Recommendations for a vacum tube tester

I think anybody with tube equipment should get a simple tester like you want. I test new tubes I buy, garage sale finds, all tubes annually, and if a system problem occurs, to find either a problem, or more likely to know and have confidence the tubes are not the source of the problem.

I have 2 old Accurate models, #157 and #257. I have a big Hickock (see below) The 2 compact Accurate’s always show the same basic results as the big one, so I don’t bother with the big one,

You must have the manual (supplements and tube substitution books are nice extras)

I prefer ’buy it now’, but I would definitely bid on this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125844705417?hash=item1d4cedd089:g:g4IAAOSws2NkHy2g&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4JF4YdCyxCoyoCtZ5u8RUEeSCWk3xRBA7Qbh4NUUkQM%2FRefS4D%2BeZHfwr%2Fe%2BPf9hGHP%2B0PMkUgECol5U2t0CfemW5%2BhvffN9Tlq2QycfaWeE0jomkfRlQ6vyqnxVtB8t%2BGf2HpWVFWJkUmdgaf4P%2FcniWqkm8Ys0XmM%2F9yx3Tw3eNZT33HQylTSumxsuD07%2BYHNAFhrjUtfzsk7tDEU2aQxgfdauiYG1vgX%2F7XSAjZQFzZIQhmEtKkvmrq0dHFGYxwM0LjxbTwZPQLFbImb1pcwpf3r0%2F0dFVgShRZ3mlN8i%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ

 

here’s my little Accurate 157. I week guarranty

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394530245122?hash=item5bdbd5ca02:g:bcIAAOSw9UFkHkpQ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4H01nKx1u5YbiZueNfCTrrLiuRhCRFfukMG5BJB9SJJyulkfUR%2FrfY26wnG%2FZzhvrRzBHiZdD2Nq2x1yswOiRA4Fi0daW5KfemsA66l3tSzUL0lrhqrmD14soBtXT9pPt0oQ4GFuFW5pm59fu%2BqBYCTCi6Lumm28Y25f%2FUBZ0f8W2DPJu%2BrfZKl40QE8MfWvAny0ULGn6XyItyEXlRoQ%2Fqo%2FOtdhiTh0JsysE2TfYiqQDPhegsEidMtd4GF5gBx5XpClBmB2RW7Op0SmuGJxsweTdd0GbvwfA2xTucJvm85k%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ

 

It is is pretty good shape. Don’t let rusty latches andd hinges worry you too much, they used cheap hardware, common to see torn vinyl, also cheap/thin wrap.

This is nasty/worst than most, but to prove my point

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175541678441?hash=item28df197169:g:LFYAAOSw9oJjogfH&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Gncov33JFz19G9G%2BnDzS8eq0%2FydKXyHGokKrjEGFDogxrylaGa4lEv5hOoH1q6Sca1QKEX4r9U5U1v0XoI%2FIVezG0wjxleghd1qm5RcsEU8uBXkdF7f%2FaCvVrzJZm64XWkKKpU%2BoAdlY8jqnrp%2BMuX43ZcYI89IWhdZzLJF2xtpo9P6AE16noCxFd30RXvDjgaovi%2F0et85g%2FZD6gWcoJKdTOsp403XNwh1zQoLukBv4YYzy44eTHVIMzYvviXezVkSIkqcB2WmdEbqsVClC1WRxmovpbjKoUNB0bmXc7h0%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ

not enough sockets (look back at the 157

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394496094088?hash=item5bd9ccaf88:g:G7YAAOSwtaZkA7Lr&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Hl5538gaYhdXI95fDww660MMKw0w9Jg2aFXP%2FufL92KsE3NBFvACcihWC2ZsD2DlaAWq63d5rIBNlApeq%2Fd7MtFhol8hqMFMIBOQ%2FEmoq%2Fo4%2F5lL1bPiHlbPDvchePwIY7lfrzWoFb4I96AQlBHsdX5l3ituT5SwebmWKC4j0uGFnOM3Jaxu0zss%2Fd8HgCEcSgh2y46BTAR2oBFdZalk8vuXPFWDTKHEbQaRoGodTvnYcoOuiw5%2BoSWl%2FFOQ2b5QhoM0eWCG0lHhEtWMOVfYU9sQl71BOWebTalRJ31xH0r%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4KcyI3lYQ

