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Advice on a tube tester

Well I just got kicked off Facebook for the weekend so I'll probably be active here.  Not sure if that is a plus or a minus for Audiogon.  😎

I'm looking to buy my first tube tester.  I want to be able to identify bad tubes, verify readings on "NOS" or "used, measures like new" in tubes I buy, and I need to sell off a bunch of tubes and I'd like to be able to test them before I sell them.  Selling a bad tube, refunding the money, leaves me out shipping, a lot of work and 3 good tubes in limbo. 

So I'm looking at a B&K 707/747 or a hickok 539A or similar, mostly just based on what I see that fits my needs and seems to be $500 or less.  I see tested and calibrated tube testers for $1500 on ebay but I think I can get by for a lot less.

Tubes I have to test are 6l6 series, EL84, OA3/4, 6922, WE396, KT88 and maybe a few others.  it would be nice to test 300B/350B tubes but I think most testers doen't do that. 

So I'd appreciate guidance from people who have been testing tubes for a while.

Thanks,

Jerry

128x128carlsbad
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 

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.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 

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

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,825 posts
 

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 

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad OP
1,551 posts
 

@oddiofyl Thanks for the story.  I'm starting to play in NOS tubes too.  I have a bunch of not necessarily new but old stock voltage regulators I'd like to sort.  

I've looked at the Toolshed amps and they look nice.

Whick hickok did you choose?  

thanks,

Jerry

thermionicemission
17 posts
 

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

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