newbie component question

Started by lotsolowend, November 28, 2008, 02:08:11 AM

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lotsolowend

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/trem_face/tremface6.htm

i'm about to try to build 3 of these tremolos, i ordered some PCBs (because im lazy) and was getting the parts together but i'm having trouble finding some of the specific parts but i can get close...

q2 a bf244b jfet transistor - i can find a bf244a, will this cause a problem
c4 and c9 - i can find 100uf 16v and 220 16v (i know that's a problem)

should i go with it and let the sound be altered thus making my pedals more unique or should i definitely shop a little more and get the correct parts even if it means paying shipping just to order 5 transistors...

so far i've got the order down to 2 orders (effectsconnection.com and smallbearelec.com)

Unbeliever

#1
Quote from: lotsolowend on November 28, 2008, 02:08:11 AM
i'm about to try to build 3 of these tremolos, i ordered some PCBs (because im lazy)

That kind of 'lazy' = smart in my book. :) PCBs are *supposed to* make it easier to build a circuit repeatably.

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q2 a bf244b jfet transistor - i can find a bf244a, will this cause a problem

Can you read datasheets? Now is a good time to start. Google 'BF244a', and you'll get:
http://www.ellab.physics.upatras.gr/Download_files/BF244B.pdf
... download it, and look at the figures for the A/B/C variants. I'm no FET expert, so I'll let someone else step in and let you know whether the different variants could be substituted with each other ... if it was me, I'd give it a try, and it's possible the biasing trimpot will just need a little more tweaking. It looks to me like the BF244A/B/C are actually the 'same thing', but just sorted by the manufacturer after production into different 'boxes' base on test results.

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c4 and c9 - i can find 100uf 16v and 220 16v (i know that's a problem)
Having a higher voltage rating is not a problem, in fact for a 9V-powered circuit I'd always use at least 16V caps myself. And if you put a 220uf in parallel with a 100uf, you'll get an theoretical equivalent capacitance of 320uf. Why only 'theoretical'? Because electrolytic caps have a very broad tolerance range ... often -20% / +80% .. so it's even possible a 'over range' 220uF cap will do the job.

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should i go with it and let the sound be altered thus making my pedals more unique or should i definitely shop a little more and get the correct parts even if it means paying shipping just to order 5 transistors...
Wait and see what someone more knowledgeble says about the FET substitution first. If you already have the 'A' variant, I'd just put it in and see how it sounds!