Components - UK

[rackham]

Hey

I'm pretty much a n00b at this - built a Tweak-O and a Bazz fuzz so far but I'm having trouble finding a couple of bits in the UK for my next projects...

Battery clips/snaps - seem to be different descriptions for the same thing, metal battery holders. U-shaped metal clips.

Ge. trannies.

Hookup wire - for perf layouts, not the stuff that goes to the off-board pots and switch, the connections under the board.

As they're small bits, the postage from the US/Europe works out more than the components themselves so any suggestions welcome.

Cheers

Jon

[rubix cube]

Hey there

If you're going to be making more pedals, you'll probably end up wanting parts that I've only ever found at smallbear electronics in america.  As for the bits you mention, Maplin certainly sells battery snaps.  I'm not sure what you mean for the hook up stuff, but Maplin do also sell a Jump Wire Kit that I guess you could use.  I've never used perf-boards though, so I'm not sure.  Worth looking at Rapid Electronics as well if you haven't already.

[MartyMart]

Hi, www.smallbearelec.com as mentioned, also :
ESR
Rapid Components
Bardwells
www.fastcomponents.co.uk  ( grab bags of caps etc at good prices )
Maplin for battery snaps etc, including audio transformers for Titan Boost etc.
On ebay:
Search sellers for  6k8  and  dpi4parts  - great for transistors and Jfets etc
Aron's store here also for various parts and footswitches.
Marty.

[Hanglow]

I use http://www.rapidonline.com/ for most bits, but smallbear for pedal specific/ ge trannies etc. It's very cheap with the great exchange rate at the moment. Quick too.

Out of interest MartyMart or anyone else in the UK have you got footswitches from Aron before? And how long do they take to ship? I think they work out cheaper than getting them from banzai in germany. Probably quicker too...

[MartyMart]

Out of interest MartyMart or anyone else in the UK have you got footswitches from Aron before? And how long do they take to ship? I think they work out cheaper than getting them from banzai in germany. Probably quicker too...

I get all my 3PDT's from aron, takes about 7-10 days and they are good quality and cheap as chips !

Marty.

[rackham]

Cheers for the responses guys. I'd been thinking about placing an order with Smallbear.

For 3PDT footswitches in the UK, I bought some from here:
http://www.hotroxuk.com/store/erol.html#1X0

But they also do them here:
http://www.rshelectronics.co.uk/pushswitch.htm

(not that I'm looking to take sales away from Aron)

I use http://www.rapidonline.com/ for most bits, but smallbear for pedal specific/ ge trannies etc. It's very cheap with the great exchange rate at the moment. Quick too.

Out of interest MartyMart or anyone else in the UK have you got footswitches from Aron before? And how long do they take to ship? I think they work out cheaper than getting them from banzai in germany. Probably quicker too...

[newfish]

...and if anyone's after those Audio Transformers for Bobtavias (Schem. lists a Radio Shack / Tandy P/N) - have a look at www.t2retail.co.uk.

Seems like somebody took over an old Tandy store when they closed down - so you can order your parts using the original Part Numbers.

Managed to get a pair of these Trannies for not very much on a next day delivery.

Cheers!

[smnm]

re t2retail - thanks fopr the tip - i fancy a few of these:



They're £1 each, but useful for IC based stuff.
Most of the components are v expensive on this site though - I wouldn't reccommend getting standard transistors + op-amps etc from them - they're even more expensive than Craplins (who by the way are starting to only sell their 49p battery snaps online in future - I don't think they'll be a big seller as you can get them at most other online suppliers for about 10p).

[Hanglow]

I get all my 3PDT's from aron, takes about 7-10 days and they are good quality and cheap as chips !

Marty.

cheers! Will purchase my next lot from him then, only £3 each or so + shipping

[slacker]

yeah Aron's stomps are the cheapest I've found, comes to about 7 quid for 2 including delivery.
I get a lot of general bits and pieces off this guy http://www.pw-electronics.co.uk/ he's cheap and really quick with delivery, I've ordered stuff and had it arrive the next day.

[rackham]

Looks like Aron wins for the 3PDTs then.

Anyone found a decent source for perfboard?

Seems like vero is available everywhere here but not perf?

[Hanglow]

Rapid sell it, search for matrix board or something like that. It isn't the stuff with copper pads though, I have done a couple of builds fine with it.

[smnm]

Anyone found a decent source for perfboard?

Seems like vero is available everywhere here but not perf?

Maplins have pad-per-hole perf in huge sheets, quite economical...

[speed12]

I use banzaieffects.com. Even though they are based in Germany and so teh shipping charges are more, the cost of the components and the MASSIVE selection mean that it is well worth the £1-2 more. I have always found everything I need on there. Thats my suggestion anyway!

[col]

For Ge transistors in the UK search for oldradioparts and Dalbani. I can't remember the full adresses off the top of my head. I usually use RHS and Rapid for mail order and I must admit that lately Maplins have been very helpful and the assistants have actually understood what I was after.
Do a search in yell.co.uk or in your thompson directory for electronics suppliers in your local area. There are still some good independent shops, I can't thank Modern Radio in Bolton enough for their help when I first started building.
There have been loads of threads on this, if you do a search it'll show up some more suppliers,

Col