US source for germanium

[jwin615]

Stumbled across this site today. Mzentertainment.com May be of use to those just getting into germanium. Has some gain tested pairs as well.
Says they're tested for leakage but doesn't post leakage...
Not bargain bins prices but not pedalhacker prices either.
Anyway, hope it helps someone out just looking for an odd pair or two.

 

[keevohn]

Digging this back up. A lot of the germanium transistors on this site are marked "Used. Removed from retired equipment." Are there any drawbacks to not getting NOS transistors?

 

[jwin615]

No downside.
If anything it's a possible upside as they used ones may be handpicked and NOS may have already had the best specimens picked out. That's my opinion anyway...
I've yet to run across dud used t transistors but plenty of dude that were NOS.

 

[keevohn]

Following up with my experience. I bought four NPN Ge transistors from this seller a couple months ago. All test good, low leakage, the leads are long enough for sockets, and they sound good in the Tactical Fuzz I just built.

I have noticed that the gains of all four are between 25%-40% lower than expected. I used the RG Keen method, letting each stabilize for a few minutes. I suppose the gain difference could be due to different test apparatus, weather conditions, handling, etc. This is my first Ge rodeo after all...

Overall it was a good experience. I was able to get a small quantity of NPN transistors in the ballpark of what I needed, without paying exorbitantly or ordering an unsorted lot.