[JP78]

Hi all, I'd like to buy a tube tester.  Please let me know some options.  I also don't know what a reasonable budget is for one; I'm not really  a huge tube roller but I just would like to know more when it's time for me to replace the tubes in my amplifiers instead of just guessing since tubes are not cheap.

I use 845, 300B, 6SN7, 6V6.

I did a search on this circle for 'tube tester' but didn't see any related results after looking through the first several pages of results.



Thanks!

[dminches]

Send an email to Bob Putnak at tubesound.com.  He will help you pick a tester. 

[Ericus Rex]

You might be better off just sending your tubes to TCtubes.com for testing.  $2 each + shipping.  And they use an Amplitrex which would cost you nearly $3k.  Even if you sent them in every 6 months for testing you'd be better off financially and have more accurate results than any tester you could find on ebay.

[dminches]

It really depends on how many tubes one buys and how often one needs to test.  If it is not often I would agree with ER.  However, if you are buying tubes even semi-regularly you can spend $3-400 on a good tester and save the hassle of mailing tubes back and forth.  Plus, if you buy tubes on ebay you may have a 14 day return window.  There isn't a lot of time to get the tubes, mail them for testing and get back to the seller.

[woodsyi]

I will test tubes for free if you cover shipping.  I have an Amplitrex AT1000 as well as a Hickock 6000A.   Hickok is up for sale if anybody is interested.  It was calibrated at the time I got it 5 years ago.  Haven't used it that much, especially after I got the AT1000, since I am a hobbyist  who primarily obtains tubes and rarely sell.  I just like to know what I have.  I have had all kinds of experiences with different tube vendors and wanted to check the tubes for myself before putting them in use. 

[mick wolfe]

You might be better off just sending your tubes to TCtubes.com for testing.  $2 each + shipping.  And they use an Amplitrex which would cost you nearly $3k.  Even if you sent them in every 6 months for testing you'd be better off financially and have more accurate results than any tester you could find on ebay.

Agree 100%. You have to buy a "serious " tube tester to really find out if a tube ( especially a power tube) is up to task. Especially the tubes mentioned by the OP. The "affordable" tube testers a few of my audio friends have  don't put a power tube under the stress of normal operation. Hence they only give you a fraction of the info needed to determine tube performance. I send my tubes to Jim McShane when I want a true evaluation of performance.

[JP78]

Hi guys. Thank you all for the kind responses.

dminches - Thanks for the contact - email sent. Do you have any make / model you recommend?

Ericus Rex - I'm concerned about shipping damage or rattling something loose in the tube. Is this a rational fear? I'm pretty ignorant to how sturdy tubes are RE: physical construction.

woodsyi - Thank you for the kind offer. Can you please PM me RE: price for the Hickok?  I think I'd like to have my own tester and become a more active hobbyist in rolling and testing and purchasing bulk lots that come up on CL/eBay from time to time.

mick wolf - Thank you that's really helpful advice.  I agree that I'd really like Do you happen to know what kind of tester he uses?

[JoshK]

Be aware, few if any commercial testers are made to test transmitter tubes like the 845.  They don't have enough voltage to test them at realistic setting.   You are better off measuring the bias every so often to see if the tube is starting to slouch with time. 

[FullRangeMan]

Hi all, I'd like to buy a tube tester.  Please let me know some options.  I also don't know what a reasonable budget is for one; I'm not really  a huge tube roller but I just would like to know more when it's time for me to replace the tubes in my amplifiers instead of just guessing since tubes are not cheap.

I use 845, 300B, 6SN7, 6V6.

I did a search on this circle for 'tube tester' but didn't see any related results after looking through the first several pages of results.



Thanks!

Before buying anything read these tips:
http://www.tubewizard.com/recommended_Hickok_testers.htm

http://www.tubewizard.com/why_hickoks_are_cool.htm

[dminches]

JP, I have several testers but like my Jackson 646s the most.

Call me a geek, but I find testing tubes to be another fun part of the hobby. 

[mick wolfe]

Be aware, few if any commercial testers are made to test transmitter tubes like the 845.  They don't have enough voltage to test them at realistic setting.   You are better off measuring the bias every so often to see if the tube is starting to slouch with time.

Yep...exactly what I was thinking. An 845 would be tough to test. I pretty much do exactly what you've said in regard to bias. Aside from that, it's just a matter of trusting my ear.

[FullRangeMan]

If one buy big triodes as 845/211 from a tube broker to use now(under 6 months) it would be safe trust on the seller test made before the purchase.

[mick wolfe]

JP78......Jim McShane  (mcshanedesign.net)

[JohnR]

There are a number of earlier threads about tube testers. Nothing wrong with this thread but these may provide additional info for the OP:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=37613.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=117397.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=125749.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=38119.0