Does a bleed resistor effect tone/sag?

[alastair_in_oz]

I just rebuilt my amp and used a PT that gives me 510v on the HT. I used some zener diodes in series off the center tap to drop the volts to 420v. However, when I switch the amp to standby, the volts go up to 510v because there is no load. My filter caps are rated at 500v. I thought a bleed resistor would help to keep it down to say 450-475v. Would this effect tone? Anyone tried this before?

[Bruce / Mission Amps]

I just rebuilt my amp and used a PT that gives me 510v on the HT. I used some zener diodes in series off the center tap to drop the volts to 420v. However, when I switch the amp to standby, the volts go up to 510v because there is no load. My filter caps are rated at 500v. I thought a bleed resistor would help to keep it down to say 450-475v. Would this effect tone? Anyone tried this before?

If the resistors are not too small of values and not too much of load on the B+ rail, I doubt it will effect the tone... but, in order for your zener diode to work, there must be some current drawn across it.
Find a set of 2 watt power resistors that will draw enough current across the B+ rail to ground (and subsequently the zener diode)...
while the amp is standby or simply move the standby switch to before the filter caps like most of us do.

[alastair_in_oz]

Thanks Bruce,
Will try both options, see how it goes.

Alastair

[tubeswell]

The bleeder resistors won't keep the voltage down much when the amp is powered up. They have almost no effect on the charging function of the filter caps under power. They merely help to ensure that the filter caps are discharged more quickly when the power is disconnected.