Percolator 2N404 help

[ninemag]

I’m getting parts to getter to build a couple percolation station’s- I got a batch of NOS 1972-73 Texas Instruments 2N404 not (A)... all tested hfe in the mid 200’s. Will these be cool, or should o really get the A’s? Any info or advice as to tone or performance issues/ differences would be helpful.
thanks!!!

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Install sockets, try whatever you have. Part number is not important. Q1 needs to PNP germanium, Q2 needs to be NPN silicon. In that circuit, lower HFE is better. D1 & D2 can be whatever you have on hand. Good luck!

 

[ninemag]

Thank you for the info and advice- greatly appreciated. I have a bunch of the single pin snappable sockets- will those work? I’m gonna breadboard the thing until I iron it out, but I’d still to socket them on a board.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Yes, those will work. Breadboarding is a good idea. Consider tweaking R1 and/or R2 for best sound. Higher HFE requires higher resistance.

 

[ninemag]

Thanks!!!

 

[K Pedals]

I’ve read one of the original tested 99hfe for the 2n404 and the hFE for the 2n3565 is 199hfe...
I’ve made a few with around those specs and they came out good...

 

[Cucurbitam0schata]

What's been said here has worked for my double build (one for me, one for pal).

I had to trial a few different PNP/NPN combos until I settled on something I liked. Small Bear had a smattering of different transistors, so I snagged a handful just to play around with it. Some worked better than others, for sure! Socketing saved the builds!

 

[ninemag]

Is like to order a bunch of Silicon transistors to try out- do you guys mind giving me a list of what I should grab? Sorry for all the questions lol

 

[ninemag]

For 2N I’ve got 5087,5088, 5089,2222,2222metalcap, 3903,3994,3906....
What else would be useful to have around?

 

[K Pedals]

MPSA13 BC550 BC549C BC109C
...Off the top of my head...