Electra Questions...

[DTX120]

Hi guys, im 100% new to both the forums and effect building.

AS a starting project im going to build the electra distortion.
http://www.geocities.com/j4_student/electra.gif

A couple of quick questions.

1) Can i exchange both the 1N34A and the 1N4001 with 1N4004's.
2) And the 2N3904, can that be replaced by a BC549 or BC548?? (Im a bit confused as to the difference in transistors.)


Thanks in advance,
Chris.

[lightningfingers]

yes and yes .

the BC549 and BC548 will both work well, they are higher gain than 2N3904.

if i were you though, id build the NPN boost (in the beginner forum)
building it is covered extensively.

good look with your build

[DTX120]

Yeah ill build the NPN boost right after the distortion, the only reason im starting with the electra distortion is that i already have the parts.

By saying higher gain, what does that mean to the sound? Im a little confussed.

[lightningfingers]

transistor gain comes under hFE on the data sheet (go on google and type {transistor name} datasheet) the higher the gain (hFE) the more distortion you get

[DTX120]

Thanks alot for your help, youve been ace!
If i have any problems during the build, i know where to come. Thanks.

[Lonestarjohnny]

I highly Second the Boost, there's a lot of info that can be had by just reading through the post's on the beginner's forum that will explain a lot of the circuit and hardware that you need to know about when building a pedal,
and you get a very useful pedal that I consider a great addition to my pedal board, I use it every time I play now.
JD

[petemoore]

Circuits that call for an NPN device will work with an NPN transistor that you have.
 Certain ones will be noisy, or lower gain than the 'right' part would do.
 Boosters and OD/Fuzzes, will accomodate NPN's, [like cats they all act similar...some loud, some quieter].
  In the Electra, You might like a high gain/low noise Q...2N5089, or MPAS18...BCxxx[BC 109, BC 108]. These transistors types are nice to have around if you build much with NPN...who doesn't?
 They all sound similar yet have varying degrees of differences...try 'em out!!!

[DTX120]

Thanks alot guys!!!