Coytee Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 Any merit in getting one? I've seen them on Ebay and as I enter the strange murkey world of tubes... can't help but to wonder if there is any benefit in having one. What say you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom3 Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 I would post this question over at the Audio Asylum tube area. There are members there who live, eat, breath and, um, excrete...tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRBILL Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 It all depends. I have a reconditioned B&K 700 that I use several times a week. I have a few bands that depend on me to keep their tube gear playing. Within my immediate family there are nine tube amps hooked to Klipsch speakers! Something is on the bench at any moment. I don't know if I could justify owning one if I was only looking after my own gear. A unit that is out of calibration from E-Bay et al would probably do more harm than good. Check with Michael Marx www.vacuumtubes.com. He usually has several to offer. Michael doesn't let anything leave the warehouse that isn't in top shape. Take a look at his NOS tube offerings while you are there. DR BILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 Tube checkers help but don't tell you everything. In the final analysis substitution is king, particularlly where the circuits are designed around the internal capacitance and inductance of the tube itself. Sometimes you have to go through three or four of them. But for a straight amplifier circuit that should not be necessary. Oscillator tubes in radios or tuners can check good but not function and should be substituted. The tube checker is great for checking conductance and shorts. What is that saying on TV? What's in your wallet? JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 I own a Hickok 600A tube tester. I use it to check used tubes BEFORE I place them in my beloved amplifier to avoid explosions, fires, etc. I also use it to match tubes for my PP amp, I have bought many set of "matched" tubes which when tested turned out to be FAR form matched according to my testing. If you buy a lot of used tubes, or if matched tubes are important to you then a tube tester might be useful. I also enjoy using it...part of the tube hobby ya´know. regards, tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott0527 Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 Tube testers are a source of endless entertainment if you start getting into tubes. They will also improve your finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination. And people will start to think you are some sort of mad scientist when they see you pushing all those buttons. You really should get one that you can verify has been calibrated by someone who knows what they're doing. Or get one that looks decent on Ebay and send it to someone for calibration. Otherwise you'll never quite be sure of your readings. Here is a link to another website that has information on the various Hickok models and what's good and bad about each model. He also has a link to a repair person I would trust. I'm sure the person mentioned in the earlier repsonse would be a good source also. http://www.tubewizard.com/ PS. I have Hickok 752 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) My new little baby will be coming home from the plant with me in the afternoon. Edited February 4, 2014 by minermark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 My new little baby will be coming home from the plant with me in the afternoon. The only thing I did not ask MarVac electronics was weather the stand comes with it, no biggie, as I have no idea were im going to put it anyway. I don't think the wife will mind me placing it in her den for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minermark Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 My new little baby will be coming home from the plant with me in the afternoon. The only thing I did not ask MarVac electronics was weather the stand comes with it, no biggie, as I have no idea were im going to put it anyway. I don't think the wife will mind me placing it in her den for a few days. I just had a great idea, when I get home(before her), im going to place it in the living room next to her Mono blocks and tell her, Babe, it's your "support equipment" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I just got a beautiful fully restored B&K 667 emision tester to test a box full of tubes I have accumulated over the years. I would always replace my tubes because I couldn't test them, and thought maybe they were getting weak after so much use. WHat I found is that tubes last a heck of a lot longer than I thought. Only a couple of bad tubes in the bunch. I am on the lookout for an equally restored mutual conductance tester so I can match tubes and test more comprehensively in the future as I build my bench up. But I probably REALLY didn't need a tube tester just for my preamps and vintage integrateds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 look for a mercury 1000 or mercury 2000. easy to calibrate and very accurate. measures transconductance in GM. prices are below radar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I recently purchased a B&K 747 tester and for peace of mind, it can't be beat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatever55 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Any merit in getting one? I've seen them on Ebay and as I enter the strange murkey world of tubes... can't help but to wonder if there is any benefit in having one. What say you? Tubes ???? OTL amp maybe ? Still using active for the Jubs ? Edited February 9, 2014 by whatever55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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