Chinese Ge Transistors

[Meanderthal]

 Here's a little quote that might help explain a bit of what is at the heart of the weirdness when China is brought up-

Our purpose is to ensure that literature and art fit well into the whole revolutionary machine as a component part, that they operate as powerful weapon for uniting and educating the people and for attacking and destroying the enemy, and that they help the people fight the enemy with one heart and one mind.

From the little red book, 'chapter' 32. Read the book, it's an eye opener.

You, my friend, as a free thinking individual living in a western nation, are the "enemy" mentioned. If you are a musician, your work would become a weapon, and your IP the property of the state, or your work would cease. Yes, things have changed(a little)... but it's still a weird(and very tense) world that we live in where we buy many goods from those who openly and repeatedly paint us as their enemy...

That's just in case ya didn't believe the folks worried about quality based on experience. If your experiences have all been bad, a certain impression emerges, it's nothing personal or political, it's once bitten twice shy. Can't blame anyone for that. As to WHY those have been the experiences of so many, we did discuss that...

But, there are those of us who do know that the impression of poor quality is a misconception.

I've got a couple of recent chinese made budget guitars and they are excellent for the money.

I've been screaming this from the rooftop, but nobody believes it. Until they see for themselves.

Here's more food for thought though, back to the 'general weirdness' question-

Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it.

from 'Oppose Book Worship ', Section I. Mao Zedong.

Personally, I prefer a certain document written in 1787, and the very first ammendment added later to specifically address the issues quoted.

Oh, and if American cars suck, how come mine currently has a quarter million miles on it (literally) and still purrs like a kitten? Hell, I just last week hit a deer hard enough to throw it ass over teakettle, killing it instantly, and that would have easily totaled a Saab or Toyota(I've seen that happen more than once round here), but the only damage to my Chevy was a broken headlight.
Yeah, OK, someone's gonna mention 'the Escort' and be right, but there are exceptions, and I drive one.

[smallbearelec]

I can buy in any quantity, from 1 to tens of thousands, and can ship to the US or Europe.

Please contact me at smallbearelec@ix.netcom.com. I had wondered about the availability of Chinese germanium, but I had never investigated. I would like to buy for stock, and I would much prefer to work through a contact who is known to the Forum and knows the needs of this community.

Regards
SD

[TELEFUNKON]

are they RoHS compliant?

[angryrobot]

I went out looking for the 3AX85A, which is the cross-reference for NKT-275, and it appears that there aren't many around. None of my usual vendors had access to them, and the three local warehouses that claimed to have them in stock weren't able to locate the boxes. Other suppliers in Beijing and Shenzhen should get back to me tomorrow. A local (old) engineer suggests 3AX83 as a good substitute, and says the specs are virtually identical. He's scanning the reference sheets for me and bringing samples tomorrow as well.

I personally have used the 3AX31C and 3BX31C with good results, and the 3AX81 works as well, but it's double the price so I only used the few I bought for testing. NPN versions of all of these were made, but they were produced in much smaller quantities and with the exception of 3BX31C they're basically impossible to find.

Summary:
3AX31C - PNP, high availability, Specs: http://www.shanghaistreets.net/media/3ax31.gif
3BX31C - NPN, med-high availability, Specs: http://www.shanghaistreets.net/media/3bx31.gif
3AX81 - PNP, med availability, Specs: http://www.shanghaistreets.net/media/3ax81.gif
3BX81 - NPN, virtually non-existent
3AX83 - PNP, med-low availability
3BX83 - NPN, non-existent
3AX85 - PNP, low availability
3BX85 - NPN, non-existent

Also while I was shopping I picked up another handful of 3BX31C's:


And a couple of slightly higher powered Ge transistors from the good ol' USA. On the shelf beside these was a box marked as containing 1000 matched pairs of Siemens AD161/162s. We opened it up and all the 161s were missing


Last week the same warehouse sold me these Chinese copies of Russian mini-tubes for my 1590B Hotbox clone. Two on the left are 6N16B-Q (dual-triode mu=25), the two on the right are 6N17B-Q (dual-triode mu=70).


Apologies for the cameraphone quality...

[RaceDriver205]

Please Meander, politics isn't cool 

[petemoore]

  Nothing, nevermind.
  not edited.
  Edit:
  Scrutinize by device, if you can get 'em, compare device performances under test while altering the circuit.
  "where the stamp dropped" is interesting enough as OT Subtext, but is insignifigant to the  of the stompbox, when compared to the power of the test.

