Can i damage my amp by putting it right up against the wall?

[indysmith]

The cabinet on my JCM800 combo is an open-back, and i found i can get a far more focussed sound out of it if i move it closer to the wall. Is there a distance i should keep it from the wall to stop it overheating though or do yu reckon it'll be okay?
Also what's likely to happen if it does get too hot?

Looking at it - it's not that close. about 2-3 inches from the wall should be okay right?

[c0bblers]

Heh, mine's jammed up pretty close to the wall too.  As long as there's enough room for the hot air to get out it should be fine.  I've actually been considering some kind of replacement back board with maybe a fan and less space but the possible interference from the motor bothers me...

[indysmith]

Heh, mine's jammed up pretty close to the wall too.  As long as there's enough room for the hot air to get out it should be fine.  I've actually been considering some kind of replacement back board with maybe a fan and less space but the possible interference from the motor bothers me...

cool thanks! you're probably right about the fan creating interference, good idea otherwise though :P

[38thBeatle]

It should be fine Indy.Mine is right up against a wall and I have played for many happy hours with no adverse effects ( well maybe I am being hard on Korg he he).

[Kilby]

If you do a web search for Jah Wobble (ex PiL) who has an amazing bass sound (to me)

One of the techniques he uses is to place his amp facing a wall, and then varying the distance to tweak the tone he gets

[Johnny Mac]

Yes you'll cause the wall to fall down and then you'll be in right trouble!

[Kilby]

Yes you'll cause the wall to fall down and then you'll be in right trouble!

I didn't know you had been to my house, even my fecking Nano head would remove the bloody plaster

[indysmith]

Yes you'll cause the wall to fall down and then you'll be in right trouble!

Haha that's pretty damn rock'n'roll! IT'd totally be worth it.... I've got other walls i can put it against anyways :)

[Mr Ed]

Nope.

[Bob Johnson]

Since most speakers work perfectly well in enclosed cabinets your not likely to get any problems from high temperatures.

You can actually affect the sound of the cab if you can get it close enough to the wall to affect the speaker loading. Open back cabs propagate sound in a "doughnut" shape and have a much looser bass than enclosed cabs which propagate in a cone.

Changing the distance of the cab to the wall is a bit like using a ported cab and unlike open or fully enclosed cabs ported cabs have to be very carefully designed so be careful if you're gonna use the cab at high outputs.

[HTH AMPS]

Also try various positioning of the cab in the corner of a room against the wall - it's like a bass port and will reinforce the bass end.  I've read of engineers doing this for recording.

You can also try this same technique by pointing the front of the cab into the corner of a room and mic'ing it for a chunky bass end (bass trap).

 :twisted:

[indysmith]

Since most speakers work perfectly well in enclosed cabinets your not likely to get any problems from high temperatures.

i was actually talking about the amp overheating rather than the speakers...

[Bob Johnson]

Since most speakers work perfectly well in enclosed cabinets your not likely to get any problems from high temperatures.

i was actually talking about the amp overheating rather than the speakers...

I wasn't paying attention was I? I've given myself a severe slap on the wrist :oops:

[WezV]

If you have a valve amp that only has air vents on the back then it is quite possible that if you obstruct these it could overheat.

For most amps it would never be a problem but a tube amp pushed to the limits with a relatively small enclosure around the tubes and the ventilation blocked it could become an issue!