Are these cool transistors?

[Joe Hart]

I just found some Matsushita transistors: 2SA102, 2SB173, and 2SA101. I tried a google search, but didn't come up with much info on them except that they are PNP, and one site was selling them for $10.00-12.00. So, this leads me to think they may be worthwhile for stompbox building? Any info on any of these?
-Joe Hart

[petemoore]

Sicking them in the DMM's Hfe tester [try different pinouts 'till you get readings that are in the ballpark for transistors] to determine PNP or NPN, hfe, but not leakage [leakage reading may be important for Ge's]
 You can test for Ge/Si by measuring the base emitter diode's foreward voltage threshold using DMM diode checker.

[bioroids]

Can you damage a transistor by putting it in the wrong way on the hfe meter?

Luck

Miguel

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Can you damage a transistor by putting it in the wrong way on the hfe meter?Miguel

No. (thank goodness!)

[Aharon]

I've used the 173 in a couple of projects,I got them from a National portable radio from the late 50s early 60s that my old man gave me.Yes they are Matsushita and they sound good.I have them in my Rangemaster,a FF and the Tonebender.Then again with Ge you never know....
Aharon

[RLBJR65]

I've got a couple of the 173's too I had a data sheet for them found online some time ago but can't seem to find it now. If I find it I'll post it.
NTE cross reference (Not exactly reliable) says the other 2 are Germanium Mesa PNP

http://www.nteinc.com/specs/100to199/pdf/nte126.pdf

Aharon, some guys have all the luck, the two I have don't match well and sounded very bad in my FF!! Haven't built a Rangemaster might have to breadboard it tommorow.

[Aharon]

I was telling Fp the same thing,out of the 11 transistors that I got from the radio 3 matched perfectly for the Tonebender,2 for the FF and the one that was left over I used for the Rangemaster.I haven't even touched the rest.Lucky at that indeed.
Hey...have you guys tried the Easy Face,you only need one germ and no worries about matching.Also don't forget the Ge diode trick to push the first transistor to proper bias too.
Aharon

[vseriesamps]

Hey remember if they suck you can always connect the base and emmitter and make a diode.

[RLBJR65]

Worked great in the Rangemaster, don't think I'll build one though, gonna stick with my Brian May treb. booster. I'm sure I'll find something else to use the 173's in.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_scripts/webbbs_config.pl?read=246 Before anyone says anything I don't care if it's actually Brian May's or not!!! It sounds so good!!!

[jmusser]

I built the easy Face when Joe first came out with it, and it really sounds good. I loaned it out to my daughter's drama teacher, and like to never got it back! I used an AC128 in there that somebody in our IT group found for me ( with the metal case shaped like a pop can). It sounds smooth as silk! What ever happened to Mr. Gagan BTW?