I realized i need a multimeter if i want to continue this fine hobby of making diy effects(and i do). I was looking around on the radioshack site and the prices seem to be determined by range. What do they mean by range and how much range do i need for just trouble shooting guitar effects and maybe testing pickup outputs?
range refers to what values can be measured. for instance, my dmm only measures resistors up to 2M. so i cannot check a 2.2M resistor, except by putting in parallel with something smaller than 2M and doing some arithmetic. :) there is a range for each thing measured (dc, resistance, ...).
there are probably as many opinions about this as there are forum members. ;) i am a beginner, too. i bought the $10 radio shack dmm and it has served me well. but if you are going to stick with this hobby and do more ambitious things than beginners can do, i suggest that you pony up for something that can measure capacitors and has a greater range.
I have a Radio Shack meter that is pretty nice - says on the back: cat# 22-811.
I got it on sale for around $35-$40. It can measure caps (up to a certain value), has audible continuity test, and has an auto-range feature - so you can still get an accurate reading - even if you neglect to set it to the proper range. It also has a diode check function.
Probably the best thing it does is to automatically shut itself off if you leave it on - which I do constantly.
...This is the one:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_011_008_002_000&product_id=22-811 (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_011_008_002_000&product_id=22-811)
The main price jump is when you get 4 or 5 or more!!!!!!! digits.
For normal stompbox work, three is plenty, honest.
I've had to stump up for a high precision $$$ one for synthesiser work, but for diy stompbox $50 (or less, use the search function to see how to get a 'free' meter by buying $50 worth of parts from some shops). The one thing i woulod wnt in a meter, is to be sure it has the 'continuity beep' function. Because most faults (for everyone, and especially me :icon_redface: ) are shorts, and you want to be able to hear the beep, without having to look. and a transiistor gain (Hfe) option is useful, if only to work out which way the transistor leads go.