Relieable source for NOS Transistors???

[dmc777]

Anyone know of an affordable place to get NOS tested transistors. I just recieved some BC109C's with an hfe of 520. Are these even useable? I'm looking to get some good transistors for a colorsound powerboost with master volume, siilicon fuzz face and germanium MKII.

[zombiwoof]

Anyone know of an affordable place to get NOS tested transistors. I just recieved some BC109C's with an hfe of 520. Are these even useable? I'm looking to get some good transistors for a colorsound powerboost with master volume, siilicon fuzz face and germanium MKII.

One note if you don't know, the "C" in "BC109C" means they have been sorted into gain values and are in the higher ranges of hfe for that transistor.  If you want medium gain BC109's you need to look for BC109B's.  If you buy unsorted trannies labeled only BC109 they could be all over the place within the gain ranges for that specific tranny.  Check the datasheet for the transistor and you can get an idea of the gain range.

I have gotten very nice tested pairs of NOS transistors from Ebay sellers.  Just check their feedback ratings to make sure they have a good record.  Also, you can do an internet search for the transistor you are looking for, and you will get many listings of sellers of that particular transistor.  As for specific sellers, I don't remember their names off hand, but I know I've gotten some nice European vintage transistors from a German seller on Ebay.  They were exactly what he said they were.  Make sure also they have posted their testing results before buying.  Many of them post the results for the ones they are selling in the auction descriptions, so you can see what gain and leakage they are before buying.  If they don't have the results posted, send them a message and ask about it.   If they can't (or won't) give you the figures just don't buy them, sometimes sellers have sorted through the transistors for usable ones and sell the rest that are in extreme gain ranges.

Good luck,
Al

[brett]

Hi
my 2c worth...
although BC109s have a reputation, probably because they were used in some Fuzzfaces, my experience was that the most commonly used discrete NPN in the 1970s was the BC107.  It was used everywhere, including many hi-fi systems.  The hFE range is lower (typically 150 to 300) than later devices, such as the BC109 (hFE typically 250 to 450 back in the day, often more now).

To get the real deal, visit a charity shop and have a look in the back of their old transistor radios.  Many 1970s Si devices are similar to the old BC107s and BC108s and suitable for distortions and fuzzes.  Note that they might be noisier (hiss) than modern devices.

cheers

[smallbearelec]

Absolutely, I would expect the BC109C to run that high. For a silicon fuzz face, try a BC108.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=272

For a TB Pro MK II, see my matched germanium sets.

SD

[Jaicen_solo]

I'm not sure about the US, but back in the day I used BC109's and 108's a lot, because I couldn't find the ubiquitous 2N5088's.
Personally, i've found that BC109's are preferable in a FF or tonebender style circuit. 107's are awful, and 108's are ok, they all work but the 109 has a better sound to my ears.

[zombiwoof]

I'm not sure about the US, but back in the day I used BC109's and 108's a lot, because I couldn't find the ubiquitous 2N5088's.
Personally, i've found that BC109's are preferable in a FF or tonebender style circuit. 107's are awful, and 108's are ok, they all work but the 109 has a better sound to my ears.

I believe that BC109 is designated a low noise transistor, while BC108 is not, for what it's worth.  Not sure about BC107.

Al

[Jaicen_solo]

THat jives with my experience, the 109 is much much quiter than the 107's particularly, but also the 108's i've used.

[Joe Hart]

I'm not sure about the US, but back in the day I used BC109's and 108's a lot, because I couldn't find the ubiquitous 2N5088's.
Personally, i've found that BC109's are preferable in a FF or tonebender style circuit. 107's are awful, and 108's are ok, they all work but the 109 has a better sound to my ears.

I agree. BC109's sound great to me!
-Joe Hart