Bench scorecard

Print the template, hand it to your luthier or tech, then transcribe the notes back into your vault when the work's done. Format modeled after Phil McKnight's Know Your Gear scorecard.

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Instrument Vault — Blank bench scorecard

Bench scorecard

Template

Amp scorecard

Print and fill in by hand, then transcribe into Instrument Vault.

Instrument

Serial

Date

Performed by

Print this page, fill it in on the bench, then transcribe into Instrument Vault.

Bench visit

Date

YYYY-MM-DD

Performed by

Self, name, shop, tech…

Preamp tubes

Skip tubes that aren't present. Add atypical layouts in the notes below.

V1 type

12AX7, 5751…

V1 condition

(New / Strong / Weak / Microphonic / Rattling / Red-plating / Dead)

V1 age (months)

V2 type

V2 condition

(New / Strong / Weak / Microphonic / Rattling / Red-plating / Dead)

V2 age (months)

V3 type

V3 condition

(New / Strong / Weak / Microphonic / Rattling / Red-plating / Dead)

V3 age (months)

V4 type

V4 condition

(New / Strong / Weak / Microphonic / Rattling / Red-plating / Dead)

V4 age (months)

Preamp tube notes

Power tubes & bias

Type

6L6, EL34, 6V6…

Count

Bias P1 (mA)

#.##

Bias P2 (mA)

#.##

Bias P3 (mA)

#.##

Bias P4 (mA)

#.##

Plate voltage (V DC)

#.##

Bias target (mA)

#.##

Retube needed

Tubes matched (within spec)

Bias / power tube notes

Transformers & capacitors

Power transformer

(Healthy / Slight concern / Degraded / At end of life / Failed)

Output transformer

(Healthy / Slight concern / Degraded / At end of life / Failed)

Filter caps

(Healthy / Slight concern / Degraded / At end of life / Failed)

Last cap job

YYYY-MM-DD

Recap needed

Transformer / cap notes

Signal path & noise floor

60 Hz hum (dB)

#.##

Noise floor (dB)

#.##

Hiss (0–5)

Ground-lift installed

AC polarity verified

Controls & jacks

Gain / volume

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Bass

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Mid

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Treble

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Presence

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Master

(Smooth / Slightly scratchy / Very scratchy / Crackling / Dead)

Input jack