“ PNP ” depending on how the wafers are arranged . Generally speaking , pedals primarily composed of PNP transistors are positive ground , such as almost every vintage fuzz . NPN transistors are generally found in negative-ground circuits .
A transistor ’ s hFe rating basically corresponds to its gain . Germanium transistors top out at 300 hFe or so , while some silicon transistors can reach 100 times that , such as MPSA18 . Some classic fuzz pedals rely on very specific gain ratings — Fuzz Face enthusiasts recognize transistor 1 needing between 70 and 80 hFe and transistor 2 needing between 120 and 130 .
Leakage only applies to germanium transistors , and without getting into an engineering journal , leakage is essentially a loss of energy within a semiconductor . Too much leakage makes a semiconductor unusable , but some vintage designs rely on leaky devices , such as original Maestro Fuzz Tones and the Interfax Harmonic Percolator .
Transistors are quite possibly the single most mojo-filled component in the world of pedals , and their prices certainly reflect that . Try finding an original NKT275 ( Fuzz Face ) transistor anywhere . You won ’ t — the ones on eBay aren ’ t the real deal . This scarcity is the reason germanium fuzz pedals are often more expensive or sold as limited edition runs — sourcing large quantities of parts in the appropriate gain ranges is extremely hard to do .
Surely in your pedal travels , you ’ ve come across the term “ clipping .” This term is made possible by using diodes roughly 99 percent of the time . Diodes ,
like transistors , are semiconductors , and they operate using voltage , and they act as essentially a one-way street for
“ PNP ” depending on how the wafers are arranged . Generally speaking , pedals primarily composed of PNP transistors are positive ground , such as almost every vintage fuzz . NPN transistors are generally found in negative-ground circuits .
A transistor ’ s hFe rating basically corresponds to its gain . Germanium transistors top out at 300 hFe or so , while some silicon transistors can reach 100 times that , such as MPSA18 . Some classic fuzz pedals rely on very specific gain ratings — Fuzz Face enthusiasts recognize transistor 1 needing between 70 and 80 hFe and transistor 2 needing between 120 and 130 .
“ TRANSISTORS ARE QUITE POSSIBLY THE SINGLE MOST MOJO-FILLED COMPONENT IN THE WORLD OF PEDALS , AND THEIR PRICES CERTAINLY REFLECT THAT .”
Leakage only applies to germanium transistors , and without getting into an engineering journal , leakage is essentially a loss of energy within a semiconductor . Too much leakage makes a semiconductor unusable , but some vintage designs rely on leaky devices , such as original Maestro Fuzz Tones and the Interfax Harmonic Percolator .
Transistors are quite possibly the single most mojo-filled component in the world of pedals , and their prices certainly reflect that . Try finding an original NKT275 ( Fuzz Face ) transistor anywhere . You won ’ t — the ones on eBay aren ’ t the real deal . This scarcity is the reason germanium fuzz pedals are often more expensive or sold as limited edition runs — sourcing large quantities of parts in the appropriate gain ranges is extremely hard to do .
DIODES
Surely in your pedal travels , you ’ ve come across the term “ clipping .” This term is made possible by using diodes roughly 99 percent of the time . Diodes ,
FIG . D
like transistors , are semiconductors , and they operate using voltage , and they act as essentially a one-way street for
46 TONE TALK // A Field Manual for Effect Pedal Componentry