Why do old tube amps smell like old tube amps?

GAD · Dec 20, 2021

You know the smell! And it’s not “50 years of smokey bars”, either. My Maverick which almost looks like it’s NOS smells like an old tube amp.

So what’s that smell?

Midnight Toker · Dec 20, 2021

That, my friend, is the sweet sweet smell of tone!!

Do a quick search of "tube amp smell". There will be lots of returns from various other forums (Marshall, the gear page, etc. Some of the comments are hilarious.

Walter Broes · Dec 20, 2021

old dust being warmed up. How's that for a non-romantic reply?

Default · Dec 20, 2021

Lacquer on the transformers.

GGJaguar · Dec 20, 2021

Agree on dust, lacquer and I'll add wax into the mix (on really old caps).

fronobulax · Dec 20, 2021

GAD said:
You know the smell! And it’s not “50 years of smokey bars”, either. My Maverick which almost looks like it’s NOS smells like an old tube amp.

So what’s that smell?

A misquoted Skynyrd lyric?

There are stories about dust caught inside computer equipment catching on fire so I'm going to believe them and also go with dust.

The Guilds of Grot · Dec 20, 2021

You are not alone!

GAD · Dec 20, 2021

I’d have to say that it’s not dust, though I can see why people would think so. Wax and lacquer I can get behind, though.

GAD · Dec 20, 2021

fronobulax said:
A misquoted Skynyrd lyric?

There are stories about dust caught inside computer equipment catching on fire so I'm going to believe them and also go with dust.

A computer has fans that bring dust in. Computers are designed for airflow over components.

Old tube amps are not open to the air (though not in a vacuum either) except for the tubes and transformers, and those are usually upside down - so dust doesn’t settle on them. Plus I have 50 year old amps that look like they were stored in a wet room full of used heroin needles and 50 year old amps that look like they were stored in a sealed lab and both smell largely the same.

Midnight Toker · Dec 20, 2021

I can remember a similar smell from when I was a kid hanging out at my best friend's grandparent's house. They still had one of those ancient console televisions with the the convex screen w/ rounded corners, leaning harder towards being oval than square. That thing put off a very similar smell. I think it's just a smell that comes w/ tubes cooking. Agree that it can't just be dust. I have a pre WWII National that puts off the same smell as my Marshall Class 5 when I first plugged it in out of the box. (Keep in mind, I have nothing but a bunch of 5 watt'ers that I typically run HOT! Like 75% vol at a minimum) Never bothered me. If anything, I'd probably be amiss if I didn't smell anything when my amps are all warmed up. Smells like........victory!!

matsickma · Dec 20, 2021

Probably all the non RoHS materials!
If I recall the standards correctly RoHS is a EU requirment but most or all companies adhere to it so they don't have to build things differently for different markets.

I suspect the smell is materials based with or without hazardous material content.
M

Nuuska · Dec 20, 2021

Wooden cabinet w artificial lether togetger w electronic components - plus a tad of dust.

Some old speaker cabinets have that odor, too.

Canard · Dec 20, 2021

Dust, funky old hide glue used to glue on fabric, funky old leather, vestigial mould and mildew (in leather, cloth, glue, wood and speaker cone) would be some guesses.

chazmo · Dec 20, 2021

Midnight Toker said:
That, my friend, is the sweet sweet smell of tone!!

. . .

. Sounds right to me!

jp · Dec 20, 2021

It's the smell of mojo.

secndshft · Dec 20, 2021

I personally hate it when it’s not present. I’ve owned amps where someone has tried to deodorize an amp with dryer sheets, etc. Give me that old amp smell every time!

Guildedagain · Dec 21, 2021

If you need a strong vintage amp immersion, an old Dano ampcase. When I open mine, it smells just like a drawer full of old Fender electrolytic caps. It's pretty strong. Strong enough to change the aroma in the room.

Midnight Toker · Dec 21, 2021

Guildedagain said:
If you need a strong vintage amp immersion, an old Dano ampcase. When I open mine, it smells just like a drawer full of old Fender electrolytic caps. It's pretty strong. Strong enough to change the aroma in the room.

Yeah, I would imagine if any tube amp were apolstered on the inside, it would be "soaked" w/ that smell. I almost bought one of those Silvertone 1457 amp-in -case guitars for cheap at an auction,(under $100) but the case was in horrid condition and the amp didn't fire up. My plan was to pull the chassis and build a box for it, but getting it running again may have cost me more than finding one that already works, so I passed. The guitar itself was a rust bucket!

beecee · Dec 22, 2021

Pretty sure it is a combo of the heated up PCB's used to keep the electronics cool, the asbestoes in the insulation and the lead soldering gassing off......not to mention the lead based paint on the pot metal chassis.

SFIV1967 · Dec 22, 2021

Usually what one is smelling when tubes are operated is simply ozone, being produced by the corona discharge within the tubes.

Also some smell comes from the old phenolic based circuit boards.
And from Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride made parts as well!
And that nasty Polychlorinated biphenyl...

Ralf

Why do old tube amps smell like old tube amps?

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