I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++
I'd do a bit more studying first. Most Hickocks are good units. I'm
not personally familiar with the one you cite; but any tube tester that
you buy is probably pretty old and should itself be restored and
calibrated. I'd check eBay for price. There is a fairly limited
number of unique tube types for guitar amps, so substitution is an
viable option to checking (although the output tubes in many amps are
very expensive).

I think I'd look into an audio signal generator, several hundred watt
8/4 ohm dummy load and an oscilloscope first...all of which might cost
you less than $200 and be more useful on a day to day basis. Make sure
you have good soldering tools...a good assortment of hand tools in general.

Another thing which is particularly useful when servicing these big dogs
is some sort of a chassis dolly which allows you to rotate the unit
without picking it up....

jak

J.P. ) writes:
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

But this newsgroup isn't about the repair of guitar amplifiers.
So indeed asking where the discussion is about repairing guitar
amplifiers would seem to be a far more appropriate place.

Now, had your question been whether the unit is good for testing
tubes, that might give a different response.

Michael VE2BVW

Michael Black wrote:
J.P. ) writes:
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

But this newsgroup isn't about the repair of guitar amplifiers.
So indeed asking where the discussion is about repairing guitar
amplifiers would seem to be a far more appropriate place.

Now, had your question been whether the unit is good for testing
tubes, that might give a different response.

Michael VE2BVW


Yeah, I meant to direct him to sci.electronic.repair. Forgot....

jak

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:52:35 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++
I'd do a bit more studying first. Most Hickocks are good units. I'm
not personally familiar with the one you cite; but any tube tester that
you buy is probably pretty old and should itself be restored and
calibrated. I'd check eBay for price. There is a fairly limited
number of unique tube types for guitar amps, so substitution is an
viable option to checking (although the output tubes in many amps are
very expensive).

I think I'd look into an audio signal generator, several hundred watt
8/4 ohm dummy load and an oscilloscope first...all of which might cost
you less than $200 and be more useful on a day to day basis. Make sure
you have good soldering tools...a good assortment of hand tools in general.

Another thing which is particularly useful when servicing these big dogs
is some sort of a chassis dolly which allows you to rotate the unit
without picking it up....

jak
You're the second person,so far, that has suggested I get a scope
first. What scopr would you suggest. I like name brands but am not
stuck on them. I just want accurate readings.

On 31 Aug 2006 03:47:13 GMT, (Michael Black)
wrote:

J.P. ) writes:
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:30:39 -0500, jakdedert
wrote:

J.P. wrote:
I can get one of these for $200 plus shipping. Is this what I need for
use on a guitar amp building/repair workbench? thanks...J.P.

Very strange question....

Anyone who builds/repairs guitar amps should know the answer.

jak
Nothing strange about it! I am a rookie and am studying about guitar
amps and trying to build a work bench one tool at a time. I have a
Fluke meter and think my next tool should be a tube tester. I have no
clue as to how to use it nor do I have a big wad to buy one with so I
am looking for information instead of just buying something off of
Ebay with no idea of what I am getting. I would appreciate any
information I can get. Thank you...J.P.

But this newsgroup isn't about the repair of guitar amplifiers.
So indeed asking where the discussion is about repairing guitar
amplifiers would seem to be a far more appropriate place.

Now, had your question been whether the unit is good for testing
tubes, that might give a different response.

Michael VE2BVW
Well Michael, apparently, I need to rephrase my question. So, here is
a stab at it. I am a newby with some digital electronics in my
background, that is interested in building/repairing tube amplifiers.
It is my understanding that I will need a tube tester to test both
used and new tubes for quality.I am now getting the information that I
will probably need a scope and a signal injecter also. I will have to
learn to use the functions of these tools that I need.These tools need
to cover the frequencys of guitar amplifiers also.
What brands and model numbers of these tools would you suggest I
get, considering I am on a low budget. J.P.

J.P. wrote:
jak
You're the second person,so far, that has suggested I get a scope
first. What scopr would you suggest. I like name brands but am not
stuck on them. I just want accurate readings.

You won't get accuracy with a scope. That's okay. You use a scope for
qualitative measurements most of the time.

So buy whatever you find that is cheap. You don't need dual trace. You
don't need more than a MHz or so bandwidth at best. Tektronix made some
fine scopes, but a $10 Heathkit from a hamfest will be just fine for fixing
audio gear.

You will want a signal generator too. The HP200CD is decent and shows up
cheaply at hamfests.

As far as tube testers go, you want a real transconductance tester, and
you want to make sure it can handle typical audio power tubes. So look
on the chart for 6550s and 6CA7s and if they are there, you're good to
go. Most of what you'll use a tube tester for is matching tubes anyway.
Finding bad tubes is usually a lot easier to do by swapping and checking
voltages. And for the most part, small signal tubes don't fail much
so you're mostly worried about power tubes.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

JP....

I'd go along with what's been suggested so far...though I might
suggest a good isolation transformer, a fused (read: circuit-breakered)
outlet right at-hand, and any DIY guitar amp repair literature you
can lay your hands on. There's one fellow's books come to mind, but
darned if I can't remember his name off the top of my head, he's
written
several books on amp repair and effects-building and repair.
THAT'S lucrative, a purist will pay boatloads for restoring his 1965
Jimi Hendrix
fuzzbox and such, so keep transistorized circuitry in mind as well.

A good lighted magnifying gizmo is always handy.

There are a multitude of musical instrument repair websites; the fun
part is, as with boatanchors, digging up parts. And schematics, tho'
many are available on the 'net. Reverse-engineering skills will come
in
handy, too. Consider apprenticing yourself to a local repair guru;
you'll learn more in less time than you can imagine, PLUS you'll have
access to tools to do the job with.

Homeowners & fire insurance is a good bet as well....

Good luck, and Rock On, JP.

Terry Bakowski

ps
try an Amazon.com search on 'Craig Anderton....', I think that's
the name I'm trying to remember. Also check out: PC-based
osciloscopes, there are several freebie downloads for them. And if
anyone knows how to set up a rig to measure transconductance using a
'scope..please let me know.
It shouldn't be THAT difficult...er..should it? G