Crookedtooth
Member
I recently bought the Peak DCA55, so I'm ready to give germanium transistors another try! But also, other transistors and diodes. I'm hoping to better understand just what I am looking for when measuring these out:
How do you all know what gain to look for in certain circuits, or which germanium diodes are preferred? I measured a number of germanium diodes yesterday and their voltage drops were all over the place. I know that in the Klon for instance - the ideal voltage drop was .35v, but other circuits don't seem to give that away at face value.
I am putting together a build right now (an effects tester) that requires two 2N3904's - and after measuring just 5 components they were all over (hFEs of 164, 170, 260, 176, 281) - so how do you know which ones to use? Does it matter (is that level of variance already considered in the build itself)? Do you just plug them in and play and swap out to hear what sounds better, or is there a more technical way to know?
Is the rule of thumb also to match most components as close as possible (Unless of course you are building a fuzz face)? When should diodes be matched and when doesn't it matter? Same for transistors?
That's a barrage of questions, hopefully I am making sense. I'm not an electrician, I am beginning to understand a lot more, but any info you have to offer would be great! Thanks!!
- Diodes - voltage drop
- Germanium Transistors - gain & leakage
- JFET - vgs (off)
How do you all know what gain to look for in certain circuits, or which germanium diodes are preferred? I measured a number of germanium diodes yesterday and their voltage drops were all over the place. I know that in the Klon for instance - the ideal voltage drop was .35v, but other circuits don't seem to give that away at face value.
I am putting together a build right now (an effects tester) that requires two 2N3904's - and after measuring just 5 components they were all over (hFEs of 164, 170, 260, 176, 281) - so how do you know which ones to use? Does it matter (is that level of variance already considered in the build itself)? Do you just plug them in and play and swap out to hear what sounds better, or is there a more technical way to know?
Is the rule of thumb also to match most components as close as possible (Unless of course you are building a fuzz face)? When should diodes be matched and when doesn't it matter? Same for transistors?
That's a barrage of questions, hopefully I am making sense. I'm not an electrician, I am beginning to understand a lot more, but any info you have to offer would be great! Thanks!!
