Modern supply of Germanium devices

[Esppse]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows where companies like EHX/Zvex/Dunlop are getting their germanium transistors? Obviously they must be somewhat consistent and tested, but how have they not run out yet if they are NOS?

When I look for AC128s, I have no idea which manufacturer to actually look for if I want a newly produced one.

Also a side question, does anyone know if Eastern European Germanium transistors and diodes still being produced or are they only selling NOS online.. stuff like MP40s and GT308s?

[Mark Hammer]

In some instances, what gets touted as "germanium" is not transistors, but rather diodes used for clipping.  As near as I can tell, there are still Ge diodes in production - a LOT more sources and availability than one would expect for just NOS.

I'll let others speculate, or detail, why making germanium transistors is harder or pricier or has fewer incentives, than making Ge diodes.  WE love them, of course, but fuzz-builders are not the sort of market-size to motivate such initiatives.  Yes, Behringer has resurrected a bunch of chips we thought were gone forever.  But they have the sort of means to make them, and the extensive product line and world-wide market, to make use of them.  Whatever one's feelings about Behringer, one fuzz may use two transistors, but a poly synth may use 6, 8, or more of each of the "resurrected" chips, and synth-lovers will have several such units to play.

[amptramp]

Germanium is a very natural medium to make transistors.  Basically, if the finished device vaguely looks or smells like a transistor, it will work and it can be made with low technology.  Silicon requires vacuum processing and is much more of a high-tech item.  I suggested at one point that some of us could start a consortium to create Germanium Valley.  I even suggested we make 74Gxxx logic gates running at 0.5 volts Vcc, but so far, no one has taken the ball and run with the idea.  I'm still waiting.

[Christoper]

^^We could break bad, but instead of methamphetamine we sell DIY obsolete electrical components

[Matthew Sanford]

Recently Ebay'd these Russian ones from Ukraine, though I've not dug in more than a fuzz face on the BB.

[Clint Eastwood]

http://njsemi.com/product_search/gp-bjt?parametrics%5BMaterial%5D%5B%5D=Ge

They are not cheap.

[mozz]

How many of those are the same with different printing?

[Phend]

These came from Flordia.
Search Ebay for "mp20a transistors" and you will find other(s).

Important: You need to look at where they are shipping from.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335172741524

Plus: These came from Kentucky.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184630245321
Super Matched Pair! MN20 Fuzz Face Germanium Transistors Sun NKT275 DIY NOS

[mozz]

I bought loads of Russians transistors a few years back, prices have increased a lot. I'm sure others will agree. Used to get sealed boxes of 100 or 200, now they are selling in much smaller quantities.

[amptramp]

I bought loads of Russians transistors a few years back, prices have increased a lot. I'm sure others will agree. Used to get sealed boxes of 100 or 200, now they are selling in much smaller quantities.

This may have something to do with the embargo on Russian products enacted due to the war in Ukraine.

[mozz]

I was always under the impression that there were warehouses full of electronic parts in Ukraine and these were stolen or bought for pennies.  Once they found out they could sell these transistors, caps, diodes, tubes, they kept bumping up the prices. Most stuff I bought was from Ukraine before the invasion.  Got el84 equivalent 6p14p tubes for about $1 each.  Now they are a lot more.  As to the transistors, certain ones are pretty low gain and the better ones prices have gone way up. 

As to shipping from the US, they are people who bought bulk years back and are just reselling. 

[Mark Hammer]

People DO attempt to gouge when they knew something can command higher prices.  At the same time, they ain't making NOS parts anymore, so every one sold means fewer left to sell, no matter how big a warehouse full one has.  And when rare things get rarer, they also get pricier.

[Kevin Mitchell]

Soviet military surplus
-Ahh, I was beaten to it.

But yeah, these are/were a good source. I suppose I was lucky that I put in my orders when I did. I bought a bunch of those saucer transistors for fuzz pedals - same used in the Bonamassa FF.

[aron]

Where do you get modern supplies of Ge diodes?

[mac]

Where do you get modern supplies of Ge diodes?

 



mac

[sinthmart]

I was once interested in germanium devices and will tell you about my situation on the topic. Just information.
I live in Russia (what the authorities of my country are doing now is terrible, vile, shameful) and I managed to make myself a supply of germanium diodes (about 200-300 pieces) and transistors (with a good gain (50-80). I made several fuzz faces and Zwex-fuzz, but then interest dropped. It's a pity that E-bay is a difficult platform for me and all attempts to work with it turned out to be insurmountable (and now it's probably even blocked in Russia). Now I'm thinking about selling germanium diodes and transistors in my country. But it seems to me that our demand for germanium is not great, because many electronics manufacturers have even larger reserves from the old days.

[bean]

CE Distribution has lots of germanium transistors. Non-tested, I think. You need to request an account for discount pricing, but they have a consumer site which is Amplified Parts.

[Mick Bailey]

I've bought 100s of Soviet Ge transistors from Bulgaria very cheaply up until the price escalated. The consistency I got was excellent, with each cardboard package of devices being very closely matched for gain. The intriguing feature I've seen is that the leakage is the same as Si, something you wouldn't expect from Ge.

They continued to make Ge transistors long after they were abandoned in the west. Maybe the production techniques developed to a more advanced stage to improve leakage characteristics.

[bean]

Heads up - I just got two batches of PNP germs from CEDist yesterday. I'm going to test each one and record what I find then report it here. It'll be a couple of weeks before I can do it, but maybe that info will be helpful.

I ordered
2n527
2n1309