[vanessa]

Also while I was shopping I picked up another handful of 3BX31C's:

These look to be the same type can package transistors that I've seen relabeled AC128 as of late (up on ebay).

[Meanderthal]

Please Meander, politics isn't cool  Grin

You're right. Completely irrelevant, and off topic. I'll behave myself now...

[angryrobot]

Update: I found a stash of 3AX85As in Beijing...samples on the way.

[Meanderthal]

Also while I was shopping I picked up another handful of 3BX31C's:

These look to be the same type can package transistors that I've seen relabeled AC128 as of late (up on ebay).

Yes they do, I thought I'd seen that blue dot somewhere... but they're the NPN ones... and looking mighty sweet too!

[angryrobot]

These look to be the same type can package transistors that I've seen relabeled AC128 as of late (up on ebay).

Most of the shops that sell these retail clean the oxidation off the packages and re-label them. Usually they just re-print the original markings, but sometimes they use a "private label" or foreign part number.

I received some 3AX81B and 3AX83B samples today. After sorting for gain and leakage, I tried them out in place of the 3AX31Cs I had in my FF ... no audible difference in tone or quality of fuzz. But here are some pictures anyway:

Handful of 3AX83Bs (purple dot = 120-180 hFE)


L to R: 3AX31C, 3BX31C, 3AX81B, 3AX83B, with 2N2222A in front for size comparison


Box of 200 NOS 3BX31Cs from 1986

[mac]

How much these Ge LEAK?

mac

[angryrobot]

I buy them pre-selected for low leakage (<100uA), so they usually range between 50-80uA.

[brett]

Is it ok for me to ask how much that boxful cost?

[Meanderthal]

 Heh... ditto...^

[rockgardenlove]

^Word.

[angryrobot]

I didn't buy this box -- I don't like to buy retail -- but they were asking about US$40.

[jazbo8]

Just came across this list via Baidu, might be useful for reference purpose...

