Multimeter: Guitar Diagnostics

A mulitmeter can be a useful tool for diagnosing many guitar problems. This video covers the basic uses of a multimeter to equip you to troubleshoot the most common guitar related ailments.
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[@ErebosGR]

But how do I get a good metal tone out of my multimeter?

[@hazenstribling2646]

METALZOOOOONNEEEE

[@gonecoyote]

SET ALL THE GAIN

[@bowenpriyom]

Set gain to 11, bass to 10, mid to -4 and high to 3. Then push a metalzone pedal through it with the tone, volume and drive all set to 10. Gives it a pretty good metal sound

[@oleholgerson3416]

Just put it in a blender...

[@bramabull111]

You gotta run it through your fx loop

[@crimson_sun7274]

Problably the best video i've seen about using multimeters, including all the multimeter videos outside the guitar realm.

[@AceFurley]

Anyone else pick-up on his dead-pan mentioning of testing "your mothers marital aid" during a list of guitar components? Well played, Laddie! well played!!!

[@Gongasoso]

I'm here for the education. "Peckops" is just a perk.

[@charmelink]

🤣 can’t get enough of hearing “Peckop”

[@springbloom5940]

And souldar

[@husseinhamdoun7049]

This is probably thes most helpful video for someone who wants to learn more about guitar maintenance. Great work!

[@JasonMcNamara]

I just got my first multimeter so of course decided to check KZbin to learn how best to use it. Low and behold, I found my mate Colin!!! Thanks buddy 👍

[@jasonlippert747]

Thank you for this. I hope you expand on this some more. Especially the ground hum issues. you seem to have a good way of cutting through the crap and making an easy to watch video

[@RJRCh1ef]

It should be mentioned that you can and will blow the fuse in your meter if you try to measure ohms on something live

[@poshdan1988]

Thanks for this, been getting into modding my guitars lately and I’ve had a pesky bridge ground which has been causing issues, got a multi metre but the instructions were terrible and this tells me everything I’ll ever need for using it on my guitars. Thanks Colin 🙂

[@crashzero6517]

I've love this since you had your green screen and jack daniels on shot, this channel has always been extremely informative and more importantly easy to digest great work buddy, never a bad episode.

[@ccandrew111]

Colin, I love the fact that you're so clued up with your theory. I'm about to finish my degree in electronic/electrical engineering and your videos on these topics always help jog my memory with these things. It's unfortunately a skill not enough musicians posses anymore

[@Multiabuse]

I couldn't place what seemed so unusual about the guy. You're right. And thank you for confirming the info is legitimate. I'm typical in not knowing much about the subject, but I'm interested in learning.

[@mrgeorgejetson]

Brilliantly straightforward, relevant, and helpful. Thanks so much, man!

[@rogerstarz]

great video, very very comprehensive, exactly what I needed, thank you!

[@HeadOfBucket]

At 4:50 it's worth mentioning that pot values for active pickups are much lower, usually 25K.

[@matthtopel4620]

Excellent Video!! Very informative and well presented.

[@umbertoecho1]

Thank you Colin. This was very helpful to me. Cheers!

[@trysth]

Great vid, Colin! Keep em coming!

[@PootTheBard]

Thank you Colin! These kinds of videos are dynamite for the aspiring tech. I know enough to be dangerous (to turn a phrase) but it's good to have info like this at the ready. Keep it up!

[@bautman]

Thank you🤙🤙been haveing issues and this has lighten my burdens👏👏👏thanks

[@Cigarsnguitars]

Great video Colin. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen your site. You always have solid information on here and this was filled with wonderful info. Not many folks, especially ones who are new to guitar repair or mods, have knowledge of what you covered here today. I’m always interested in understanding what the output of my pups are. I’ll mark each one if it’s not already installed in the guitar. I’m getting ready to set up a spreadsheet that will map out the pups installed in each of my 15 guitars that I own as well as the pups that are loose in my parts boxes. The more information I can collect and document the better information I will have to catalog. I will have to guesstimate some of the earlier ones. 😎🤘

[@thomaswarren2699]

What a fantastic video. Very informative. Cheers, my man

[@NIKITKOKIS]

This video goes to my favorites playlist. Thanks!

