Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
After a couple of posts about workbench tools etc, I thought perhaps it’s time for a guide on where to start, as the internet is a big place full of opinions (now including mine). Sometimes it’s hard to work out what one actually needs and why they are needed. The idea of saving money by … Read more
Perhaps not often talked about in the world of guitar pedal building, as they’re kind of boring as all hell – the humble bench power supply. So why am I bothering you with this? Apart from being able to dial in most voltages that I need, a bench power supply is actually a handy … Read more
Given I listed the RG Keen method, I thought I should add the Small Bear method as well. It’s a simpler test that some people prefer, and it’s generally considered not as accurate as the RG Keen method but close enough for most purposes. NOTE: Be prepared to see the voltage fluctuate a lot while the transistor stabilises. … Read more
I discovered this nifty little hack today, maybe you already know about it, but it’s new to me. After improving my germanium transistor test kit yesterday, I thought I should also upgrade some dodgy leads I’ve been using with my breadboard. I sometimes start building on vero, then solder wires on temporarily to test … Read more
If you haven’t heard of this before (which seems unlikely), here’s the original RG Keen article, which explains how it works. I use a spreadsheet set up with the calculations ready to go for testing; there’s also an online calculator here. NOTE: Be prepared to see the voltage fluctuate a lot while the transistor stabilises. Don’t wait too long though, … Read more
I picked up one of these little testers off eBay for AUD$25 recently, and it arrived yesterday – my first impression is that it’s pretty good for the price. Previously I have been using the RG Keen method for testing germanium transistors, using a little test circuit from Guitar FX Layouts and a multimeter. There’s … Read more