How to Pick a Multimeter For Guitar Amp Repair (AmpMechanic

Being a greenhorn at amplifier and radio repair means that you're going to make a lot of silly rookie mistakes as you get going. One mistake that's super easy to make is in picking out a digital multimeter (DMM) for testing amplifier and radio circuits. As it turns out, there's a wide selection of multimeters out there -- all designed for different tasks. And not all of them will work for doing amp and radio repair. But being a rookie at this, what did I know? So, I mistakenly bought the wrong multimeter for the job. Not once. But twice! So, in this video, I talk about what to look for and hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes! (multimeters discussed in this video: Fluke 87v, Fluke 117, Klein MM600, Agilent U1252B). Also, in this video, I refer to a video on the EEVblog. Here's the link to that video: • EEVblog #60 - Fluke 11...

[@ceickhoff]

Great video. Just what I was looking for. Thanks for explaining the important features of multimeters so well.

[@mr.grumpyface527]

Thanks man. Vids like this are more helpful than most. Really appreciate it. 👍

[@AmpMechanic]

Really glad you liked it. Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. Now that the summer is over, I've got more coming. Been doing some upgrades to my video setup.

[@seanmangan2769]

Get a Fluke 8060...you'll love it

[@ikeleahcim9904]

Thank you, David, I am just a beginner at this.

[@banjoperator]

I have to say thank you for this vid, i have been looking for a meter for very similar purposes and have looked at the 2 in your vid.. .. now your video has pointed out the things that i didnt consider and would have cost me the same as they did you.. thanks for sharing your mistake so i am able to avoid it and get a proper piece of equipment for the job its designed for.. cheers

[@AmpMechanic]

Hey @banjoperator... if my video saves just one person from making the mistakes that I made, then it makes all the work I put into the video worthwhile. Thank you so much for the feedback and let me know what DMM you finally settle on. I still have my eye out for a second meter (always good to have two to keep each other honest) and am hoping that I might be able to score a Fluke 87 V at a great savings. OK, good luck with your search.

[@banjoperator]

thank you for your encouragement and along with vids such as yours and others , i have rediscovered my interest in audio electronics and electronics in general.. seems some interests never really go away.. a small lab set up is where im headed and have most of the basics,, now when i get my DMM it will be an oscilloscope and signal generator on the list..lol.. look forward to your continuing vids and keep up the good work

[@AmpMechanic]

roger that!

[@nectarandice]

God bless you for making this video.

[@drtoolm]

Just subed Was looking at the EEVBlog one, and see It is out of stock. Well done vid.

[@AmpMechanic]

Hey @drtoolm.. thanks so much for the compliment. Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you. I've got more videos coming. Just been real busy upgrading my video and audio setup. Once I've got it dialed in, I'll should have more stuff.

[@surfrby8876]

Just discovered you , I’m. A Boston guy too, great video thanks 👍

[@AmpMechanic]

Thanks @surfrby. Great to have some other locals who are into the hobby!

[@MyPronounsISwhom]

Would you recommend this multimeter over others when it comes to reading things like pots and a guitar or the wirings of a guitar and for diagnosing and fixing guitar pedals? For instance I bought a Klein MM400 meaning for testing out parts for guitars and recently I've been getting into fixing a couple buddies' pedals. Eventually I was going to use this also to diagnose, troubleshoot a 20 watt vox amp I got that I really love to fix. Anyway hope to hear from you and get some clarity on this matter because I spend a lot of time not understanding multimeters and all that jargon and finally deciding on the one that I bought and I still don't feel comfortable with it and I'd rather get something that I know I am using correctly and will provide accuracy. Thanks a lot for video very nice content, glad I ran across it. Thumbs up

[@gwbenites]

I know this video is 4 years old, but FYI, the Agilent is $697 on Amazon right now. 😀

[@jjclem8759]

this is kind of older now, and i can't find a decent deal on the Agilent.. any other recommendations? i rarely feel overwhelmed w options, and all the options seem to be rather pricey.. i won't be doing amp work til later on, mostly smaller electronics, but I'm going to need those features and $150 is very doable. $500 and I'm not sure it's gonna be worth it for me, and I don't really have it to spend on a mult atm. any middleground? i figure in 6y some other products must have come along. great vid, regardless, and i appreciate it!

