CHARLEY SAYS!!!!!!!!

Once you have bought your amp it's important that you respect it and treat it like any working tool and do not abuse it. Remember a little consideration / care and attention and good working practice will ensure that you get many happy years of music out of the amp, rather than buzzes, crackles, electrocutions / unreliability and general heart ache? A professional amp is a big investment and though the top end amps are made to rock from the finest materials they are not indestructible? Remember if you are a working muso then NO AMP, NO MUSIC, NO PAY!!!!!!!  I've been there and worn the tee shirt and seen the video?? I do not speak with FORKED TOUNGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a few tips

AMP COVERS

I thought it was high time that I invested in a good quality amp cover. I started gigging again with the new band DR TRUTH so the Marshall was out on the road. I got to thinking . Why do we spend so much money on our amps yet they don't usually come with protective covers and how many of us guitarists and bass players actually own an amp cover? Well, I considered the nylon style dust covers inadequate for what I wanted. They would keep the dust of alright but wouldn't offer much protection against knocks, scrapes, spillage, damp conditions in winter and hordes of screaming FEMALE FANS gagging for my body!!!!   Err.......................... I WISH!!!!

Any how I stumbled across a company called  SILVERTONE  AMP COVERS. They specialize in hand made covers for practically any make of amp. So I took the plunge and ordered a vintage style cover in glorious red with white piping. It looks superb and the water proof leather style cover is foam padded and has special anti-static lining. It was well worth the investment. Please check the companies professional website at  www.ampcovers.co.uk

Please take a deco at the photos of the cover.

 Amp Serving and General Care . Just like a car or motor bike a quality amp will need regular yearly check ups if used as a hard working serious gigging tool.  Remember things can come loose, valves wear out, capacitors leek, dry out, circuits can break or get dry joints etc. I recommend that you take your amp to an experienced amp tech for a once over. Atleast once a year. ( If you are just using the amp in your home than this is not as crucial. ) It will save you a lot of tears in the long run.  Once every three months I give the amp a quick check over. I only access the parts that are accessible and I never EVER!!!  mess around with the electrical circuits. BUT some things I can do with out electrocuting myself.  Here's what I do

#  Check that the speakers are correctly secured and not loose!

#  Check the speaker connections!

#  Check that the valves are secured correctly and not loose!

#  Check the front panel controls and input jack are not working loose!

#  Clean the amp vinyl covering with a very damp cloth!

# Check that the visible screws are tight and not loosened!

FUSES and LEADS

One thing you should seriously consider if you are buying an amp for regular gigging is this , are the mains and HT fuses easily accessible. It's no use using an amp in a live situation if the amp has to be dismantled to replace a simple fuse. Think about this before you buy your dream amp as it could turn into a nightmare? Most amps should have the fuses either on the front or back panels or in an accessible location. My Marshall has the mains fuse and HT fuses on the back panel. Very easy to get too.   

SPARE FUSES and MAINS LEAD

Always carry a spare mains lead and spare replacement fuses of the correct value. It's not very professional hassling a busy pub owner or venue organser for simple spare parts. Remember the running of the performance is your responsibility. To pull a show simply because you could not be bothered to spend a few quid on spares will make you look like a numbty and could cost you a lot of stress, embarrassment and loss of income. Would you book a band again that couldn't be bothered to carry a spare fuse?  THINK ABOUT IT?