Choosing Between Q1 Transistors For The Bayonet Fuzz

[debrad]

Hi everyone!

I just completed my Bayonet Fuzz (Musket Fuzz) build and I'm VERY happy with the way it turned out (thanks @PedalPCB !).

Knowing that Q1 drives the "LPB-1" pre section of the circuit, I used a socket in that position and tried a few different options including a 490 hfe 2N5089 (I used all of my >500 hfe 2N5089s in the other positions), a 120 hfe 2N3904, and a 530 hfe MPSA18.

To my uneducated ears (I've never played a Muff-style pedal), the 2N3904 and the MPSA18 sound the best (I wasn't crazy about that particular 2N5089) but I don't feel like I could pick a CLEAR winner between those two (the MPSA18 is in there right now).

Are there any pro's or con's to choosing one over the other? Is it best to choose the lower gain vs. the higher gain or vice versa (I thought that I read the LPB-1 circuit actually imposes a max gain which might make the question irrelevant)?

Thanks!

 

[debrad]

I figured I would add a couple of photos to make this more appropriate for the "build report" title. My apologies if I posted my transistor question in the wrong forum (although I am still curious about your Q1 opinions for this Bayonet Fuzz!).

 

[joelorigo]

Looks great. I'm now just seeing this because I am building one and looking for other finished pedals. I wondering if I should socket the transistors.

 

[debrad]

Thanks! I definitely lean towards sockets for ALL my transistors these days...a) to allow for experimentation with various transistors...and b) to reduce the chance of damaging the transistors.

 

[joelorigo]

That makes sense. I’m going to socket. Thanks