[@joshp5563]

Great video, Colin! Keep it Loud!

[@chilphil01]

Lookin for more Videos on this Topic! Thank you, keep it up!

[@christisgod3354]

Again, very interesting stuff. I have always wanted to learn these things.

[@lunaraeon5618]

Really interesting video and more than helpful channel, thanks so much dude!

[@lurklingX]

also, so far, this is the best multimeter explanation ive seen yet. FINALLY getting somewhere. ive seen quite a few, and this is being helpful even partway through (i see the symbol on the multimeter my dad left me. rip. and i'm understanding the beep IS continuity. and how to test cables.) anyway thank you. this should get more upvotes. currently working on a DOA thriftstore auction buy - a learning guitar. wow, it has more stuff to fix than i thought.

[@mr.phil.a]

I have had one of these for years. Now I finally know how to use it thanks. Will come in handy when I rewire a guitar next week.🙂👍

[@johndinsdale4454]

Cheers for this Colin. Great stuff.

[@raulcstetson]

5:37 That was so left field i had to do a triple check

[@kanojoe9196]

I turned the captions on and he said Your Mother's Se*ual Aids.

[@stream_terapia1166]

This is an old video, but I just want to say huge thanks to you. I was able to find and fix two short circuits inside my guitar and now my neck pickup is working again.

[@IsabellaCatherine19XX]

0:52 THANK YOU! No other videos show this particular detail. Colin, I love you! Thank you for showing this part! Now I know how to use my multimeter!

[@timwood6115]

Great information. I watched so I could find out if a coupe of old pickups I found still work. I also use continuity testing frequently when wiring guitars or pedals.

[@rupertradar7424]

Excellent video, Thanks Colin. Hi from South Australia!

[@warheart1016]

Hey Colin, could you do a video for the causes and solutions of fret buzz? Thanks!

[@MarkSixbey]

this channel has very helpful video tutorials.

[@J0N3S1N]

Thank you so much for this video. I was able to fix my bass using what I learned here. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@alaspoorjordan]

As a pedal builder and guitar tech, I can't even begin to tell you how much time and money could be saved by simply doing basic continuity testing. It's really worth learning.

[@JackstandJohnny]

AlasPoorJordan Ive saved at least $500 in instrument cables alone in the past 5 years simply by knowing how to use the continuity beep and how to solder. I totally agree.

[@stevelaferney3579]

Thanks Colin!

[@deanmacka4975]

Great stuff mate cool video

[@cockers6682]

Just bought one getting into mod that you do on KZbin great job mate

[@guitarmemoir]

Very informative, thank you.

[@fabou13]

Thanks! Very useful

[@lurklingX]

ok, first up, love the voice. so nostalgic and awesome. (ok, now tuning back in for actual help lol!)

[@guitaristwilllane]

These kind of videos are great and there seems to be a low supply of them on YT. Thanks!

[@JerseyFuckYeah]

hey colin, thanks for the great summary of things you can do with a multimeter. can you show us how to measure the current draw of a pedal? thanks!!

[@kbzonmarko]

Ooh Electricity so dangerous but at the same time so magical!!! great video.

[@dalepal]

Great video. Now I have to figure out where I put for my mulitmeter. :D

[@radu3g]

You can probe pickups on the output jack, with a cable plugged. The switch should be in position for the selected pickup. With volumes at maximum, the result is close enough to the pickup DC resistance.

[@UndecidedCinema705]

If you want a meter that does capacitance and inductance too (they are surprisingly hard to find), look at the Proskit MT-5211 or Sinometer VC9808. I bought the Sinometer and it does everything and more! Inductance is hard to find in a meter but super useful when winding or fixing pickups!

[@didifischervideo]

Very informative - and also a immpressingly huge multimeter : ))

[@thesouthsideshovlerleonard13]

Need to check ground where on the input jack do I hold tip and is it the red or black lead thanks! Great video.

[@godzilla964]

Could you make a video about ground wiring? What do you think of star grounding?

[@11calman]

Nice on mate

[@dominikc1981]

Maybe another video for troubleshooting your amp or pedals? Would be awesome!

