Transistors

This is a set of two 2N1309 germanium transistors that have been hand-selected to work in the germanium Fuzz Face circuit. Also included are 4 metal film resistors to use in the circuit. In most cases, the values have been modified from the stock values slightly to ensure that the collector of Q2 biases to roughly -4.5V. A data sheet containing the schematic and the resistor values is included so that you can use your own resistor type if you would prefer. There is a range of bias voltages that can sound nice in a Fuzz Face, and voltages in original units varied. These transistors have been tested with bias voltage, sound, and noise level in mind. Note that due to a variety of factors such as battery/PSU voltage, temperature, and component tolerance, the voltage on the collector of Q2 may not measure at exactly -4.5V, but it should be close in a properly-built circuit.

Alternistors are specifically designed for applications which are required to switch highly inductive loads. To accomplish this, a special chip has been designed which effectively offers the same performance as two thyristors (SCRs) wired inverse parallel (back to back); hence the alternistor has better turn-off behavior than a standard triac.

OC43 PNP germanium transistors. The OC43 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and boost effects. This transistor is in a glass SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. The dot indicates the collector lead.

Adzam (Mazda) brand OC45 PNP germanium transistors. The OC45 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and boost effects. This transistor is in a glass SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. The dot indicates the collector lead.

Valvo brand OC45 PNP germanium transistors. The OC45 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and boost effects. This transistor is in a glass SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. The dot indicates the collector lead.

New old stock 2N404A PNP germanium transistors manufactured by Texas Instruments. These TI 2N404A feature gold plated leads. The 2N404A is used in many fuzz pedals along with other effects. The 2N404A is the same as the 2N404 but with a higher voltage rating. This transistor is in a TO-5 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

Transistor MJ15015, TO-3 Case, NPN
PowerBase complementary transistors designed for high power audio, stepping motor and other linear applications. These devices can also be used in power switching circuits such as relay or solenoid drivers, dc–to–dc converters, inverters, or for inductive loads requiring higher safe operating areas.
Safe Operating Area - Rated to 60V

OC46 PNP germanium transistors. The OC46 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and boost effects. It can be found in vintage electronics and modern fuzz pedals. This transistor is in a black glass SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

Transistor MJ15025, TO-3 Case The MJ15025 is a power transistor designed for high-power audio, disk head positioners, and other linear applications Features:

• High Safe Operating Area: -2A @ 80 V
• High DC Current Gain hFE = 15 (Min) @ IC = 8 Adc

Single position machine pin sockets. These pressfit sockets are mounted by inserting into a PCB hole and applying some force. They stay firmly in place with tension and can then be easily soldered to the circuit board. These sockets can fit any pin spacing, such as the non-standard 0.15” spacing of the vintage-style stripboard (vs. 0.10” on standard stripboard). They can also jump rows so that they are not all in a line. The press-fit machine pin sockets are also very low profile and have a very minimal impact on the resulting look of the build. For pins sizes .015 -.025". The recommended mounting hole diameter is 0.057".

Transistor MJ15023, TO-3 Case, PNP
PowerBase power transistors designed for high power audio, disk head positioners and other linear applications.
Features

• High Safe Operating Area (100% Tested) −2 A @ 80 V
• High DC Current Gain − hFE = 15 (Min) @ IC = 8 Adc

Transistor MJ15022, TO-3 Case, NPN PowerBase power transistors designed for high power audio, disk head positioners and other linear applications. Features

• High Safe Operating Area (100% Tested) −2 A @ 80 V
• High DC Current Gain − hFE = 15 (Min) @ IC = 8 Adc

The AS3046 is Alfa’s version of the CA3046 (LM3046) IC. The AS3046 consists of five general purpose silicon NPN transistors on a common monolithic substrate. Two of the transistors are internally connected to form a differentially-connected pair. The transistors are well suited to a wide variety of applications in low power systems. They may be used as discrete transistors in conventional circuits however, in addition, they provide the very significant inherent integrated circuit advantages of close electrical and thermal matching. The AS3046 is available in a 14-pin DIP package. Features

• Matched pair of npn transistors
• VBE matched less than ±1 mV
• 5 general purpose monolithic transistors
• Wide operating current range

Applications

• Filters
• Custom designed differential amplifiers
• Temperature compensated amplifiers

OC139 NPN germanium transistors. The OC139 is a popular NPN for fuzz pedals and boost effects. This transistor is in a glass SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. The NPN polarity allows for use with standard pedal power supplies. The dot indicates the collector lead. The OC139 can be found in the EarthQuaker Devices Bows germanium preamp.

The AS395 dual monolithic PNP transistor offers excellent parametric matching and high frequency performance. Low noise characteristics (1 nV/√Hz typ @ 1 kHz), high bandwidth (190 MHz typical), and low offset voltage (100 µV max), makes the AS395 an excellent choice for demanding preamplifier applications.Tight current gain matching (3% max mismatch) and high current gain (100 min), over a wide range of collector current, makes the AS395 an excellent choice for current mirrors. A low value of bulk resistance makes the AS395 an ideal component for applications requiring accurate logarithmic conformance. To ensure the long-term stability of the matching parameters, internal protection diodes across the base-emitter junction clamp any reverse base-emitter junction potential.

J201 N-Channel JFET in a TO-92 package made by Siliconix. The J201 is designed primarily for low level audio and general purpose applications with high impedance signal sources.

• Max drain to gate voltage = 40 V
• Max gate to source voltage = -40 V
• Max forward gate current = 50 mA

2N321 PNP germanium transistors. The 2N321 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a TO-5 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

The AS394CH is a junction isolated ultra well-matched monolithic NPN transistor pair with an order of magnitude improvement in matching over conventional transistor pairs. Electrical characteristics of these devices such as drift versus initial offset voltage, noise, and the exponential relationship of base-emitter voltage to collector current closely approach those of a theoretical transistor. Extrinsic base and emitter resistances are very low, giving very low noise and operating over a wide current range. To guarantee long term stability of matching parameters, internal clamp diodes have been added across the emitter-base junction of each transistor. These prevent degradation due to reverse biased emitter current, the most common cause of field failures in matched devices.

J201 N-Channel JFET in a TO-92 package. The J201 is designed primarily for low level audio and general purpose applications with high impedance signal sources.

• Max drain to gate voltage = 40 V
• Max gate to source voltage = -40 V
• Max forward gate current = 50 mA

TI377 PNP germanium transistors from Texas Instruments. The TI377 is a great PNP for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a metal SO-2 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. This package with the gold leads visually matches the 2G308, 2G309, and 2G381 transistors found in Zonk and Tonebender MKI fuzz pedals.

New old stock Soviet GT309E transistors manufactured in Ukraine. The GT309E is a germanium PNP transistor in a very low profile case. The case has a 0.29” diameter and is only 0.1” thick. These have very low leakage and work well in a variety of fuzz pedal builds.

ACY31 PNP germanium transistors. The ACY31 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and other effects. The ACY31 can be found in the rare CSL Super Fuzz version of the MKIV Tone Bender. This transistor is in a TO-1 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

2N1308 NPN germanium transistors. The 2N1308 is a popular NPN for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a TO-39 package.

SFT353 PNP germanium transistors. The SFT353 is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a 18B4 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. This style of package can be found in Italian built Vox Tonebenders.