Idiot's guide to transistors

[RicF]

Hi folks,

I'm fairly new to effects, I came over from the amp-building world because pedals are a whole lot of fun and a bit cheaper than tube amps. But while I'm familiar with many different types of vaccuum tube, the huge number of transistors out there is still a bit overwhelming. It's just a whole lot of numbers to remember, and I never know which are NPN, PNP, JFETs, low gain or high gain, which can be used interchangably and which can't. I'm starting to learn and remember, but I've got a ways to go. Does anybody have a list of the different transistors (and op amps) that us effect builders commonly use? And their types and properties? If not, somebody should make one.

[Melanhead]

I hear ya! ... I came in from the tube amp world as well ... Although I'm slowly learning a guide would be most useful  

[JimRayden]

Three words: J201 and 386.

Ok, ok, I'll let someone wiser answer that.

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Jimbo

[wui223]

NPN: 2N3904, 2N5088, 2N2222A ....
FET: J201, 2N5458, MPF102 ....
DIODE: 1N4148. 1N60...
SINGLE OPAMP: LM741, LM386, TL071...
DUAL OPAMP: TL072, RC4558....

Basically these are what i see in alot of schematic design

[ninoman123]

LM386 is NOT an opamp. It is an audio amplifier. Dont try to use it as an opamp it will not work.