The Mighty Quinn's:
http://www.mikequinnelectronics.com/
Also, while I've got the Bay Area folks' attention, I was wondering if any of you would be interested in a face-to-face gathering at a coffee shop.
Nikko's, right across the Park Street Bridge in Oakland, is where I was thinking of.
If we did it on a Saturday, we would not be far from Mike Quinn Electronics, either. How'd ya like to descend on the place like a plague of locusts?[/url]
Sounds like a good idea to me. :)
My time is fairly freaky right now since I don't work a 9-5 job, but I'm up for it in a few weeks. It's been years since I've been to Quinns. I worked for a crazy rich guy who bought hundreds and hundreds of pilot lamp jewels of all colors from there about 15 years ago back when they were in the Quonset hut up the road. How is their stock these days?
How many Bay Area folks are here?
Take care,
-Peter
I'm pretty close, but sadly won't have time for a weekend trip; classes are way too busy for now.
I think there were at least 4-5 people judging from that php map poll we had a while back.
Quote from: Peter SnowbergSounds like a good idea to me. :)
My time is fairly freaky right now since I don't work a 9-5 job, but I'm up for it in a few weeks. It's been years since I've been to Quinns. I worked for a crazy rich guy who bought hundreds and hundreds of pilot lamp jewels of all colors from there about 15 years ago back when they were in the Quonset hut up the road. How is their stock these days?
-Peter
The stock is great for passives and diodes. Lots of monolithic caps in many values. Electrolytics, films and ceramics, too. As far as transistors go, you can get the standard 2N3904/6, 2N2222, that sort of thing. I did manage to find a bin of J201's; very nice indeed.
As for pots, they have tons of some values and none of others.
It's the only place to go for hook-up wire; they have the pre-tinned stuff as well as my current favorite, Gore teflon-insulated 24 ga.
Any component they have you can get for pennies. When I first started going there, I was frustrated at the cap selection, but they've since come to trust me to root around in the back, and I've struck gold many times. They lack the staff to keep the parts bins in front filled.
If you go with me, you'll be better off, since I've done the grunt work of learning where everything is.
Aside from components, they have a great selection of just weird random surplus stuff. Today I saw blank PC boards from Buchla. Routers, switches, hubs, lotsa cheap monitors.
I'm just getting my feet wet as far as their supply of power transformers goes; I'm trying to find something that will work for a Firefly.
I'd be up for this. I live right by Mike Quinn's and have sadly never been there (despite your recommendation from a few months ago erik!).
Good to hear from you Elberto!
Your control labeling on the Parental Unit is still one of my favorites:
http://clarendonhills.punkrock.net/images/frontpage/111002/theparentalunit2.html
Anyway, I was thinking about Saturday, February 21st at 1PM at Nikko's, then slide on over to Quinn's.
How's that for everyone?
Been meaning to check out the electronics stores over in the East Bay, including Al Lasher's.
It'd be cool to get together with some of you folks, but I'll be away that weekend. Getting married, would you believe?
I miss the bay area. During the 90's it was the perfect place for me. In some ways, it still is.
Quote from: DaveTVBeen meaning to check out the electronics stores over in the East Bay, including Al Lasher's.
It'd be cool to get together with some of you folks, but I'll be away that weekend. Getting married, would you believe?
Congratulations on the impending marriage!
Where do you shop for parts now? I lived in San Francisco for 14 years and they lost Zack, then this other place opened for a while, then nothing for quite some time. Was frustrating. I'd come over to the much mourned Electronics Etc. in Berkeley.
Lasher's is a mixed bag. I've bought some much-needed stuff there, but they are lazy about restocking. Therefore, not a dependable place.
There's not much there that I can't find at Quinn's and Radio Shack (combined) now that I know where to find stuff at Quinn's.
Thanks for the congrats, Erik. Probably should have married her years ago.
When I started building pedals, I relied pretty heavily on Electronics Plus up in San Rafael for parts, but their prices--combined with the $5 bridge toll--were cause enough me to look elsewhere. If I'm desperate for a part and need it immediately, I'll still make the occassional trip up there.
Now I buy most of my parts from Mouser and Small Bear. I'd pretty much given up on finding a decent electronics store nearby (which is pretty sad when you consider how tech-heavy the Bay Area is), so I'm curious to check out Mike Quinn's.
I'll try to make it over there one of these weekends.
Quote from: DaveTV
When I started building pedals, I relied pretty heavily on Electronics Plus up in San Rafael for parts, but their prices--combined with the $5 bridge toll--were cause enough me to look elsewhere. If I'm desperate for a part and need it immediately, I'll still make the occassional trip up there.
Last time I was in San Rafael in the daytime, I was all stoked to visit Electronics Plus, but when I got there, I was quite disappointed. Crappy prices, surly help, and meager selection. Phooey on them.
QuoteNow I buy most of my parts from Mouser and Small Bear. I'd pretty much given up on finding a decent electronics store nearby (which is pretty sad when you consider how tech-heavy the Bay Area is), so I'm curious to check out Mike Quinn's.
The best bet for you as a San Franciscan is probably Fry's Palo Alto. The Union City one is starting to suck for components, but the Palo Alto one might still be okay. Great selection of tools, breadboards, PCB making supplies, soldering equipment, including lots of tips and other accessories....and Gryphon Guitars is just a couple of blocks away. No bridge toll, either.
It's odd that you can barely fall over in Santa Clara County without landing on a Fry's, but Alameda County has only one, San Francisco none, San Mateo County none, Marin County none. I'd LOVE for them to open one in one of the old hangars or warehouses out at Alameda Point (where Jim Morrison's dad worked when Jim was in high school).
8) 8) Congratulations Dave! 8) 8)
I guess you're going to need a little settling in time now.
When this does happen, I'm probably going to be arriving via BART. Would the Coliseum Station be the closest? I'll be on a bike.
The Bay area just isn't what it used to be for electronics and surplus (or music or...). Maybe I'm living in the past, but it seems the "good stuff" is long long long gone. :(
Electronics Plus sales people surly? :lol: That's for sure! I called them Electronics Minus for many years but now I appreciate what they do have. Industrial Light & Magic gives them a lot of business. If you need the same sort of stuff, you're in luck. If not... well hello Mouser & Digikey! A journey to Fry's is an all day affair with bridge tolls and lots of gas.
We may not have good components selection up here in Yuppie Land, but the trails are tops! :D
Take care,
-Peter
U know there's HSC.
Halted Sepecialties Corp.
They have 2 locations in bay area, SantaClara and SantaRosa.
and one here in Sacramento.
They have a website and advertize in Nuts&Volts.
They R about the only new/electronics/surplus place left
around here. I go there often.
The stores in the bay area are larger.
Think SantaClara is main/largest.
Havent been there in a while.
keepasolderin
tone
with the Governator