[@motoputz3201]

3:07 great idea for fuse placement, brilliant

[@InsomniacMatt]

So glad you actually pronounce the L in solder, it bugs me when I hear saw-der.

[@keithbuck5444]

Its an American thing. soder....

[@dionr1168]

InsomniacMatt and that cuts me deep down inside like a kanife, because the D is silent! It's Djent! Not duh-jent!

[@JackstandJohnny]

Keith Buck Speak for yourself. Im American and I go out of my way to pronouNBC e it as "solder" just to help the next person remember it and say it properly. Same goes for Porsche...its Porsche-uh. Just doing my part.

[@Cole-ek7fh]

JackstandJohnny it's "sodder". the brits lost the language when they lost the war. ;)

[@raymonddixon7603]

Great to hear solder and nice hair. No silly baseball caps the wrong way around

[@DarkeningSkiesBand]

Colin, great video! Long time viewer, first time commenter....what model multimeter is it that you are using? It's incredibly versatile.

[@trevorphillips4236]

Are you gonna torture test the Iron Age picks like u said in your boutique picks video? I've been waiting so I can decide on buying Iron Age or dragonheart

[@legozach77584]

1:48 you should also test for a connection between tip and sleeve, if there is a beep like that then the cable is definitely broken

[@dexterrity]

Aye, you right. He does cover this in his cable mod/fixing video though.

[@fedecasagrande]

good point, also on 5:10 .You need to test the center and one of the others pins of the potentiometer and turn it all the way, looking for a smooth movement of the resistance. sometimes, for some short or dirt on the track, you end up with cracks and noise. Hope my english was good enough to be understand.

[@donald-parker]

Note on cable testing ... You showed how to test for breaks, which is good, but you should test for shorts too. i.e. test continuity from tip to sleeve.

[@al23x56]

Charvel DK24 - hum when the pot is fully open or completely closed, hum disappers when touched or adjusted by a tiny fraction away from open or closed position, any idea what could cause this?

[@samlegassick]

Hey guys, so I was playing a gig using my guitar (which had just had a checkup - incl specifically looking at grounding) and my pedal board. As I was singing I was getting shocked at same time. Decided to buy a multimeter and there's beeping from all bits I touch (without opening up) but it does seem to come in at 0.07 on the continuity on multimeter when it gets to the guitar. Basically, not sure if this means it wasn't my setup, but was the amp / mic. Does it sound like my stuff is OK to use again?

[@clayfeline7150]

One thing: either Colin is a very, very small man or that multimeter is huge! Either way, Tx! Great vid.

[@ookamikage6658]

I've gotten complaints from various sound guys that my output from my electric bass is iffy. What would be the best way to diagnose this?

[@slashingbison2503]

Cheers

[@de_dUKe]

Great informative video.. I can't come to terms with the giraffe assault tho.. Why would you..??

[@jose666dlr]

I’m hoping someone knows the answer, I have active emg’s and when I switch to the one on the bridge there’s significant volume loss would a multimeter also read active pickups?

[@leftofpunk]

This video made me realize I need a much better multimeter.

[@ebollinger72]

My mother's sexual aid uses AC power, thank you very much!

[@redrock1963]

After much failure and disappointment, my mother is now using diesel power.....reliability is important to her.

[@SScarnati]

This was the best video I've seen on trouble shooting your guitar circuitry. And even threw in a mom dildo joke in the that I really appreciate 😂 thank you so much. Definitely subbed

[@onpsxmember]

Colin showing us a full eyebrow workout.~.~ That's a great base video to get people to fix more themselves. At 4:00 I'd like to add that if you found the rough value, let's say 8kOhms the measurement should always be in the upper third of the range you're using. Otherwise the relative failure takes more out of the cake (percentage wise). Maybe worth it when someone is trying to replicate certain pickup values, while the values themselves aren't that meaningful. Again, that is just for fixed range meters, a lot of the modern ones have automatic range mode anyway.

[@Airtrooper719]

Hi, do you know what could cause a slightly lower output than normal on the pickups?

[@ScienceofLoud]

Do you mean when measuring the DC resistance of the coil, or the general output of the pickup while in operation?

