SOLVED Who else gets gremlins when socketing transistors?

[MBFX]

Tonight, I built a Fuzz Face with some Germanium transistors. It sounded amazing on the breadboard, so I committed it to vero using a layout I know to be good. Suddenly, it won't bias right and it sounds weak and shitty. I ended up rebuilding it on a breadboard, getting a good result, then re-socketing the transistors in the veroboard build. Suddenly, it is perfect.

Anyone else get problems with socketed transistors?

 

[Big Monk]

Breadboard a pedal with EIGHT on-board components?! Ain't nobody got time for that!

I kid, of course.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that people put WAY too much emphasis on auditioning transistors.

So for me, I find ones that work in a circuit and leave it alone. Sockets on a PCB sounds nightmarish to me. Particularly on pedals people build more than one of and sell.

 

[Cybercow]

And finally, FWIW, whenever I do use sockets on a PCB, I either remove the sockets before permanently mounting the transistors - OR - I solder-tac the BJT in the socket, making it a more permanent application.

 

[yazooligan]

I didn’t socket at first, but gave it a try on several builds, and every one had issues once sealed up. Issues which made for a few awkward moments when I took them to a guitar shop for the owner to try when considering carrying my builds in his shop.

 

[Kroars]

And finally, FWIW, whenever I do use sockets on a PCB, I either remove the sockets before permanently mounting the transistors - OR - I solder-tac the BJT in the socket, making it a more permanent application.

Same here. I must be overlooking something, but I always figure a dab of solder permanently connecting the component to the socket shouldn’t cause any issues. Sockets are fantastic for those builds that are picky with transistors. In a perfect world, we could stick a transistor in and that’d be the end of it, alas here we are.