BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

BJF wrote:There are few numbers of these last generation germaniums. If needed I can post a list of numbers.

That would be a huge help, I am driving about an hour north to see a man with an old TV repair shop who has buckets of old germanium trannies and diodes and frankly I don't know what I am looking at unless I have a data sheet in front of me.

Military/High-Rel:
N
V(BR)CBO (V):
25
I(C) Max. (A):
300m
Absolute Max. Power Diss. (W):
150m
Maximum Operating Temp (øC):
85õ
I(CBO) Max. (A):
6.0u
@V(CBO) (V) (Test Condition):
25
h(FE) Min. Current gain.:
60
h(FE) Max. Current gain.:
300
@I(C) (A) (Test Condition):
10m
@V(CE) (V) (Test Condition):
1.0
f(T) Min. (Hz) Transition Freq:
10M¦
@I(C) (A) (Test Condition):
1.0m
@V(CE) (V) (Test Condition):
5.0
C(obo) (Max) (F):
20p
@V(CB) (V) (Test Condition):
5.0
@Freq. (Hz) (Test Condition):
1.0M
Package Style:
TO-5

Hi,

Oh, I'll try to compile a list of interesting transistors shortly.

Have fun
BJ

Here's the schematic:

Click for full view

Hi,

Here are some alternative devices for the Germanium NPN ,low noise,high gain transistor suggested in the Folk Fuzz DLX


2N1304
2N1306
2N1624
2N1685
2N4105
2N4106
2N4077
2N4078
2N4079
ASY28

Manufacturers include:
CSR Industries,Electronic Transistor Corporation, International Devices Incorporated,ST SGS Thomson, Silicon Transistors Corporation,Semiconductor Technology Inc., Texas Instrument,Valvo Gmbh.

These are all last generation Germanium NPN ,low noise,high gain transistors.

Not a very impressive amount of devices considering there are about 1 000 000 transistor types, but this the last generation were all expensive as compared to silicon substitute devices and so these eventually went outof production. Kind of sad as with the advent of these, germanium transistors finally could compete with silicon in terms of gain, leakage and noise and consistency.

Have fun finding any of these
BJ

Hey gang,
Have a look at the quote I got for one of the xistors on Bjorn's list.

Hi -,
Thank you for using http://www.sierraic.com
We have received your RFQ on the following:
Partnumber :2N1306
MFG :Texas Instruments
QTY : 10

COMMENTS:
---------------------------------------------------------
We are happy to quote you the following
Partnumber : 2N1306
Part Description:
MFG : Texas Instruments

QTY : 10
Price:$22 Each
Lead-time: 2-5 DAYS
Please let me know if you would like to order these parts.
Your Quote # is :879969
Thank you for your time and have a nice day,
Joe Satalino
Sierra IC Inc.
Tel 1-631-325-9097
Fax 1-631-207-8305
Email: [email protected]
16 Bailey Lane
Manorville NY 11949
http://www.sierraic.com Sierra IC Inc Strives to become the strongest link in your supply chain !
Attached is a formal quote, in pdf format, if you don't have adobe reader installed on your computer, you can download it at : http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html

WTF?!!!!
I sense someone trying to retire comfortably on my purchase alone.
If someone finds a respectable offer, I'm more than willing to pony-up for half a minimum order.
[schux, I paid $120 USD for 35 Mullard CV 7003 and they were NOS dated 1964. These 2N1306
can't be much older than the 1970's I'd imagine. So what's the reason to charge so much? ]

Update!
I got a quote for $10 each USD, minimum order is 20 of course..........

I will continue my quest to have fun, y'all do likewise.

NG

Hi guys,

I'm new to building pedals from scratch like this, and have a few dumb questions for my two kits:

1) does it matter what type of pots that are used?
2) What type of wire is best?
3) can someone point me to a reference on identifying the different resistors?

thanks! I have 2 kits because I know I will probably break the first one.

Hi,

Yes those 2N1306 are expensive and yes this is a 70's transistor 1972 -1978.
Prices may vary a whole lot from supplier to supplier and the best option is to shop around for best price.
The main reason these cost a lot is that there aren't that many made as compared to 60's type germaniums.
These are also the last generation germaniums when they finally became a valid option to silicon types but even back in the 70's these were expensive and so production was limited and they went out of production from low demand for high quality germanium transistors.

This means that likely whatever you find of those will work while with 60's germaniums outof a batch of 100 more than half can be unuseable for amplification.

Also NPN gremaniums are rare and always were.

Still I would think it possible to find those at half the price.

Another factor that effects prices on obsolete components is that batches change hand many times as in parts suppliers buying from eachother.

There might be some Russian made germaniums that could work but I know little of this as I cannot read russian. The Datasheet posted in another thread might be helpful scouting such units out though

Good hunting and have fun
BJ

nibus wrote:Hi guys,

I'm new to building pedals from scratch like this, and have a few dumb questions for my two kits:

1) does it matter what type of pots that are used?
2) What type of wire is best?
3) can someone point me to a reference on identifying the different resistors?

thanks! I have 2 kits because I know I will probably break the first one.

Hi,

Wires and pots I put something about in the Mechanics of the Folk Fuzz thread.

Personally I use FKUX and there would be a US eqvivalent. That's a stranded wire.
Pots is a question of what type you can find and there would be several suppliers.
Hm, identifying the resistors.........I have not seen the pcb's close up but I thought there were legends on those and that those would have a corresponding number to the numbers in the schematic.
You will need to know the colour coding- unless you have the russian types that have values stamped- oh and those are also red.

That's the short story
If you need further assistance just post

Have fun
BJ