Advice on a tube tester

If you want something more modern that doesn’t use 1950s technology and was probably made in the 50s, check out these people:

www.maximatcher.com

You’ll need separate testers for power and preamp tubes, which may give you more accurate readings. The cost for both the pre and power tube testers will be up around $2,000, but you should be able to recoup the cost when you’re finished with them.

They’re up in Washington so you can give them a call and judge for yourself if these are the right testers for you.

The Amplitrex mentioned in an earlier post is considered by some to be the best tester available today:

https://amplitrex.com/

Carlsbad,

tksteingraber's advice to contact Paul Hart is spot on. He recalibrated my Hickok 600 about 2 years ago and did a fantastic job and gave me great advice to boot. Even if you're going to do refurbishment and recalibration yourself, he's a great resource.

My system is pretty much all tube, and owning a tube tester has made that so much easier, and allowed me to take chances on cheap untested tubes that turned out to be NOS testing jewels. The Hickok greatly increases my joy in this crazy hobby.

One caution based on experience: you can sell tubes that test great and you know are perfectly functional, and the buyer will still hate them because they were lousy in their system. Refund them cheerfully and chalk it up as a cost of doing business. Most will love them and the honest seller goodwill is invaluable.

Best of luck on your journey. It's worth it.

B & K suits my needs and passed cal….but for the good stuuf i trust Andy at Vintage tube services…and RAM….. rip Roger…you are missed.

@armstrod lot of wisdom in your post :-)))))

My system is all tube as well.   What prompted me to buy a tester was actually the fact that I sent a NOS rectifier to the guy who built my amp.   I actually sent 2.   Unfortunately one was shorted and failed during the amp's burn in.   Fortunately for me , Matt over at Toolshed Amps is a good guy and replaced the damaged parts , a cap and PS at no additional cost .   After all, I sent him the tubes.  I didn't buy his basic tube set , I went NOS and WE 300b.

So the night he reached out to tell me I had a bad tube, I said that's it !  I'm buying a tester.   It took a while to find that Hickok but it arrived right before I got the amp.   

I figured if I'm playing with 4 pin antique tubes, NOS , and rectifiers I am a fool not to buy one.  I will never plug a tube in without fully testing for shorts, filament good, and Gm.   Turns out another one of the 6 NOS 5r4gy was shorted, fortunately that tester identified it and prevented a catastrophic failure.   Thing paid for itself one week into owning it