Wah Pedal 5117 Transistors

[Primus]

I've read about "5117" transistors in one previous post on this board and RG's site (http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/wahpedl/wahped.htm#problems). If these transistors are so legendary and important to the sound, why is there such little info about them available? I'm going to be cracking my wah to do some work on it next weekend and have a good idea of the work I want to do, but this idea of superior/inferior transistors makes me pause.

While I'm on on the subject, some other questions:

What kind of caps do people like? Small bear has some supposed awesome Panasonics.

What's a good DPDT footswitch replacement? I put in a DPDT from a Russian BMP and the heigh has never been right.

I heard G. Teese pulls the felt off the underside of the treadle. Do people prefer this? Maybe a rubber disk would give more positive contact?

[Dan N]

5117 is a Thomas Organ part number. It is now cross refrenced to a 2N2925. I can look through my junk box and see if I can find you a couple.

This site:
http://www.organservice.com/
is a worthy bookmark because of the Thomas/Vox connection. Some Maestro house numbers match up with Lowery.

Dan

[Primus]

If they are common, I can probably find them. Otherwise, I'd like to get a couple. I also heard that the BC109s sound good.

[Dan N]

I just tested 10 for hfe and they averaged around 325. The highest was 496 and the low was 258.  ECB pinout.

Better to know if there is a killer pair depending on their gain as opposed to a killer tr#.

Good luck!

[Primus]

What are good gain levels for a good pair? I know that the fuzz face gain matching has been worked out well.

[phillip]

I like using BC109Cs in wah pedals.  When I'm testing the gains of the transistors, I look for a pair with gains between 300 - 350.  I use the one with the highest gain in Q1, and the lowest gain in Q2.

Phillip