My shorts are in a circuit...

[asnutter]

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...

[wilser]

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.

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by wilser

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

[asnutter]

Here is a link to a SEARS product...
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...TOOL&ihtoken=1

would this be something worth getting???

[wilser]

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

[asnutter]

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)

[Musiclogic]

Fluke makes the best multimeters available

[asnutter]

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

[fretlessrock]

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.

[asnutter]

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???

[fretlessrock]

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.