Audio generator recommendation for n00b.

[deci belle]

Someone provided me with a Tenma 72-320 o-scope today w/ no manual— weeee!

I want to learn to test for blocking oscillation and also find the source of higher A,F and C note frequency ghost-sheens that are harshing my BF Showman's mellow.

Would anyone please suggest an adequate signal generator for this purpose?

Oh, I just found this post from 2006: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t1713/

[Jazz P Bass]

I copped a Dynascan 3010 off of EBay for $50.00
Serves it's purpose well.
You may want to search "function generator" as well.

[km6xz]

A real sine wave generator is best if you are tracking down distortion, function generators do not usually have low distortion, that is not their purpose.
Probably the best one for tech work is also one of the cheapest. Look for a Heath IG-5218 or SG-5218
( HEATH SG-5218 AUDIO GENERATOR - eBay (item 170617727089 end time Mar-29-11 12:00:32 PDT) as an example)
It has very low distortion, an accurate level meter, accurate step attenuator and decade switches for accurate, re-settable frequency. Few AF generators have all these needed features all in one box, let alone one that can be had for $40-50.

[deci belle]

Sweet, Jazz— I'll know to look for that too!!

[deci belle]

Hi km6xz— I saw some, and noticed that SG-5218s tested, refurbished, or not, they can be asking around $200, though, it seems. So I just bought the one you posted~ thank you!!

[km6xz]

Congratulations, you have a more useful instrument than most commercial amp shops. There are a number of minor mods that can lower the harmonic distortion even more. I have two of them and they have proven to be very useful despite having some top signal generators on the work bench. I use the Heath for most checkouts, and only when there is a noise floor or distortion measurement to be taken do I use the Sound Technology 1700B ultra low distortion generator and analyzer.
The next items to look for are a metered variac, dummy loads, your new scope, Digital multimeter and you would have a good work bench that would be suitable for a wide range of amps, effects, and even digital gear repair.