[@Airtrooper719]

@@ScienceofLoud Either really, I do have a multimeter but I'm a bit clueless. I installed some fluence moderns and they sound thin and weak in all pickup positions and voicings :(

[@Dreyno]

Nice multimeter. Does it djent?

[@freelance_commie]

Can my Ti-83 calculator be used as a multimeter? What about a stomp box?

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

Is it possible to overcompensate with the size of your multimeter?

[@nicolamontoro]

5:40. Lmfao 🤣 you are hilarious!

[@MarcoZaniRovereto]

I love your accent ! :-) anddd useful video |

[@josephbrandenburg4373]

Is that a crwth behind you? Or just a lyre?

[@tonis5637]

Need some help. My guitar keeps humming until i touch string or something metal. I used that "beep" option in my multimeter, everything keeps beeping. But still humming like hell. What to do?! Btw, it has humbuvker if that matters

[@ldesmond6729]

Hey Colin, could you explain the difference between high and low gain amps?

[@ScienceofLoud]

+L Desmond one of them has lots of gain, the other doesn't. What else would you like to know about them?

[@ldesmond6729]

CSGuitars well I play very clean and I was wondering which would be better for me low or high gain (the amp would be about 50 watts tube)

[@jonathananthony1901]

L Desmond . I don't mean to butt in, but if you want the cleanest tube amp possible go for higher wattage. The lower wattage usually means it will break up or distort sooner as you raise the volume. In general, the higher the wattage the higher the "headroom", or in other words, the more volume you can crank up before you get distortion in your signal. I hope that helps! :-)

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

L Desmond - If you want a very clean sound, you should definitely have a listen to the individuals amplifiers you are interested in. I mean, some are so much about "Rock and Metal" that they're difficult to keep from overdriving the signal, sometimes even the "clean" channel, which can still go into a light overdrive. - "High gain" usually means that they're designed to just have loads of distortion, like Randall amps are generally "high gain" because the pre-amps just have loads of output. That doesn't mean they can't do great cleans. Again to just use Randall as an example, they can actually have beautiful clean sounds. - But it also depends on the design. Take Roland amplifiers for example, especially the ones like "Jazz Chorus" models, they don't even have a drive-circuit built in, at least for the longest time. Now the models that also have digital modeling in them might have drive sounds, but they're still fantastic at creating a very clean and clear sound. - Also mind what you plug into them. I don't suppose you have high output pickups, because those tend to push the signal too hard as well. - It's about lower output from the guitar and pre-amp, with plenty of headroom.

[@codycarter5902]

How does that lyre shred?

[@sccrash420]

Colin....That poor Giraffe!!!!

[@robertz9273]

Mine doesn't have the sound waves after the 200 does that matter

[@sleekskyline120]

I'm just here for the accent.

[@fruitlessworship]

when you first changed your layout, you seemed to still be getting used to it and it admittedly made the show less enjoyable. however, now i can tell you're feeling a lot more comfortable with it all, i find myself chuckling in the same way i did before but now things are a lot more spicy and clean visual-wise! keep it up colin

[@marvinstorm9153]

I reckon size matters in meters. I'm gonna get one even bigger that that ... That's huge!! My girlfriend asked me if it did and I said no. She just smiled.

[@Steph-de6ne]

A Tshirt,Colin.PLEASE!

[@gunsandguitars6678]

it will help keep you from getting ripped off by other musicians trading pickups,

[@dylanpaterson7612]

5:36 hahaha

[@lunaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

my mother's what now? :o

[@topfloorstudio2684]

@ 1:16 R.I.P. my ears...😢

[@ghoststomper]

Nice1

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

what`s that instrument in the left corner?

[@robert__]

lyre

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

thanks

[@johnmotherfuckincoltrane1242]

HERE BEFORE 1K VIEWS

[@thearabianmage]

I really hope that when you have kids they ask you to read instruction manuals instead of bedtime stories at night

[@motoputz3201]

0:27 that thing is a dinosaur! It looks like an 80’s brick telephone

[@ScottBTTuk]

How did you keep a straight face on “your mothers sexual aid”😂😂😂

[@dawgyo4757]

here before 500 views

[@BaldyMacbeard]

A multimeter is a fine tool. One question remains though: does it djent?