This is tested, working, and clean, nice hard case. I would make an offer

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175385832190?hash=item28d5cf6afe:g:qsAAAOSwb2Vi~CqZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4LAaQU2va0y%2FFhxnyR044CFxFNfBCBfMO2mC9lXUZA0K7N%2B4%2FDwR9ufZ%2Fj9irbGoCr6sF1r1Tu7b7eMCLkDJ7zxlMPITQbD8ObXPITyO0K2UqZxTW%2BcroQmp6y4e%2FgiNHOq1Wfm993Z7bD%2B%2FUi%2BT10GJ5bc16vGZyFjOCDADF40cY3Wn%2Fx6%2B3dLH1Luxw50aYM4%2FXoC8XUQdjYKulNlmZ5Xr4SdmXuxZURg8lFrFD7SIOkXOkb46FN%2Bm4m7%2BGKQk0jdij3FORFIHLxJEjYMIsmICap7uRZQCi9pL%2B1PoNw4g%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4acyI3lYQ

"I will guarantee it to work or your money back."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175651165400?hash=item28e5a014d8:g:M7QAAOSwK9lkEQ1v&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4KFAyCMTrmznLjMmJCUQn35F4x7zVAzoA3aFGr2WIQbCQfMj03GSqVXabvKJH65ySgVjOrzwv8tn%2B7L71fjz0fniK8%2BJGRj4TDHFFeVeIjr2fR9Jc9x0cc2XEG0KVkJU5oezlNN5FmB%2FxFBrn7I6PtCE%2FB2bUWAKBB3dOTsQdSVQl37UUTI6Ik71LCTNGZCTqoLzOa1DbWlzl0IuxVYbAw3PzN6cXGtLiZxjCzmXRH1YV79O2jKO%2FVimPl2a3a89mvGXwIyQAiAB%2FMVi7bvhkWZ5Yh6iECc6gCyjrIYCN8OC%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4icyI3lYQ

........................................

Works Well (no returns). I always buy using PayPal, and use my credit card with best protection to fund my PayPal account, so you are double covered.

My experience: If seller says ’works well’ (or anything in writing that proves not to be so) Paypal/eBay will support the buyer. Credit card simply calls it Fraud and supports you.

Note: no mention of manual, so ask seller, and see if you can find a download

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175661126130?hash=item28e63811f2:g:hjEAAOSweXNkG2K3&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4ArYv%2Bt11MKsOuX9VPZ2S13tRBf%2FQi1IHTU71YWuprFbkfhh9HJsBq8VcbmkgorEo0aKyMB%2FhdNNHyfaMuCVYEOXtc4ldB5QuxT2xyHjjvsBtfxsPg3QWqcpp60Oh%2B9kMkby%2FA2xXxyV%2FDLS9YGrlJwUJofxJOL3AyRJAc0EKlox7Tp3IJCCO5ZlYFXnZ8SQXS7A66Vz%2Bu7sIH9fvJvdGCMFQUW4m7XgsZseqTqtehhMa56ec8l4Fkyi5K30vImCK7CILantSGor3wEtMtOM9Zig3jg03fqdSjke3Iyo7fvi%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4qcyI3lYQ

Hickock (looks like mine) over your budget, says ’good working condition’. Feature filled, more than the Accurate’s, other simple types.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155472160795?hash=item2432dce81b:g:LRAAAOSwQNhjhouM&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwMsPA7HtnZFOCaA2gYIlRq2lj4U8XoJcL%2Blb2OySpjr9%2BJpu4UdKH8yy7NfiITi9M5186lYy6Mdi8O7KQ5ogSA1xMszpFBwBKdFfEYPSXXWNjdGxZNcLakGOV9B%2BvGCpewZExXs7reB9ypyj0uswty%2FLjDyOfpVU41PRjCLSC3uuLwYfIIiGAeLbwCxixIz7g4H6hgEer%2BoISKHvWo2vNxx0aNDAHF%2F3MOI7VySa7%2FRCxY%2FhhPmQmhQTe8MtS3Yyxw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR46cyI3lYQ

 

thats from eBay, HiFi Shark has others I didn’t look at

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=tube+tester

 

 

 

 

BALANCE Controls, especially using tube equipment! Remote Balance a wonderful thing. A very small balance tweak can make a surprising amount of difference.

tksteingraber

exactly one of the reasons I suggest EVERYONE with tubes should get a basic tester.

Basic confidence from a basic tester takes you out of the dark, that’s all I’m saying.

Test new purchases, of course! Annual testing, of course. Some problem, find or verify it is or is not the tubes, then work up the line until source of problem is found. No tester, how the bejesus can you have confidence in your tubes?

Happily when I have bought matched sets, they have measured matched, and I KNOW that, not HOPE it’s true. You would have been in a mess without your tester, as you say, it saved you!

My past comparisons of my big tester to my little one gives me the convenience of using the small lightweight one, easily transported to a friend’s home to test their tubes.