SOLVED Who else gets gremlins when socketing transistors?

MBFX

Well-known member
Tonight, I built a Fuzz Face with some Germanium transistors. It sounded amazing on the breadboard, so I committed it to vero using a layout I know to be good. Suddenly, it won't bias right and it sounds weak and shitty. I ended up rebuilding it on a breadboard, getting a good result, then re-socketing the transistors in the veroboard build. Suddenly, it is perfect.

Anyone else get problems with socketed transistors?
 
Solution
When using sockets, I've found some components have slightly thinner leads than others and can lead to connectivity gremlins. To overcome intermittent issues with socketed parts, I've started the practice of gently wrinkling the ends of the leads. (see attached image)

Wrinkled_Leads.jpg
Breadboard a pedal with EIGHT on-board components?! Ain't nobody got time for that!

I kid, of course.

I'm a firm believer in the fact that people put WAY too much emphasis on auditioning transistors.

So for me, I find ones that work in a circuit and leave it alone. Sockets on a PCB sounds nightmarish to me. Particularly on pedals people build more than one of and sell.
 
I didn’t socket at first, but gave it a try on several builds, and every one had issues once sealed up. Issues which made for a few awkward moments when I took them to a guitar shop for the owner to try when considering carrying my builds in his shop.
 
And finally, FWIW, whenever I do use sockets on a PCB, I either remove the sockets before permanently mounting the transistors - OR - I solder-tac the BJT in the socket, making it a more permanent application.
Same here. I must be overlooking something, but I always figure a dab of solder permanently connecting the component to the socket shouldn’t cause any issues. Sockets are fantastic for those builds that are picky with transistors. In a perfect world, we could stick a transistor in and that’d be the end of it, alas here we are. :)
 
Great solution to this.

I built a Twin face and socketed the GE's to try out a couple different variations/specs and have to really have to finagle the legs. When I find the ones I like, I am going to solder them in for a permanent solution.
 
My very first batch of commissioned/commercial pedals were 3 germanium fuzzes. I socked all the transistors and they all fell out in shipping.

I had some very angry people messaging me when their brand new pedal arrived non-functioning. I had to get them all back, solder in the transistors and send them back out. Lesson learned.

If I socket transistors to try out different hfe values, Ill solder the legs into the pins before I box the circuit up.

I like to take the long plastic socket pin strips and cut off the plastic so I'm left with individual metal pins. I think they look nice and you can fill them with solder without melting any of the plastic.
 
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