Where can i scavenge Carbon composition resistors?

[Atodovax]

Should i aim for a certain year or period?
Only audio electronics?

[ElectricDruid]

Cheap cassette players from the eighties or earlier might have some. Even old CRT televisions. Dead Hi-Fi's from the 1970's have lots. They might be rarer now than they were when I was scavenging as kid though, I admit...

Then again, why bother? Personally, I think the idea that carbon comp resistors have any special benefit is pure snake oil, so I'm very suspicious of people trying to extract them from anywhere. Why even try? Why not use modern parts that provide better audio quality? However, I'm willing to be persuaded if you can show that there's some special magic somewhere, but "more noisy" won't do it for me, sorry....

Tom

[italianguy63]

You can still buy NOS (New Old Stock) albeit they are a bit pricey.

MC

[davent]

Mouser sells new.

https://www.mouser.ca/Passive-Components/Resistors/Carbon-Composition-Resistors/_/N-5g9p
dave

[reddesert]

From old tube amps.

[printer2]

Just tune a radio between stations, all the hiss you are looking for.

[Josh?]

Vaguely related question: if carbon comp resistors are so noisey, could using them in a white noise generator enhance the sound or volume?

Back on topic, I'd imagine garage and estate sales would work for finding things like carbon comp resistors?

[antonis]

Vaguely related question: if carbon comp resistors are so noisey, could using them in a white noise generator enhance the sound or volume?

A humble Zener diode could manage it better..

[ElectricDruid]

Vaguely related question: if carbon comp resistors are so noisey, could using them in a white noise generator enhance the sound or volume?

They're not *so* noisy as all that. They're just more noisy than they need to be, or than a nice metal film resistor. We have enough problems keeping noise out of our pedals without deliberately making things worse, don't we?!

Back on topic, I'd imagine garage and estate sales would work for finding things like carbon comp resistors?

Yeah, probably would. Anywhere you can still get hold of some nice old consumer electronics of the 70s/80s.

[bool]

If you aren't totally going for the "visuals" (like all-carb. comp resistors) you can do a hybrid build -  use carb.comp where there's lower impedances and a bit higher current, like collector/drain loads etc (or special mojo-positions) and use metal \m/ resistors in biasing and hi-impedance positions.

[zombiwoof]

I would just buy new manufacture ones from Mouser, as mentioned in post #3.  I believe they are made in Asia, but are good quality, and cheaper than finding NOS versions.  Trying to scavenge old ones is possible, but why go to all that effort when you can just buy new ones?.  The old Allen-Bradley and similar vintage types as NOS are quite expensive, and many values hard to find now.  I used some new manufacture in modding a Dunlop Fuzzface to vintage specs, and they worked out fine.
Al

[italianguy63]

This is where I get the hard-to-find ones sometimes...

https://www.justradios.com/rescart.html

Good selection, but not cheap +shipping from Canada.

MC

[davent]

This is where I get the hard-to-find ones sometimes...

https://www.justradios.com/rescart.html

Good selection, but not cheap +shipping from Canada.

MC

I've also used 'justradios' house brand film caps in a number of tube amps i've made and will continue using them. No complaints in any regards with the company.

dave

[italianguy63]

This is where I get the hard-to-find ones sometimes...

https://www.justradios.com/rescart.html

Good selection, but not cheap +shipping from Canada.

MC

I've also used 'justradios' house brand film caps in a number of tube amps i've made and will continue using them. No complaints in any regards with the company.

dave

Me too.. good folks.

[amptramp]

This is where I get the hard-to-find ones sometimes...

https://www.justradios.com/rescart.html

Good selection, but not cheap +shipping from Canada.

MC

Dave Cantelon runs the place and I have a box of yellow film capacitors from him, all good stuff.  He is a member of the London Vintage Radio Club so I have met him.  He lives in the east side of Toronto.  He is also one of the (few) places that has X1 and Y2 safety capacitors that are used across power line inputs.

[thermionix]

I believe they are made in Asia, but are good quality, and cheaper than finding NOS versions.

Most or all are made in Japan.  I never have problems.  I only buy NOS when I find them cheaper than the new ones.

[amptramp]

The question that comes right after "where can I scavenge carbon composition resistors?" is "why would I want carbon composition resistors?".  If you are trying to rebuild a valuable amplifier or effect to the original design using the original parts, I can see why you might want devices that match the originals, but if you are looking for best noise characteristics, go with metal film or wirewound.

Almost any electronics except military or avionics from the 1950's through the 1980's would be the happy hunting ground for carbon composition.