Using fake germaniums?

[bifurcation]

I assume I'm not the only noob with a bag of fake germaniums?

I was wondering if something interesting (and probably ugly) could be done by... uh, measuring them and maybe running them in parallel? Maybe something in the spitty Shin-Ei range, or remaking the Reuss Muzzbox or something?

...or should I just throw them out?

 

[spi]

are you talking diodes? If the forward voltage measures similar to a 1n4148 or bat41 or bat46, or any other common clipping diode, you can find plenty of uses for them as substitutes in overdrive and distortion circuits.

 

[bifurcation]

are you talking diodes?

I was more thinking PNP NPN can-shaped transistors (which I have an embarrassingly large number of.)

 

[Betty Wont]

Fake how? like they don't measure? or they don't work at all? or they are empty packages?

 

[bifurcation]

Fake how? like they don't measure? or they don't work at all? or they are empty packages?

Before I knew better, I bought a bunch of "AC128"'s on eBay. I didn't even know what "measuring" meant but they sounded like shit, mostly just thin and harsh. So they "work", but I probably wouldn't build a fuzzface out of them.

I mostly just have an obsession with making weird unique pedals out of junk.

 

[Betty Wont]

What are their measurements? gain and leakage? If they are just out of spec, you can use them as germanum diodes. I use low gain germanium transistors as diodes in almost everything that asks for them.

 

[bifurcation]

If they are just out of spec, you can use them as germanum diodes. I use low gain germanium transistors as diodes in almost everything that asks for them.

You have just blown my noob mind.

 

[fig]

Look at SmallBear or PedalHacker as reliable sources.

 

[Guava13]

You can use a transistor tester per the RG Keen method:

RG Keen Transistor Test - an idiots' guide

Notice I put idiots plural - not "idiot's"... as I hope I'm not alone :block: But I don't think there is a correct simplistic explanation of how to do this here or elsewhere? So I thought it might help others if I put one up - it would have

www.freestompboxes.org

And if you want to streamline testing, a Peak Atlas DCA55 is an awesome tool. Gain and leakage readings made easy.

Definitely would test them before thinking of throwing them out!