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.

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 0.57".

New old stock 2N3565 transistors manufactured by Micro Electronics. The 2N3565 is a silicon NPN transistor in a TO-106 case. The 2N3565 is primarily intended for general purpose and low level applications. 2N3565 transistors were used in the original Harmonic Percolator, Foxx Tone Machine and the Sam Ash Fuzzz Boxx.

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.

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.

NTE103 NPN germanium transistors. The NTE103 is a popular NPN for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a TO-5 package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors. The NTE103 was used in the Texas Square Face made by Cesar Diaz, the famous amp tech who worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan and others. Early in his career, SRV had a broken Fuzz Face pedal and took it to Cesar Diaz to have him fix it. Diaz fixed and modified the pedal and this became the foundation of his famous version which he named the Texas Square Face. The Diaz pedals often came with socketed NTE103 and included a set of P-QNTE123 to experiment with the different sounds of the transistors.

NTE123 NPN silicon transistors. The NTE123 is a popular NPN for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a TO-5 package. The NTE123 was used in the Texas Square Face made by Cesar Diaz, the famous amp tech who worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan and others. Early in his career, SRV had a broken Fuzz Face pedal and took it to Cesar Diaz to have him fix it. Diaz fixed and modified the pedal and this became the foundation of his famous version which he named the Texas Square Face. The Diaz pedals often came socketed and included a set of NTE123 along with the standard pair of P-QNTE103 to experiment with the different sounds of the transistors.

AC132K PNP germanium transistors. The AC132K is a popular PNP for fuzz pedals and other effects. This transistor is in a thick rectangular heat-sink package with long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

BC238B NPN transistor in a TO-92 package. The BC238 is used in a variety of vintage pedals such as the Schaller Fuzz, a version of the Brian May treble boost,and later Jen / Tonebender fuzz pedals. The BC238B is a variant of the BC108B and works well in other classic fuzz pedals such as Fuzz Face and Big Muff builds.

OC42 PNP germanium transistors. The OC42 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.

OC83N PNP germanium transistors. The OC83N is a great PNP for fuzz pedals and boost effects. It is the TO-1 version of the OC83 which can be found in many fuzz pedals such as MK1.5 and MKII Tonebender clones. This transistor features long leads commonly found on germanium transistors.

2N2646 programmable unijunction transistor often referred to as a PUT. The 2N2646 can be found in many tremolo effects pedal projects and vintage classics such as the Vox Repeat Percussion.

BC148C NPN transistor in a rare Mullard Lockfit package. The BC148C is the equivalent of a BC108C but in the Lockfit package rather than a TO-18. The BC148C was used in a variety of audio and radio equipment and works well for fuzz and other effects.

OC41 PNP germanium transistors. The OC41 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.

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.

SFT319 PNP germanium transistors. The SFT319 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.

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.

NPN Darlington transistor (TO-92 package) - designed for high gain, low noise general purpose amplifier applications.

• Max collector to emitter voltage = 45 V
• Max collector to base voltage = 45 V
• Max emitter to base voltage = 6.5 V
• Max collector current = 0.2 A (continuous)

The 2N1711 is a silicon planar epitaxial NPN transistor in a TO-39 metal case. It is intended for use in high performance amplifiers, oscillators and switching circuits. The 2N1711 is a great choice for amplifiers where low noise is an important factor.

The TIP47 power transistor is intended for use in linear and switching applications. This series is designed for line operated audio output amplifiers, switchmode power supply drivers and other switching applications.

MPSA14 NPN Darlington transistor (TO-92 package) - designed for high gain, low noise general purpose amplifier applications.

• Max collector to emitter voltage = 30 V
• Max collector to base voltage = 30 V
• Max emitter to base voltage = 10 V
• Max collector current = 0.5 A (continuous)

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.

The BD139 is a NPN medium power BJT transistor in a TO-126 package. The BD139's typical applications include audio amplifiers and drivers but is also popularly used in silicon fuzz pedals. The BD139 is available in two different gain ranges: BD139-10 and QBD139-16. Type hFE (IC=150mA, VCE=2V) BD139-10 63-160 BD139-16 100-250

The AS3046 is Alfa’s version of the CA3046 IC in an SOIC package. The AS3046D 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 AS3046D is available in a 14-pin SOIC 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