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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Aug 9, 2013 7:35:38 GMT -7
Didn't want to hijack another thread so I thought I'd start one on Biasing tools? Anyone try both and have a favorite? If you have either one do you like it? Anything you'd do differently? Any suggestions/recommendations?
Thanks guys!
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Post by doctorice on Aug 9, 2013 7:45:08 GMT -7
Very happy with my Compu-Bias. Performs as advertised and is as simple to use as advertised.
I did not comparison shop. I believe the Bias Rite was out of production when I was looking.
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Post by Rich (fbb90) on Aug 9, 2013 8:20:19 GMT -7
I have the Bias Rite on order from Weber. They aren't stocking them, but they'll build to order. They say about two weeks to build and ship...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2013 8:21:30 GMT -7
I have a Bias-Rite and it's easy to use and works great. Never had a problem.
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Post by John on Aug 9, 2013 9:00:10 GMT -7
I had a bias rite from weber. Now I only have cathode biased amps (Remedy and Ghia) Sold the Bias rite. But when I had it I used it on my Route 66..worked fine. Pretty simple, straight forward.
No experience with compu bias.
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Post by thatstatuemoved on Aug 9, 2013 9:06:57 GMT -7
I own a bias rite. It is really easy to use and does a great job. I would recommend to anyone. No complaints here
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Post by aslerjack on Aug 9, 2013 9:10:11 GMT -7
I had a bias-rite, worked great for me. Sold when all I had were cathode bias amps, like above, remedy and ghia. I read that they did have an issue with the first version, which I had. I think it was mainly an user error issue. People were breaking the socket thingy/probes by not being careful. I never had an issue with mine. Guy who bought it, never had an issue.
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Post by GuitarZ on Aug 9, 2013 9:18:06 GMT -7
I have a Bias King that I probably bought from Antique Electronic Supply. I use it on my 50 Watt Marshall's 6550 tubes. It too does a good job and works as advertised. Don't forget to let your ears tell you whether you've got it set correctly too. Although, I probably trust my Bias King more than my ears.
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Post by hymns on Aug 9, 2013 10:35:26 GMT -7
I use the compu-bias and it is very easy to use. It is also good to use if you need to match tubes.
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Post by brayks on Aug 9, 2013 10:50:46 GMT -7
I have a Compu Bias and its a beautiful instrument. Many options for tube types, easy to use, cheater label on the front and it shows; plate voltage, cathode current and tube dissipation...... all at once.
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Post by loucardguitar (Johnathan) on Aug 9, 2013 16:58:08 GMT -7
I concur with Mike (doctorice), brayks and hymns. I bought the compu-bias and so glad I did. So easy to use, gives all the information that you could ever want. It made me, a novice at biasing an amp, feel like an expert.
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Post by zpilot on Aug 10, 2013 2:06:36 GMT -7
I use the current shunt method because I think it's more accurate and I usually have the amp open anyway because I'm repairing other issues. That allows me to monitor the plate voltage which you need to know also. It will change depending on where you have the idle current set.
I have a Bias King Pro I used for a while that works OK but I can only use it on two-tube amps. I bought four individual GT Bias Tools to use on things like my Twin and a couple of Macintosh's I've worked on and if I'm not going to have the amp open I prefer them.
On vintage amps I almost always check the values of a couple of resistors for drift first because if they aren't correct, or at least matched, the readings I get with ANY bias method won't be valid.
For those who don't feel comfortable working with open high voltage contacts, they should probably use the Bias Rite or Bias King or something similar. I haven't kept up with the other products that are on the market like the Compu Bias. It looks to be pretty neat. All of those types are limited by the accuracy of their meter and I prefer to use my Fluke 87 which gets calibrated annually.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2013 4:52:06 GMT -7
Just to be different. The first tool I could afford for bias was the groove tubes bias tool. It works fine. You need a voltage meter to give you the plate voltages. It's still a good tool.
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Post by jb on Aug 10, 2013 7:11:17 GMT -7
I use the Bias Rite and it works great.
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Post by zpilot on Aug 10, 2013 10:34:19 GMT -7
Everything considered, if you're only checking the bias and not doing repair work and don't want to invest in a good DMM it looks to me like the Compu Bias is the way to go. I'm a tool junkie as much as I am a music gear-aholic so I may have to get one just to use at the store.
While researching this I also ran across some info on the Aiken Wombat. It looks pretty interesting too. Anyone have a chance to use it?
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Post by smolder on Aug 10, 2013 11:32:32 GMT -7
having a good MM, I went the Amp-head route. I believe Hoffman amps has a kit you can build as well.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Aug 11, 2013 12:37:17 GMT -7
I also use the shunt method its the really the only way I know and If you have a Quality Meter That's TRUE RMS Its DEAD ON!!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 10:42:08 GMT -7
^^^ I'm with you, Jamie. Where I can I'll use the shunt method.
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