SF/Bay Area tube testing Collective - READ! - anevsky

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SF/Bay Area tube testing Collective - READ!

I also posted this to the regular "tubes" group. Hope that isn't a problem....
Hi all,
Sorry for screaming in the subject line. I've been trying to get something like this growing for awhile now, on a local sf vinyl group, but now I am bringing it to the asylum. Because I know there are enough lunatics like myself to make this happen.
First.
On the market are two KILLER tube testing tools. The first one is called a VacuTrace from Hagerman (makers of great kit phono stages). It allows you to hook up a scope - or in this case - a simple USB (for your computer) scope and get ACTUAL traces from the tubes. The unit is the perfect thing for matching tubes. You can put two tubes on it, and get a trace for them, side by side. As most techies know, a trace is the absolute best way to match tubes. The cost is $1300.
http://www.hagtech.com/vacutrace.html
Second.
The "TubeTester" from Vacuum Tube Valley
Most importantly to me, this instrument allows you to plug in headphones and hear the amplified microphonics. Everyone knows that microphonics are ruinous, and simply pinging the tube with an eraser doesn't work so well. However, this also tests the gain (both triodes), balanced section test - for determining the cathode current match, and a quick test to make sure that new KT-88 doesn't arc and kill your amp. This happened to me with a tube on my Sonic Frontiers Power 2. It is also known to happen with various Antique Sound labs equipment and other companies that eschew fuses for many reasons (and valid ones).
So, here is what I want to do. The total cost of both units would be around $2k plus shipping. I'm willing to pay $500. That means if I could find three other people willing to go in on these products, we could all have use to them. If we could find 8 people total, it would only be $250 each.
Obviously, one doesn't need this equipment every day. Trace/Test the tubes you have and forget about it. Buy some new tubes, get the units back from whomever has them, and use them.
As for the logistics, assuming we are all kind and good people (tube people usually aren't dishonest, just eccentric) - we pay the money, get the equipment, and form a co-op. I'll build a quick website that allows the members to know who has what and how to get ahold of them. We can work out specifics later, but in general, I'd say that whomever wants the units drives to pick them up. The next person will pick it/them up from the last.
Before we do anything, I think we could meet up, discuss these tools, and other interesting tools, and meet each other. It should be quite easy for each one of us (individually) to choose whether to do it or not.
I think this is a fantastic idea, but we'll soon find out. Please contact me for more information. Remember, this is limited to the SF/Bay Area. What the boundaries are, I don't know.
So, email me at: records a@t akimball d0t c0m. <-- that is a spam prevention device - you know that bots cruise through these pages getting email addresses, don't you?
Lets make it happen!
-Adam

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Topic - SF/Bay Area tube testing Collective - READ! - anevsky 03:47:04 10/19/03 (6)

Re: SF/Bay Area tube testing Collective - READ! - Jim McShane 12:34:53 10/19/03 (4)

A Reponse from Jim Hagerman - anevsky 00:34:51 10/20/03 (2)

Re: A Reponse from Jim Hagerman - Jim McShane 05:26:57 10/20/03 (1)

Re: A Reponse from Jim Hagerman - anevsky 11:14:36 10/20/03 (0)

Re: SF/Bay Area tube testing Collective - READ! - anevsky 18:22:50 10/19/03 (0)

Sounds like a great idea - Metralla 07:58:34 10/19/03 (0)

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