I have used the search function, but have not had much luck in finding info on multimeters...

1. What functions are essential to have in a multimeter for the "do it yourself" hobby guitar builder???

2. What brand/type would you recommend???

Would like to keep the cost under $40 or so...

Just finished wiring up my first bass-a p bass in series/parallel and want to check out my, ahem... shall we say, "rookie", work...

for what you do in guitar/bass wiring, a cheap radio shack meter will do just fine! Bassically a 'beep' continuity test function and a ohmmeter is all you'll likely to need for most wiring.

for what you do in guitar/bass wiring, a cheap radio shack meter will do just fine! Bassically a 'beep' continuity test function and a ohmmeter is all you'll likely to need for most wiring.

+1

Radio Shack has what you need. Most multi's (hence their name) measure amps, volts and resistence. I prefer the digital ones to needles as I tend to drop things like that. I got one so I can bias my Sunn 300T. Also nice to have to check cables.


Scott

Here is a link to a SEARS product...
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&pid=03482345000&cat=Electrical+Shop&subcat=Multi-Meters,+Testers+%26+Accessories&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

would this be something worth getting???

this will do the job. you can probably get something cheaper at radio shack that will also do the job.

Agreed...
Although this little bugger has a Celsius/Fahrenheit reading which could help in my culinary field...
(I will keep the chicken juice off of the voltmeter)

Fluke makes the best multimeters available

+1 on the Fluke...
Of course, $300-400 bucks for a multimeter really exceeds my $40 budget...

There is a commonly available mini multimeter available at places like Home Depot, it is pretty inexpensive and will read resistance over several ranges, and voltage over several ranges. I find that I use either the most sensitive ohm setting for checking cables, the high range for pickups, and the low voltage range for batteries. The number of times I use AC voltage, diode testing, etc... I can't even remember using the frill options on a bass or guitar repair.

Hey fretlessrock!!!
Thanks for the help...
Home Depot is about an hour away...
I have a Lowe's right up the street...
Is there a brand/model you could direct me toward???

A generic DVM810 http://www.gibsonteched.com/vdvm810.html is the mini that I have. No, not professional grade, but it has been reliable and it does the basics, and then some. These things are all over the web for under $10. I have a beckman 310 as a beater, and it does the basics (plus handles AC like a champ) but I think something is funny with it. My main meter for guitar wiring and cable building has been a Micronta 22-182 that has loads of bells/whistles and yet I still use the same few finctions on it 99.99% of the time. Yes, I have a beautiful Fluke bench meter that is beautiful because it lives in a box.

I agree with the post about just needing a continuity "beep" function, but I am a dork and still want to see a ohm value, but the beep-test can be handy. I got by for a long time with a homebrew continuity probe made from a AA batt holder, a alligator clip lead, a mini bulb, a ballpoint pen barrel, and a chunk of copper as a feeler. You could go hog wild with features, but how often they would be used is another matter. A capacitance meter wouldn't be bad, but you are usually paying a lot for something that might be useful, some day, maybe.