Bias rite discontinued?

[CaseyCor]

I'll cut my losses and sell you mine for a cool $950 shipped (as long as you are in the CONUS)

Racist.

 

[311boogieman]

I remember talking to Scott Splawn about this and he recommends the Compu-Bias. IIRC he mentioned there were some issues with the Bias-Rite.

FWIW - he also recommended NOT playing your guitar while connected to a bias probe, but I was never sure if he meant those cheapo bias probes like from Eurotubes or the Compu-Bias or what.

I need a new bias probe anyway so I'll look to the Compu-Bias. Thanks for the thread (reminder).

 

[311boogieman]

The reason you don't want to play your guitar while biasing, is you are setting "idle" current, which means no audio signal is being sent to the power tubes. Also recommended to set the amps volumes to zero.

Thanks Dave. Hmmm well, I had an audio signal because I could here myself play. This was with one of those $25 Eurotubes Bias Probes. Scott advised not to play through them because the resistors are cheap and can fry. Which is what I think happened to me.



Also, I copied this from another forum TS - that might help if you want to DYI. I would think you could use an old power tube's base as well - but I have not practical experience with this method:

The bias probe mentioned in this tutorial is basically just a resistor with built in leads to connect to a multimeter. There are other ways to accomplish the same goal if you have the right tools and knowledge. I find the bias probe to one of the safest. I'm not an electrical engineer or an amp tech. If for some reason your amp has no bias trip pot (variable resistor) you can also do it without one but it requires some soldering. You remove the wire from the cathode (pin 8) and add a 1 ohm resistor (a 2W one is easiest) in line with it (ie. solder one end of the resistor to pin 8 and the other end to the wire you removed). Now you can measure the voltage across the resistor and the voltage in millivolts is the same as the current in milliamps. The plate voltage can be measured directly off pin 3.

 

[Marshall Law]

love my bias rite

 

[duesentrieb]

Bias probe. $29.

24.95
http://www.amp-head.com/product_info.php?products_id=30{8}23




Seriously: install 1Ohm/1 Watt Rs, Randy. Its easy . . .

 

[Loudness250]

My bias rite is awesome, there are no issues, had it for like 5 years.

 

[zuel69]

Same here..no issues when following the directions.

love my bias rite

 

[PaulyPanacea]

Damn. Good thing i grabbed 2 Bias Rites years back.

 

[tweed]

Bias probe. $29.

24.95
http://www.amp-head.com/product_info.php?products_id=30{8}23




Seriously: install 1Ohm/1 Watt Rs, Randy. Its easy . . .

Excellent! Although it sounds like a complete pain in the neck for a 100w amp and only one socket tester. Wonder if it would be less hassle to just use the DMM all by itself.

Going to be putting some Ruby el34bstr in the XXX here very soon and I want to make sure I get things in the correct range. Biasing the DSL is a piece of cake, but from what I have read so far the XXX is going to be a little more difficult as the test points on the rear of the amp are worthless.

 

[smdb]

I found this on the Marshall forum.:

"Here it their latest statement. I'm going to email them, and see if i can get a replacement unit. Or at least some assurance that my unit wont be damaged with normal usage within their guidelines."

MANUFACTURING NOTE: As Weber re-releases the Bias Rite units, we have upgraded some of the components. However, in order to remain sensitive enough to provide accurate reading, some parts are still very delicate. DO NOT attempt to play your guitar while the Bias Rite adapters are inserted. Doing so may very well cause the current to exceed acceptable tolerance for some of the components and damage the unit. Remember, you are only using the Bias Rite to adjust the IDLE current, which means the current level when no signal is being put through the amp.

 

[Chris6870]

Bias probe. $29.

24.95
http://www.amp-head.com/product_info.php?products_id=30{8}23

$28.02 with shipping.

 

[Ventura]

Well, seems we all learned a thing or two since this thread's inception...

Very well then, move along.

V.

PS - Pauly has two, of course he does, METAL MONSTER that he is Go big, or go....YOU KNOW IT!!!

 

[saxxamafone]

I love my bias rite, never had any issues

 

[Deleted member 3860]

I went with http://www.amp-head.com/index.php dual bias tester because it was shorter than a bias rite.
Used it about a half dozen times without a problem.

R~

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

I went with http://www.amp-head.com/index.php dual bias tester because it was shorter than a bias rite.
Used it about a half dozen times without a problem.

R~

+1

 

[steve_k]

Anyone emailed the company to see why they're pulling back on their products??

I have a 4 lead Bias-Rite, makes life amazingly easy and simple. Bonus too, I let the amp run and play through it watching the mA drift...after a couple hours, reset, and re-load the chassis back into the shell. Done.

Too bad, good product IMHO.

Peace,
V.

I always read that you're not supposed to play through the amp with the bias rite connected to the tubes.

That would certainly make life easier if it was safe. I can't tell you how many times I've burned my hands on tubes after biasing with the bias rite.

Hmmmmm.. I've played through an amp with the Bias King hooked up, I did not know there was a potential problem
Wonder what the problem would be??

It is because the Bias Rite adapter, or any other octal adapter gets its ground reference off pin 8. Since it also pulls bias voltage off pin 4, you are essentially creating a circuit externally through the adapter. If for some reason you lose the ground reference from the adapter to chassis, you are in for a rude awakening if you happen to be the guitar player completing the circuit to ground.

Steve