Tube tester question

[Gary Brennan]

What brands/models tube testers would be the least expensive (but not junk) available for a non electronics savvy player to have at home (in the US) for checking pre and power tubes for use in guitar amps? Am looking for the basic shorts, gas, transconductance, weak/strong data, (anything else desirable?)? Thanks

gb

[Blue Strat]

A Hickock TV7 (any suffix) is a good all around tester. It, and most other general testers, don't test idle current for power tubes so can't really be used to match tubes. An amp and a bias probe can be used for matching.

Ted Weber is rumored to have a tube tester kit in the works. This could be something good to look out for.

[samwheat]

I have a Hickok 533 ....... a triplett 3444 i think is one of the best

for power tubes, a maxi matcher tests at amp voltages ...... i'm looking for a used one

[HKGuns]

B&K Dynajet 606. Good tester that can be had for less than $100 on the bay usually. The aforementioned models are great, but they'll run you a lot more scratch.

[Blue Strat]

Whatever old tester you get, it's important that it's calibrated or it could be useless. You either have to bite the bullet and buy it from someone who restores testers or you're taking a risk. Nothing good is cheap.

[Trout]

If you watch ebay, you can often find the Mercury 2000 Tester. It utilized the same basic circuitry as the hickok and can generally be had for far less than the other brands.

Mercury sold tube testers for a short time .

The Model 2000 is from the year 1967 , when
the unit price was US$ 99.95 .

The Mercury models 1000 , 1200 and 2000 use
the SAME STANDARD Hickock circuit , you can even use the Hickock data-sheet .

SOURCE : Tube Testers and Classic Electronic
Test Gear by ALAN DOUGLAS .


Trout

[Gary Brennan]

Whatever old tester you get, it's important that it's calibrated or it could be useless. You either have to bite the bullet and buy it from someone who restores testers or you're taking a risk. Nothing good is cheap.


Mike, do you do this?

gb

[Blue Strat]

Mike, do you do this?

gb

I did with one of my old testers. Since then I've bought 3 modern production testers none of which was cheap.

[Gary Brennan]

Mike,

Sorry, I meant are you someone from whom I could purchase a used recalibrated tester with the minimal capabilities that I would want or understand- checking 12AX types and 6L6/EL34/KT77 types for gas, shorts, good/weak, transconductance, for maybe $200 or less? I see some on the bay, but don't really know what I'm looking at....

gb

[Blue Strat]

Mike,

Sorry, I meant are you someone from whom I could purchase a used recalibrated tester with the minimal capabilities that I would want or understand- checking 12AX types and 6L6/EL34/KT77 types for gas, shorts, good/weak, transconductance, for maybe $200 or less? I see some on the bay, but don't really know what I'm looking at....

gb

No, sorry. I don't really see this service as a viable business model. Might be perfect for a retired radio guy though (and I imagine the guys doing this ARE retired radio guys).

Try Google. I think one guy's name was Nelson.