bc109 project

[cajununicorn]

hi everybody....i'm really impressed with the amount of info and help on this site. i'm definantly going to check it out on a regular basis. i'm fairly new to the diy pedal thing. my question is...
i picked up 3 bc109c transistors at work, and i want to use them in a project that i can gig with.  i was thinking the colorsound overdriver might be fun. any ideas?  thanks!

[Peter Snowberg]

Welcome Cajununicorn,

I don't have much in the way of specific circuits to build, but I would suggest using transistor sockets for whatever you build. Transistors tend to be quite variable, so you will probably be able to fine tune your build by switching which transistors are in which positions. I would also suggest building a circuit with pots to adjust the bias. If you don't you may end up with something that sounds less then perfect. Fine tuning can be everything.

I'm glad you like this place and I wish you the best with your build!

Take care,
-Peter

[Marcos - Munky]

Welcome and hope you like the forum. Well, you can use them for almost all NPN effects. The C in the end of the transistor number (BC109C) mean to be high gain, so will be cool to build a high gain circuit with them. If you can get one more, try the Big Muff or the transistor Obsidian. Or you can build a Si NPN Tonebender. This deppends of what kind of song you want to play.

[cajununicorn]

thanks for the info, guys. i think i'm going to go ahead and make the colorsound, with extra pots....

[mstoppini]

hi,
what kind of tonebender could suit the bc109? the one similiar to Fuzz Face or the colorsound one?
Once I've build a FFace with Si NPN and it was really disappointing (... well, it sucked), I used every type of transistor I had, bc183, bc108b & c, bc109, bc234, 2n3906 etc... nothing really acceptable.
finally I've tried a germanium 2nXXX (can't remember, maybe 508) and it was way better. Then I lost the pedal :D
M.

[cajununicorn]

hi,
what kind of tonebender could suit the bc109? the one similiar to Fuzz Face or the colorsound one?

M.

hey mstoppini,  the colorsound overdriver used 3 of them. it's quite different from a fuzz face (i assume, i've never actually heard one), but it has a geat reputation. i'm looking for a solo pedal that's not quite as overdriven as a fuzz face...i usually use a rat into a od3.  thanks, jon