HEY ...whats your favorite flavor of germanium transistors?

Stephen · August 11, 2006, 09:55:44 PM

Kind of a stupid question...but lets see

I LIKE THE AC128

Toney · August 11, 2006, 10:07:15 PM

Strawberry creme.

OK... I have read and reread GEO on this and long story shot seems to be that due to the huge variances and crude manufacturing processes
of the time.... device numbers are fairly meaningless.

Especially re leakage. They should give some indication of gain range but I think that was applied after the "baking".

Having said that...Everyone seems happy with the OC140's that Aron sells. And some of the Japanese ones (Smallbear) are pretty good too.

I think this comes down to more care with the packaging and sorting when manufactured.

markm · August 11, 2006, 10:09:39 PM

My vote goes to Aron's OC140s.
The few I've gotten from him sound fabulous!

goodrevdoc · August 11, 2006, 11:21:11 PM

I tend to like the one that sound good. It sounds generic, but after wasting time and money on hunting down number specific devices, i still stick with the 30 or so good toshiba 2sbxxx that i bought at a flea market years ago.

Unbeliever · August 11, 2006, 11:56:32 PM

Quote from: Toney on August 11, 2006, 10:07:15 PM
.... device numbers are fairly meaningless.

.. except if you are marketing something with NOS super-dooper-fantastic OC44s (or whatever number the boutique people are pushing these days).

RaceDriver205 · August 12, 2006, 05:34:15 AM

I find all germanium tastes the same. Doctor says I need to cut back.

Moonface · August 12, 2006, 05:51:06 AM

OC75, OC83, AF126, AC122...

Moonface · August 12, 2006, 05:54:26 AM

And oh yes, couple of my super mojo NOS hyper old AC128...

brett · August 12, 2006, 06:22:38 AM

AC188 often have low leakage and good gain.

Peter Snowberg · August 12, 2006, 06:45:53 AM

I picked up a couple hundred devices made in the USSR on eBay for a nice price.

Stephen · August 12, 2006, 08:15:30 AM

Picked up a couple of NTE102A for fun at the store...MANNNNNNNNN JUNK

They were so out of range for leakage....HOW can they sell that as new...WELL thats how they package them..

I have gotten some real good ones years ago MANNNNNN I was dissapointed

jmusser · August 12, 2006, 05:42:10 PM

Marty turned me on to the OC144s when there was a glut of them on Ebay, and they're real consistant. I also have a big mess of various Soviet types that I have had real good luck with. They've made some nice Tone Benders and other vintage types.

MartyMart · August 12, 2006, 06:44:10 PM

+1 on the OC140's ( CV7112 ) not 144's Jeff

They've been very consistant and have that "old UK Ge tone" to them, kind of "rubbery and squishey" !
After that, the big Russian GT402's and smaller 309's have been FAB too.
Have not had much luck with AC128's / 127's but got a few "gold can" OC44's that are fabulous, 1 is in my
Java boost and one in a plain RM

MM.

Fret Wire · August 12, 2006, 11:39:44 PM

Quote from: MartyMart on August 12, 2006, 06:44:10 PM
They've been very consistant and have that "old UK Ge tone" to them, kind of "rubbery and squishey" !
MM.

Oh oh, flag on the field.

There is no "old UK Ge tone". There is an "Old UK Ge Ckt tone" for sure, but it's because of the ckt, not trannys. With a slight flavor of "old Italian Ge Ckt tone" when Jen made the same thing. Aren't Mullards just the rebrand name Phillips gave to its foreign factory's?

"Rubbery and Squishey" is in the official compressor dictionary. "Mushy, gooey, and oozing bass heavy mud" are in the fuzz dictionary. "Rio Grande Mud" is Texas tone.

Just having some fun.

Any Ge that's stable, and within a certain gain and leakage range sounds good.

MartyMart · August 13, 2006, 06:42:42 AM

Quote from: Fret Wire on August 12, 2006, 11:39:44 PM
Oh oh, flag on the field. There is no "old UK Ge tone". There is an "Old UK Ge Ckt tone" for sure, but it's because of the ckt, not trannys. With a slight flavor of "old Italian Ge Ckt tone" when Jen made the same thing. Aren't Mullards just the rebrand name Phillips gave to its foreign factory's?

"Rubbery and Squishey" is in the official compressor dictionary. "Mushy, gooey, and oozing bass heavy mud" are in the fuzz dictionary. "Rio Grande Mud" is Texas tone.

Just having some fun. Any Ge that's stable, and within a certain gain and leakage range sounds good.

You KNOW what I meant .....

Where you you think "The Beatles" got the "Rubber soul" title from ...

MM

Toney · August 13, 2006, 06:50:35 AM

Quote from: MartyMart on August 13, 2006, 06:42:42 AM

Where you you think "The Beatles" got the "Rubber soul" title from ...

MM

Ummm? Don't know... always assumed drugs!?!

jmusser · August 13, 2006, 07:15:24 AM

Ah yes, 0C140s! I crossed the OC44s and the OC140s to make up my own designation!

I have found out after buying my little Epi tube amp, that the germanium tone is absolutely lost on a solid state amp. Sure it will work, but for some reason, the tubes really bring their sound out. I can't remember why that is, but I'm sure it's been discussed here several times. It seems like since the germaniums were out when the tube amps were, that the effects circuits with germaniums were tailored towards the tube amps. Speaking of which, have you received your Epi yet Marty?

MartyMart · August 13, 2006, 07:45:58 AM

Quote from: jmusser on August 13, 2006, 07:15:24 AM
Speaking of which, have you received your Epi yet Marty?

NO !

Delayed 'til probably tuesday .... again !
Seems like a whole "cottage industry" has built up around the Valve Junior, I tried every UK dealer and
could not get one sooner !!
At £90 for an all valve 5 watt combo, I'm not surprized at all !

MM.

Toney · August 13, 2006, 08:01:06 AM

Too right!

It's the new darling of DIY.
Check 18 watt for somethingthing like 50 pages of discussion and mods.
Go nuts!

MartyMart · August 13, 2006, 08:05:53 AM

I'm on it like a pack of wolves !!
If it turns out well, I'll get another for " S T E R E O "

They are even worth buying for parts and just building your own little turret board amp inside ...

MM.

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HEY ...whats your favorite flavor of germanium transistors?