1N34A diodes. Cheap vs expensive.

[PietS]

I'm gathering components for a Klon clone and noticed some regular electronics sites selling 1N34A diodes for around $0.10. They are most likely newly made from China and I guess sold mostly to amateur radio hobbyists. The reputable stomp box sites are selling 1N34A for 5 or 10 times more, and they are said to be from old stock.
Has anyone noticed a substantial difference between expensive old stock and cheap new 1N34A in a Klon?

[j_flanders]

The three times I've ordered a (cheap) 1N34 diode from a 'regular electronics' shop, online or locally I received a 1N60P.
It did not look like a germanium point contact diode nor was it heat sensitive.
When I complained they said it was an 'equivalent part' with the same characteristics.
When asked why they listed it as 1N34 they said 1N34 was sold out long time ago.
I don't know if it matters in a Klon.

sold mostly to amateur radio hobbyists.

They warn/complain as well: https://www.petervis.com/Radios/making-a-crystal-radio/crystal-radio-diode.html

[PietS]

@j_flanders. Thanks for the warning and given that I probably can't tell them apart on looks alone I guess I'll just leave them be and spend a little extra for the real ones.
By the way, a local cheap site I was looking at actually lists them together with the 1N60 with the option to choose. From your experience not much of choice most likely.

[amz-fx]

Check out AMZ to see that I had a similar experience:  http://www.muzique.com/news/fake-ge-diodes/

Most real Ge diodes comes in the larger DO-7 package while the cheap non-Ge replacements are in the smaller DO-35 that looks like a typical 1N4148.

regards, Jack

[iainpunk]

the Centaur Reissues is said to have the 1N34, not the 1N34A, idk if there is a difference, but aficionados seem to be able to tell the difference, especially with the gain knob set really low, haha
you could probably get the exact same sound with any Ge diode, maybe even Schottkey diodes.
i have also read reports of people putting 1N4148 diodes in the Centaur and they claim they sound nearly the same.

cheers, Iain

[dfx_pedalpcbs]

Genuine 1N34a will have a glass body wont they and can be very brittle if handled roughly, they also have a thick solid black line on the cathode side.

[Rob Strand]

The three times I've ordered a (cheap) 1N34 diode from a 'regular electronics' shop, online or locally I received a 1N60P.
It did not look like a germanium point contact diode nor was it heat sensitive.
When I complained they said it was an 'equivalent part' with the same characteristics.
When asked why they listed it as 1N34 they said 1N34 was sold out long time ago.
I don't know if it matters in a Klon.

Quote from: PietS on Today at 07:54:54 AM

    sold mostly to amateur radio hobbyists.

They warn/complain as well: https://www.petervis.com/Radios/making-a-crystal-radio/crystal-radio-diode.html

What's happened is some manufacturers are making up numbers which look like the germanium part numbers but they are really Schottky's.   If you look at the datasheets the are spec'd as Schottky's.     Redefining a part number which has been Germanium for 50+ years to be a Schottky makes me think there's an intent to deceive.  Of course you will get obvious fakes.

[Rob Strand]

The 10mA test is a good way to determine if you have a Germanium or Schottky,

https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=117550.0
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=117550.msg1126227#msg1126227

This video measures leakage current, but many multimeters won't go down that low,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyos1D7_2OI

If you check 10mA and leakage you will have a very good idea where you stand.

Interestingly, the video mentions the "fake" germaniums and also mentions the diodes which are in fact Schottky according to the datasheet like I mention before.

Here's an example of the datasheet,
http://kdiode.com/admin/diotech_file/1N60~1N60P.pdf

[11-90-an]

I wonder, (sorry for thread hijack,) does anyone have any experience concerning the Tayda 1N34/1N34A's? Any comments?

[CodeMonk]

I wonder, (sorry for thread hijack,) does anyone have any experience concerning the Tayda 1N34/1N34A's? Any comments?

I bought some several years ago from Tayda.
They looked like 1N4148 and voltage drop was .7v

I saw this site posted awhile back (Not sure where I saw it posted though, maybe madbean)

https://stompboxparts.com/new-jersey-semiconductor/

I haven't ordered any so I can't speak of their quality/usefulness.

[Rob Strand]

I bought some several years ago from Tayda.
They looked like 1N4148 and voltage drop was .7v

Actually the casing is a good way to tell as well.

I think there's been good and bad reports about Tayda's 1N34/1N34A's.
You probably need a recent customer to give the all clear.

I saw this site posted awhile back (Not sure where I saw it posted though, maybe madbean)

https://stompboxparts.com/new-jersey-semiconductor/

Even the datasheet looks risky, they don't say Germanium or Schottky and the package looks like a Schottky,
http://njsemi.com/datasheets/1N34A.pdf

[PRR]

Genuine 1N34a will have a glass body wont they...

The '34 has been produced in almost every package.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_1n34.html
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=8526&type=T
https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_1n34a.html
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=34150&type=T

Marlin P Jones has been in business almost since the 1N34 was introduced and they may be selling the real thing:
https://www.mpja.com/Pack-of-10-1N34A-Germanium-Detector-Diode/productinfo/32603%20DI/

Jameco mostly sells just what they claim.
https://www.jameco.com/z/1N34A-Major-Brands-Diode-1N34A-General-Purpose-Germanium_2220533.html

AES knows their customers will whine and moan if they don't get the real goods.
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/diode-1n34a-germanium-low-leakage

Yes, I remember "100 diodes for $1!" when they shoved this obsolete Ge junk out of warehouses. Who knew?

[anotherjim]

I've seen "1N34As" for sale and it wouldn't surprise me if these are Schottky. My guess is the "s" could be the seller's way to tell them from the Ge part. They have listed them under Germanium diodes, but note they don't explicitly claim them as anything more than substitutes.
https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=140_141_142&products_id=3521
And, if they had any, these are the Ge...
https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=140_141_142&products_id=924

[Phend]

If you want the real thing, buy the old stock from reputable sellers, if they cost a few or lots a few more bucks, get them unless you need like 100 of them, just skip the 5.00 coffee at DD for a day.

[stallik]

FWIW, I used D9E's for this application as they have the same forward voltage. Sounds great at low and high gain settings.

[iainpunk]

FWIW, I used D9E's for this application as they have the same forward voltage. Sounds great at low and high gain settings.

how do they sound when the Centaur is set fully clean? that's when the magic unicorn horn based super diodes have the most impact on the sound according to a lot of forums, hahahaha

cheers,

[italianguy63]

Yes.   I have used D9B's and D9E's and they both sound great.

MC

[duck_arse]

The '34 has been produced in almost every package.
.....
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=8526&type=T
.......
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=34150&type=T

......

couldn't see these links, needs sign-in.

[stallik]

FWIW, I used D9E's for this application as they have the same forward voltage. Sounds great at low and high gain settings.

how do they sound when the Centaur is set fully clean? that's when the magic unicorn horn based super diodes have the most impact on the sound according to a lot of forums, hahahaha

cheers,

Tried it turned all the way down. Really disappointed now
Sounds great but no unicorns to be seen anywhere

[PRR]

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=8526&type=T
https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_more_tubepix.cfm?tube_pk=34150&type=T

couldn't see these links, needs sign-in.