[@DeadKoby]

Hey boss, I've got an amp channel too. Yours flew under my radar for too long. New subscriber.

[@DavidBerlind]

Hi @DeadKoby. Awesome! Your channel was under my radar as well. Nice that you're past the infamous 1K threshold! I will will counter-subscribe (under my personal ID).

[@DeadKoby]

@@DavidBerlind Good deal. I've now become the "go to" for several music stores, so the new series is "repair-a-thon" where we sort of rapidly crank though repairs, prepping them for sale. Not a lot of deep diagnosis there, it's just Solve it, move on. Much of that is maintenance related... If it's 40 years old, it gets electrolytic caps, test, solve the weird noises and off it goes. But unlike many repair techs, I'm working on your Cheap-O starter amps, and solid state vintage too... so It's not flooded with Fender and Marshall. Peavey, Gorilla, Traynor, Gibson.... whatever is broken, I take a stab at. This round is going to be a 7 of 7 success.

[@confesor30]

Awesome video, I am looking for a multimeter to do some amp and guitar work and this video was very helpful. Do you think the Brymen BM235 will be a good pick? What features do you think I will be missing? I am trying to buy a good multimeter without paying a premium for the fluke 87v. Thanks!

[@AmpMechanic]

Thanks for the compliment. I don't know anything about that DMM. But like I say in the video, the key is looking at the documentation and checking the range of operation and the declared accuracy within that range.

[@mohdsyamil1462]

Thank you sir.

[@AmpMechanic]

You are quite welcome Mohd. Stay tuned for more videos this year! I've been spending the last 6 months upgrading my video and audio setup.

[@justinoneil6971]

I purchased some mods from BillM for Christmas and finally plan to get to them in a few weeks. Along with an adequate multimeter, what can you tell me about avoiding the pitfalls of soldering equipment. I already use flux and good technique, but I don’t have a quality iron that I can control temperature with. How important is temp control on an iron? Or, can I make due with my hot iron and pencil tip with good technique?

[@AmpMechanic]

So, to channel my good friend an mentor Bill Machrone (inventor of the BillM mods), you should practice on some gear (like old radios) where screwups won't matter. I can't say for sure about your iron. But temperature control is a good thing because you want to reduce dwell time. The more your iron dwells on a solder joint, the higher the likelihood of damage to something you don't want damaged.

[@oldrrocr]

thanks for this! But I have just found out that even if the documentation SAYS it can do something doesn't mean it actually will do it, especially the very low capacitance and resistance tables :( Still looking...

[@snottythe-snorlaxian4503]

Thanks.

[@AmpMechanic]

You're welcome!

[@billwilliams6338]

AMPMECHANIC, Does NOT using a CHOKE create harmonics added to the circuit and amplifier? if i remove the CHOKE in the power supply and used a jumper wire what would happen to the AC ripple?

[@AmpMechanic]

I believe you would have ripple but cannot be sure since I can't see the design of the supply. I believe I've seen designs that go capacitor-choke-capacitor so I don't think jumping the choke would produce a similar outcome. You can easily test it though in a variety of configurations (and even make a video of what you learn).

[@chadjensen3687]

Oh dang!!! I thought you were going to say that you found one for $60, lol.

[@AmpMechanic]

Just set up some searches and you might! The Agilent is actually quite good and can be found (if you're patient) for less than the Fluke.

[@johnmiller9219]

your agilent is close to $700

[@Labyrnthdom]

I have to say, that multimeter is junk brother. It is not even good for around the house. It will get you killed. Because it is not accurate enough to use for AC voltage. I made the same mistake and bought that one brand new. Took it back in 4 days and paid for a fluke. Which is perfect for around the house. So i disagree with it being good for around the house.

[@AmpMechanic]

Not sure why, but just seeing this. I generally agree that most of these Home Depot bought inexpensive DMMs are not nearly the same quality as a good Fluke. While I cannot vouch for your findings (mine seems to work fine for basic stuff), I wouldn't dismiss your opinion either. I definitely prefer the higher quality stuff! Thanks for writing.

[@whatarefriends4]

Didn’t he say he didn’t want to drop that coin on a multimeter? This just skip jumped the budget my man😢