Advice on a tube tester

Hi,

All good testers you mentioned. I have had a TV-7b and it was a fine well built unit. Currently using a BK 707 and love it. Design is especially great when testing multiple 9 pin miniatures such as ECC83, ECC82, and ECC81 etc. Have used a BK747 and would be my last choice of the lot.
Calibration of these units can be done yourself and is not terribly difficult. There is a wealth of information out there. I did both my TV7 and BK707. Try to find one that is in good physical condition that shows light use. Heavily used ones can have sockets that make poor contact and it becomes a lot of work to replace them, although it is doable. Found my minty BK 707 ON FB marketplace locally for $200 and calibrated it myself. Does all the audio tubes and was these guys were made toward the end of the tube era.

Rob

@thermionicemission 

Rob,

Very useful post.  I'm finding a lot of testers don't do the 9 pin minatures that were introduced with color TV so they are relatively new.  For the TV-7 you need the D/U.  for the 752 you need the A to test 9 pins. for the 539 you need the C.  the 539 tests each triode seperately so you have to test them twice.  It does a lot of testing but maybe more than I need.  The B&K 707 attracted my attention early and I'm glad to hear your views--from someone actualy using one he calibrated himself.  Fully agree on replacing sockets, can do it but do I want to?  

I've been up and down the scale on these testers a few times.  Right now I'm leaning toward the 707 or the TV-7D...probalby whichever one I find first in good condition at a reasonable price.  

If after using the tester a while I want more data, I can buy a high end Hickok then.

Jerry

I have a Hickok 800 , it’s perfect for screening tubes and preventing your amp from being a “tube tester”.   It’s more than adequate and fairly accurate.   If I were buying and selling tubes I would get a 539 or military type Hickok

I just bought a new Amplitrex.  It is easy enough to use and "computer mode" greatly enhances the set of functions.  Not cheap but well worth the money.  That said, I sell a lot of tubes and this unit is sort of essential for me to be able to communicate with Jac Music.  

Smart move.  That’s the benchmark in tube testers