Component hoarders, what and why?

J

jcrhee

Active member
As I’ve been getting back into building pedals, I’m finding myself buying components that I don’t need per se but because it is rare or “magical” that I may or may not need in the future. So for you collectors, ie hoarders, what components are you holding onto? For market research 👀
 
I've got a bunch of chips like AD633, MC1496, and ICL8083 for some when more ring mod and other weirdo modulation boards drop. Then, I've also got some sort obscure op amps like TLC272, and LM709s. They don't work in every circuit without some tweaking, but I've been finding uses for em
 
DGWVI said:
I've got a bunch of chips like AD633, MC1496, and ICL8083 for some when more ring mod and other weirdo modulation boards drop. Then, I've also got some sort obscure op amps like TLC272, and LM709s. They don't work in every circuit without some tweaking, but I've been finding uses for em
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I find myself starting to accumulate germanium diodes like D9e, 1n34a, D2d. Some I'll probably never crack open from its ziplock bag.
 
I keep a standing reserve army of common components around, ideally so that I can build new projects without ordering parts..

Thoughts of future disinterest in the hobby or possible death have done little to calm my component possession anxiety. I swear- I could have 3 full pedalboards loaded with top-notch builds and I'd still feel weird if I didn't have at-least ten B100K pots in my stash box..
 
I had a dozen or so JFETs (2n5457s and J201s) back when I started a decade ago--at the time I didn't realize the stock was running out. I paused the hobby for a long time until covid hit. Now that I'm back into it, I quickly used up my supply and realized it was hard to purchase, and wish I got more back then.

Now a lot of the PCBs are accommodating SMDs for the jfets, so this problem may be temporary.
 
spi said:
I had a dozen or so JFETs (2n5457s and J201s) back when I started a decade ago--at the time I didn't realize the stock was running out. I paused the hobby for a long time until covid hit. Now that I'm back into it, I quickly used up my supply and realized it was hard to purchase, and wish I got more back then.

Now a lot of the PCBs are accommodating SMDs for the jfets, so this problem may be temporary.
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This is my story too.
 
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I haven't been doing this long enough to know what the good stuff is, but I do order extra of everything I order. Started out that if I needed 3 caps I'd order 10, or something like that, now I will get 20-40 depending on what they are. I now order less often and when I do they tend to be smaller orders. I will build a board up with what I have (most of them get 90% or so built), mark off what I'm missing/low on, and then make an order for those parts to complete those builds.

I bought some NOS Russian germanium NPNs for who know's what reason. Probably just because I want there to be little flying saucers in some builds and I'm like 12 years old at heart. I also have about 40 TL072's because they seem to be in just about every other pedal I build.
 
dawson said:
I keep a standing reserve army of common components around, ideally so that I can build new projects without ordering parts..

Thoughts of future disinterest in the hobby or possible death have done little to calm my component possession anxiety. I swear- I could have 3 full pedalboards loaded with top-notch builds and I'd still feel weird if I didn't have at-least ten B100K pots in my stash box..
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I feel you man, I bought 30 diodes the other day and don't have a project at hand that requires them
 
My parts stash runneth over. I keep finding NOS parts that I have forgotten how or why I acquired. Like 10 vintage stack-of-dimes wha-wha inductors. No clue when or where I got them.
Some people worry if they have enough friends, food or money. I worry if I have enough leaded JFETs. Yes, it's a sickness.
 
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