where to stick your amps relative to the drummer.  If you can really "feel it" and don't feel comfortable with the proximity, move further away...as long as you can all hear yourselves and it's not a hassle for you or the rest of the band.

I think it's safe to assume that most MI gear (certainly old Sunn stuff) is built to take a reasonable amount of stage and moving/setup abuse.  I haven't logged nearly as much stage time as some of the good folks in this forum -- but I've used guitars and amps in close proximity to drummers for about 16 years now and haven't had a failure problem related to drum vibrations (that I'm aware of).  I don't play pansy-rock either.  A lot of these drummers are LOUD pounders, too.  On many stages, you don't have the option of being anywhere except right next to the drummer.

As far as tube stuff goes, my 1st gen. Model T has been going for over 3 years on a set of Svets through countless practices and many performances (some peaking 4 hours continuous/standby use -- bar cover band).  I am always right next to the drummer.  She still sounds good (though a routine re-tube is coming)!!

Anyway, I think you can do more to protect your head if you're delicate with it in transport...especially when she's cooling down after playing.  Also, follow the popular consensus for using your standby switch.

[JoeArthur]

I went to one of the local outdoor concerts this last summer.  The lead guitar player was using something... looked like foam to me, under his Marshall head and twin stacked 4-12" speaker cabinets.  He did this one marvy move.... a jump up in the air and a twisting movement, and the next thing you know, there is a small light show and sparks flying as the Marshall crashes to the stage.

It was cool.  Maybe he learned about it from his amp tech... who probably enjoyed repairing the head.

Do what you want... but always do it safely.  An 8 foot drop is much more damaging to a head than speaker or drummer vibrations.

[Geoff]

Alright, I apolgize for my idiotic use/suggested use of foam.  It's just something I do.  I guess I have been unintentionally conspiring with amp techs.

It sounds like that fellow had a too-short guitar cable.  You get crazy enough on stage and anything can happen.  Do you think the Marshall would have stayed put if he wasn't using foam?  He should have been playing a Model T anyway.  He would have had a harder time yanking it off his stack.

This could sound like a thread about contraception.  "Use foam for protection at your own risk."