I think I made that mistake when I was ordering stuff for the tso. I think the suffix indicates a gain bucket and I didn’t like the looks of the specs on the C. I forget the specifics. Just cracked mine open. Looks like I went with a bc556.
So build done (BC557Cs socketed), boxed it up and gave it a whirl and...wow, gorgeous! Right until I dimed out the sustain pot. Then things start to get fizzy, farty, poppy, "gatey" and it eventually stoped working. "It's got to be the BC557Cs," I thought. So I switched them out for the 2n3906s
@spi suggested and same result.
Then I realized that I actually knew what was wrong from past experience (this novice is actually learning!). When I built an EQD Bellows clone awhile back (Moonn PCB), a similar thing happened with a gatey sounding JFET. I switched out the 2n5457 in that circuit with a J201 and presto! Problem solved. It was like the 2n547 didn't have enough "headroom" or something.
So of course my silly ass didn't socket the JFET in the General Tso tonight so I had to take the damn thing apart and remove the J113 and replace it with a socket. However, instead of a J201, I just threw a J113 from another batch in there and boom! Problem solved. Guys, this thing sounds gorgeous with BC557Cs in it, so I'm assuming it should sound slightly better with the BC557Bs when I get them. I'll do a full build report then
So lessons learned:
1. Always socket when you can (for the millionth time).
2. Damn, the General Tso is glorious indeed!
3. I now know that I know a poopy JFET (or JFET connection) when I hear one, which is pretty cool to have under one's belt
