Which signal generator would you recommend?

[twangzilla]

Hi, I'm Kevin and I own Tone Ranger Effects. I'm mostly over on the BYOC board. I'm getting more into amp building (I've built 2 Champs, 2 18W Lite IIBs, and a Lightning) and have been fortunate that they've all worked the first time. But I know the day will come when I'll need to troubleshoot a build and, therefore, will need a signal generator. What are you guys using? Any features you would recommend?

Thanks!

[xtian]

Your smartphone is a good, free option. As I noticed when I scoped my iPhone, it can't generate true square or trangle waves, but does fine with sine.

If you want true square, look at used vintage gear.

For 99% of the time, I just need a 1KHz sine wave at 0.1 to 1.0v p-p. The ability to sweep the frequency is also useful when you're trying to isolate rattles in a combo!

[roberto]

95% of the time an old signal generator with sweepable sine and square will be too much.

[Phil_S]

If you have an old laptop, you can get freeware for it and rig up a cable from the 2.5mm or 3.5mm output jack to your amp. Really. No need to pay for something you can get for free.

[billyz]

Get an old Signal tracer, like heathkit It-12 etc. Eico and others. All in one unit.

You'll get a cool green eye tube.

http://www.ohio.edu/people/postr/bapix/SigTrac2.htm

[Structo]

I just bought a cheap Elenco model FG-500

It works fine and was less than $50

http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-FG500-100k ... B0002HRFTK

[Merlinb]

You can also build your own. It's easy to make square and triangle waves with a textbook oscillator of this type:
[img:511:275]http://bertrik.sikken.nl/bat/pix/funcgen.gif[/img]
There are lots of circuits online.

Making a clean sine wave requires a tad more sophisitcation:
http://valvewizard.co.uk/siggen.html

You can also buy signal generator kits. Check eBay and you'll find lots of options, many consisting of a microprocessor and LCD screen on a little PCB. You just have to box it up.

[twangzilla]

Thanks, guys!

[Blackburn]

Mine's easy to use and doesn't take up much space. This is the one I have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BK-Precision-40 ... 2ec3ddee6b

I got it and my scope as a package deal from a buddy and didn't realize until finding this link just how good of a deal it was.