How do you know if a germanium transistor isn't working? I have a cheap chinese ESR meter and the germanium transistors show up as diodes; the meter doesn't seem to recognise the old germanium transistors as transistors.
interesting. Thanks for sharing I am wondering, do we need to connect the 2 legs? because transistor is made of PNP / NPN material, just using the B,C or B, E leg will it do the trick?
My Marshall MG10 amp is all SMD and Op Amps. It has an SMD Transistor marked as D1 which I thought were the clipping diodes of the OD section of the PCB but I dont know how to replace that with some Germanium Diodes or something else (If that is even the clipping Diode)
This is interesting. I couldn't hear much difference between the 1st ufo germanium & the bat41. To be honest, I think "germanium" is overrated, it's almost mojo stuff?
Yeah some people claim they can hear big difference between diodes. Apart from the volume change I think the differences in tone are subtle. Not saying they are lying, I just cant hear them :D
I don't know,to my ears there's definitely a difference between germanium diodes and silicon,especially in a clipped fuzz circuit,I made a buzz box with a switch so you can hear the difference between the two and you can really hear the difference in the way the sound breaks up..maybe there's less of a difference with transistors and maybe too much gets made of it,but with diodes there is a quite a difference.
+Daniel Allan A lot of people would agree with you Daniel. Apparently there is difference with the "Knee" of the voltage curve and how "soft" the distortion sounds between each diode. I agree as well. But i still classify it as a subtle difference. ge vs si sure, i can hear it. ge vs ge...the difference is becoming negligible...in my opinion at least...
Yes I agree,it only really makes a difference when you compare between si vs ge,.I have also found that there wouldnt be anything noticeable to gain tonewise by substituting a ge for a ge of another type...the buzz box I made switches between silicon and germanium diodes,and I can say I really noticed a difference between the two,the germaniums have a softer tone and give few subtle differences,while the silicons are sharper sounding,its a subtle thing I know,but when I tested it out I felt there was enough of a difference to have an option of switching between silicon and germanium types
+Daniel Allan I agree soft vs sharper, etc. Hey if you havent seen it yet, you should check out my clipper box videos, you might find them interesting: th-cam.com/video/WwRhTvcxUMk/w-d-xo.html
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interesting man...nice intro too. :)
Thanks Rob! They sound pretty good, give them a shot!
Definitely need to try this!
How do you know if a germanium transistor isn't working? I have a cheap chinese ESR meter and the germanium transistors show up as diodes; the meter doesn't seem to recognise the old germanium transistors as transistors.
interesting. Thanks for sharing
I am wondering, do we need to connect the 2 legs? because transistor is made of PNP / NPN material, just using the B,C or B, E leg will it do the trick?
My Marshall MG10 amp is all SMD and Op Amps.
It has an SMD Transistor marked as D1 which I thought were the clipping diodes of the OD section of the PCB but I dont know how to replace that with some Germanium Diodes or something else (If that is even the clipping Diode)
Hi mate I have plan to change diode my bass preamp..which one that you recommend it..?
Nice intro!
The OCD is a great example of clipping diodes
Just bought In Mexico ten 1N34A and they are $7 pesos, and if you get 250 the price gose down to $4.5 pesos
This is interesting. I couldn't hear much difference between the 1st ufo germanium & the bat41. To be honest, I think "germanium" is overrated, it's almost mojo stuff?
Yeah some people claim they can hear big difference between diodes. Apart from the volume change I think the differences in tone are subtle. Not saying they are lying, I just cant hear them :D
I don't know,to my ears there's definitely a difference between germanium diodes and silicon,especially in a clipped fuzz circuit,I made a buzz box with a switch so you can hear the difference between the two and you can really hear the difference in the way the sound breaks up..maybe there's less of a difference with transistors and maybe too much gets made of it,but with diodes there is a quite a difference.
+Daniel Allan A lot of people would agree with you Daniel. Apparently there is difference with the "Knee" of the voltage curve and how "soft" the distortion sounds between each diode. I agree as well. But i still classify it as a subtle difference. ge vs si sure, i can hear it. ge vs ge...the difference is becoming negligible...in my opinion at least...
Yes I agree,it only really makes a difference when you compare between si vs ge,.I have also found that there wouldnt be anything noticeable to gain tonewise by substituting a ge for a ge of another type...the buzz box I made switches between silicon and germanium diodes,and I can say I really noticed a difference between the two,the germaniums have a softer tone and give few subtle differences,while the silicons are sharper sounding,its a subtle thing I know,but when I tested it out I felt there was enough of a difference to have an option of switching between silicon and germanium types
+Daniel Allan I agree soft vs sharper, etc. Hey if you havent seen it yet, you should check out my clipper box videos, you might find them interesting: th-cam.com/video/WwRhTvcxUMk/w-d-xo.html