===

Part No.   Material   Type   Power   Max I   Max V   Freq
3AD11   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   20V   3k 
3AD12   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   30V   ≥3KHz
3AD150   Ge   PNP   15W   3A   25V   4k 
3AD18B   Ge   PNP   50W   15A   20V   100k 
3AD30   Ge   PNP   20W   6A   24V   2k 
3AD30C   Ge   PNP   20W   4A   24V   2k 
3AD4   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   30V   100k 
3AD40   Ge   PNP   15W   5A   25V    
3AD503   Ge   PNP   15W   5A   30V   4k 
3AD50A   Ge   PNP   10W   3A   18V   4KHz
3AD50B   Ge   PNP   10W   3A   24V   4KHz
3AD50C   Ge   PNP   10W   3A   30V   4KHz
3AD51A   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   18V   4KHz
3AD51B   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   24V   4KHz
3AD51C   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   30V   4KHz
3AD52A   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   18V   4KHz
3AD52B   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   24V   4KHz
3AD52C   Ge   PNP   10W   2A   30V   4KHz
3AD53A   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   12V   2KHz
3AD53B   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   18V   2KHz
3AD53C   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   24V   2KHz
3AD54A   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   15V   3KHz
3AD54A   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   20V   3KHz
3AD54A   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   30V   3KHz
3AD55A   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   15V   3KHz
3AD55B   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   20V   3KHz
3AD55C   Ge   PNP   20W   5A   30V   3KHz
3AD56A   Ge   PNP   50W   15A   30V   3KHz
3AD56B   Ge   PNP   50W   15A   45V   3KHz
3AD56C   Ge   PNP   50W   15A   60V   3KHz
3AD57A   Ge   PNP   100W   30A   30V   3KHz
3AD57B   Ge   PNP   100W   30A   45V   3KHz
3AD57C   Ge   PNP   100W   30A   60V   3KHz
3AD6C   Ge   PNP   100W   2A   70V    ≥4KHz
3AD725B/3AD57A   Ge   3AD57A   100W   30A   30V   3KHz 
3AD725C/3AD57B   Ge   3AD57B   100W   30A   45V   3KHz 
3AD725D/3AD57C   Ge   3AD57C   100W   30A   60V   3KHz 
3AD75D   Ge   PNP   75W   16A   90V   100k 
3AF54E   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   300M 
3AG10   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   30.0M 
3AG11   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   20.0M 
3AG12   Ge   PNP   100mW   50mA   15V   30.0M 
3AG12   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   30.0M 
3AG13   Ge   PNP   100mW   50mA   15V   465k 
3AG13   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   40.0M 
3AG14   Ge   PNP   100mW   50mA   20V   465k 
3AG1A   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   15.0M 
3AG1B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   60.0M 
3AG1C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   40.0M 
3AG1C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   80.0M 
3AG1C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   11V    
3AG1D   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   50.0M 
3AG1E   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   65.0M 
3AG1E   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   11V    
3AG21   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   20.0M 
3AG21   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   40.0M 
3AG22   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   30.0M 
3AG22B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   25.0M 
3AG23   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   50.0M 
3AG24D   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   65.0M 
3AG24E   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   80.0M 
3AG25   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   40.0M 
3AG26   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   60.0M 
3AG27   Ge   PNP   100mW   10mA        200k 
3AG27   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   80.0M 
3AG28   Ge   PNP   100mW   10mA        200k 
3AG29   Ge   PNP   100mW   10mA        200k 
3AG29A   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   150M 
3AG29B   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   150M 
3AG29C   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   200M 
3AG29D   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   200M 
3AG31   Ge   PNP   50mW   50mA   20V   8.0M 
3AG31   Ge   PNP   75mW   50mA   30V   8.0M 
3AG31A   Ge   PNP   100mW   120mA   12V    
3AG31D   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   12V    
3AG31H   Ge   PNP   75mW   50mA   30V    8.0M 
3AG32   Ge   PNP   50mW   50mA   20V   8.0M 
3AG32   Ge   PNP   75mW   50mA   30V    
3AG32H   Ge   PNP   75mW   50mA   30V    
3AG35   Ge   PNP   60mW   30mA   10V   100.0M 
3AG36   Ge   PNP   60mW   20mA   10V   200M 
3AG37   Ge   PNP   60mW   20mA   10V   300M 
3AG41   Ge   PNP   60mW   30mA   10V   30.0M 
3AG41H   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   12V   30.0M 
3AG42   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   12V   50.0M 
3AG43   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   100.0M 
3AG44   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   200M 
3AG45   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   12V   200M 
3AG45   Ge   PNP   60mW   20mA   10V   300M 
3AG46   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   20V   8.0M 
3AG47   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   20V   8.0M 
3AG48   Ge   PNP   120mW   50mA   25V   100.0M 
3AG50   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   12V   300M 
3AG51A   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   12V    
3AG51A   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   15.0M 
3AG51B   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   12V    
3AG51C   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   18V    
3AG51D   Ge   PNP   100mW   100mA   24V    
