Sandspur Fuzz build... Titled wrong.." It's Not a Sunflower..lol
- Thread starter swelchy
- Start date
swelchy
Well-known member
lower than 350 hfe.. lol... low low
Not sure about the 108As, will have to check, but I have some glob top 2n3567/8s in that range that sound killer. Off the top of my head, I think I have plenty 1893(40+), 1711, 2n930 all TO5 in that 90-140 range. If you want to try some, PM your details and I'll send you a few. I really like the 2n356X series. Everytime I do a shootout, if they're not my favorite, they're usually second place.
Big Monk
Well-known member
Try the Diotec BC547A or BC549A.
They consistently spec at either 215 or 285 for me and I buy them by the hundreds.
swelchy
Well-known member
Totally... I do need to order some lower gain variants and play around ... Trying to keep the old school nostalgia look with T0-18's though... just love the look of older cans versus the jelly beans
Big Monk
Well-known member
mdc
Well-known member
Try to find some 2N3440 maybe? They're mostly around 80hfe iirc.
MobyOctopad
Active member
They're PNP but I think the BC178 and 179Bs might be a good shout. I think some of the usual Eastern European ebay stores have small lots at reasonable prices
Big Monk
Well-known member
I’ll say this just based on experience:
The modern BC54x series of transistors are incredibly consistent, plentiful and sound better than all the metal can TO-18 transistors I’ve ever owned.
They are quieter as well.
As far as consistency, they still come in the standard A, B and C gain buckets. If you’ve ever sorted any amount of NOS TO-18, you learn very quickly that the gain bucket designators often don’t mean shit on a 50+ year old transistor.
Keep in mind I am now coming from a different place as I need consistency in spec and tone. The pure DIY guy in me may have the time to sift through hundreds of transistors to get the proper sound, spec, etc., but the guy making batches of 30 at a time would jump off a bridge if he had to that.
I’m to the point now where I typically only sample and measure random transistors out of lots of 200+.
If 10-20 measure in the spec I require, I’m pulling them out of the bin and popping them in a circuit. A Fuzz Face, so we are totally clear.
To that end, I have yet to have the modern units exhibit anything other than what I designed, all while being an order of magnitude less hissy and noisy.
The series of BC549 transistors I’m using go in EVERYTHING I build.
Fuzz Face? Yup.
Silicon Mk II? Yup.
Univibe? Yup.
Powerboost? Yup.
Big Muffs? Yup.
My wah build? Yup.
Hell, I even use the PNP BC559 in the Electric Monktress flanger.
The modern BC54x series of transistors are incredibly consistent, plentiful and sound better than all the metal can TO-18 transistors I’ve ever owned.
They are quieter as well.
As far as consistency, they still come in the standard A, B and C gain buckets. If you’ve ever sorted any amount of NOS TO-18, you learn very quickly that the gain bucket designators often don’t mean shit on a 50+ year old transistor.
Keep in mind I am now coming from a different place as I need consistency in spec and tone. The pure DIY guy in me may have the time to sift through hundreds of transistors to get the proper sound, spec, etc., but the guy making batches of 30 at a time would jump off a bridge if he had to that.
I’m to the point now where I typically only sample and measure random transistors out of lots of 200+.
If 10-20 measure in the spec I require, I’m pulling them out of the bin and popping them in a circuit. A Fuzz Face, so we are totally clear.
To that end, I have yet to have the modern units exhibit anything other than what I designed, all while being an order of magnitude less hissy and noisy.
The series of BC549 transistors I’m using go in EVERYTHING I build.
Fuzz Face? Yup.
Silicon Mk II? Yup.
Univibe? Yup.
Powerboost? Yup.
Big Muffs? Yup.
My wah build? Yup.
Hell, I even use the PNP BC559 in the Electric Monktress flanger.
swelchy
Well-known member
Thank's Monk.... Your suggestions are pretty good
swelchy
Well-known member
i actually ordered some of those last week... should have them in a couple weeks..
giovanni
Well-known member
I looked through my other stash and found some 2N2222A and some 2N3053. I measured one of each and the hfe was around 200. Send me a private message if you want me to send you some of these. I got not plans for them yet (I do have a sandspur build in the backlog but I have several of these).
swelchy
Well-known member
it's allgood man! Merry Christmas! I should have some more to tinker with soon.. I ordered some of the 2n222's from tayda and should be here in another week or two... Was definitely interested in what some others use as a low gain option and what I should keep an eye out for when scrounging the webs to order some older ones.
giovanni
Well-known member
Happy to share with the forum! I have more parts than I’ll ever use!
