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Post by iggs on Oct 5, 2006 7:51:41 GMT -7
Hey all,
I'd like to be able to check the bias myself and as much as I'd like to think that I'm pretty good with electronics, I don't feel right poking around an amp with dmm probes.
I was looking into getting the Bias Rite ... any opinions, info or reviews? Any other (better) tools? Both of my amps are fixed bias, push-pull, class A/B dual output tube based, with KT66 and EL34 respectively.
Thanks!
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on Oct 5, 2006 10:35:54 GMT -7
I have a Bias Rite with the VI option. Love it. Fast and easy to use. I know that GT makes a bias probe as well as some other companies. They all look good but I only have experience with the Bias Rite. No complaints on it or the design either.
Paul G.
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Post by iggs on Oct 5, 2006 11:25:08 GMT -7
Thanks trane!
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Post by ke4unr on Oct 5, 2006 15:40:57 GMT -7
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Post by iggs on Oct 5, 2006 17:18:38 GMT -7
Thanks Ray, I saw that and I don't have a dmm ... but I also liked the fact that the Bias Rite has a single-function dmm and looks very idiot-proof which seems like a good thing when high voltages and me are concerned ...
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Post by prowler on Oct 5, 2006 17:21:09 GMT -7
Thanks for that tip Ray. I already have a really nice Fluke meter & the last thing I wanted to do was buy something with a built in meter.
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Post by ke4unr on Oct 6, 2006 9:04:07 GMT -7
Thanks Ray, I saw that and I don't have a dmm ... but I also liked the fact that the Bias Rite has a single-function dmm and looks very idiot-proof which seems like a good thing when high voltages and me are concerned ... If you're cool with the Bias Rite, don't think I'm trying to talk you out of it. But, just consider that the meter is not a true DMM. It's designed and built specifically for one purpose. If you go with a true DMM and separate probes that plug into it, I assure you that you can do no harm to yourself, the meter or your amp. You're not working around inside the chassis near such things as the power supply caps that carry lethal voltages. The advantage then would be that you would have a meter that can be very useful for measuring other things. Not only on your amps and guitars, but any other electrical source or electronics device. Ray K.
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Post by ke4unr on Oct 6, 2006 9:10:09 GMT -7
Thanks for that tip Ray. I already have a really nice Fluke meter & the last thing I wanted to do was buy something with a built in meter. Same here. I used to build my own probes for my 6L6 amps using parts from my "junk box." Still have a pair. I couldn't find a source for the parts I needed to build 9 pin probes for EL84's. So, I was glad to find the folks mentioned previously. Funny thing...I stumbled on a source just yesterday that had the parts for building the 9 pin probes! Oh well... Ray K.
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Post by myles on Oct 8, 2006 14:56:57 GMT -7
The Weber is a very good tool.
I personally prefer a tool without an integral meter as it costs less, takes up less space in my toolbox, and I already have three meters in my toolbox. One should always have a meter to check voltages in other parts of an amp already.
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Post by mudskipper on Oct 11, 2006 9:00:40 GMT -7
i've been using Ted's BR for a while now and have found it to work quite well. since i a'ready own a DMM, i just bought the adaptor.
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