3AG51D   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   50.0M 
3AG53A   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   30.0M 
3AG53B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   12V   50.0M 
3AG53B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   50.0M 
3AG53C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   100M 
3AG53D   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   200M 
3AG54A   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   30.0M 
3AG54B   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   50.0M 
3AG54C   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   12V   100M 
3AG54D   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   12V   200M 
3AG54D   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   200M 
3AG54E   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   200M 
3AG55A   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   100M 
3AG55B   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   200M 
3AG55C   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   300M 
3AG56A   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   25.0M 
3AG56B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   25.0M 
3AG56C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   50.0M 
3AG56D   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   65M 
3AG56E   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   80M 
3AG56E1   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   80M 
3AG56E2   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   100M 
3AG61   Ge   PNP   500mW   150mA   20V    
3AG62   Ge   PNP   500mW   150mA   30V    
3AG63   Ge   PNP   500mW   150mA   35V    
3AG64   Ge   PNP   500mW   150mA   35V    
3AG71A   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   11V    
3AG71B   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   3.0M 
3AG71C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   3.0M 
3AG72   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   7.0M 
3AG73   Ge   PNP   300mW   150m     20V    
3AG74   Ge   PNP   250mW   120m     35V    
3AG74A   Ge   PNP   250mW   120m     15V    
3AG802   Ge   PNP   50mW   30mA   10V    
3AG80C   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   15V   400M 
3AG87A   Ge   PNP   300mW   50mA   15V    
3AG87B   Ge   PNP   300mW   50mA   20V    
3AG87C   Ge   PNP   300mW   50mA   20V    
3AG87D   Ge   PNP   300mW   50mA   20V    
3AG9   Ge   PNP   50mW   10mA   10V   20.0M 
3AG95B   Ge   PNP   150mW   30mA   20V   700M 
3AG95C   Ge   PNP   150mW   30mA   20V   1.0G 
3AK20   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   12V   80.0M 
3AK20B   Ge   PNP   50mW   20mA   15V   150M 
3AK20C   Ge   PNP   50mW   20mA   15V   210M
3AK25   Ge   PNP   100mW   30mA   15V   150M 
3AX2   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   230k 
3AX21E   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   12V   8.0k 
3AX22   Ge   PNP   125mW   100mA   30V    
3AX221B   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   18.0V    
3AX23   Ge   PNP   125mW   100mA   25V    
3AX24   Ge   PNP   125mW   100mA   25V   
3AX25A   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   40V    
3AX25C   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   50V   
3AX3   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   15V   465k 
3AX31   Ge   PNP   125mW   125mA   6V    
3AX31A   Ge   PNP   125mW   120mA   12V    
3AX31A   Ge   PNP   125mW   120mA   12V    
3AX31A   Ge   PNP   150mW   125mA   12V   
3AX31A   Ge   PNP   150mW   125mA   12V    
3AX31B   Ge   PNP   150mW   125mA   18V    
3AX31C   Ge   PNP   125mW   100mA   27V    
3AX31E   Ge   PNP   150mW   125mA   12V   8k 
3AX31M   Ge   PNP   125mW   125mA   6V    
3AX31M   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   6V    
3AX45C   Ge   PNP   200mW   200mA   10V    
3AX52   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   12V    
3AX52D   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   24V    
3AX54B   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   40V    
3AX54G   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   70V    
3AX54G2   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   70V    
3AX54G4   Ge   PNP   200mW   500mA   60V    
3AX55A   Ge   PNP   500m     500m     20V    
3AX55M   Ge   PNP   500mW   500mA   12V   5.0k 
3AX7   Ge   PNP   150mW   150mA   12V   465k 
3AX7   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   15V   500k 
3AX81   Ge   PNP   200mW   200mA   8V   
3AX81A   Ge   PNP   200mW   200mA   10V    
3AX81B   Ge   PNP   200mW   200mA   15V    
3AX81B   Ge   PNP   500mW   500mA   15V    
3AX81C   Ge   PNP   200mW   200mA   10V    
3AX83A   Ge   PNP   500mW   500mA   20V    
3AX85A   Ge   PNP   300mW   300mA   12V    
3AX85B   Ge   PNP   300mW   300mA   12V    
3AX9   Ge   PNP   150mW   50mA   12V   1M 
3AX91   Ge   PNP   600mW   500mA   20V    
3AX93A   Ge   PNP   700mW   700mA   15V    
3AX93B   Ge   PNP   700mW   700mA   25V    
3AX93C   Ge   PNP   700mW   700mA   35V    
3AX93D   Ge   PNP   700mW   700mA   45V    
3AX93E   Ge   PNP   700mW   700mA   55V    
3BG1    Ge   NPN     50m     20mA   15V    70.0M 
3BX31A    Ge   NPN     125m     125mA   10V     
3BX31B    Ge   NPN     125m     125mA   18V      
3BX31C    Ge   NPN     125m     125mA   24V     
3BX31M    Ge   NPN     125m     125mA   6V      
3BX55A    Ge   NPN     500m     500mA   20V     
3BX55B    Ge   NPN     500m     500mA   30V     
3BX55C    Ge   NPN     500m     500mA   45V    5.0k 
3BX55M    Ge   NPN     500m     500mA   12V     
3BX81A    Ge   NPN     200m     200mA   10V     
3BX81B    Ge   NPN     200m     200mA   15V     
3BX81C    Ge   NPN     200m     200mA   10V    12.0k 
3BX81M    Ge   NPN     200m     200mA   8V     
3BX83    Ge   NPN     500m     500mA   15V     
3BX85A    Ge   NPN     300m     300mA   12V     
3BX85B    Ge   NPN     300m     300mA   18V      
3BX85C    Ge   NPN     300m     300mA   24V