I stumbled upon a rather LARGE batch of old germanium diodes. They are marked 1N781A and according to the datasheet here:
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/1N781A-datasheet.html
it looks like they would be great for some diode-based clipping projects. So I would like to offer some FREE pieces to the FIRST 3 U.S. based people who may have a breadboard set up with a project that these would benefit from. All I ask in return is for a little feedback on how they sounded in-circuit and what type circuit you used them in.
I would try to set something up myself but, I really do not have the time right now and my breadboard is clean at the moment (first time in about 2 years :o)
Let me know if you are interested. ;D
I have a clipper circuit that's been bouncing around on my workbench while I finish up some other projects.
Quote from: boogietone on July 23, 2011, 06:14:30 PM
I have a clipper circuit that's been bouncing around on my workbench while I finish up some other projects.
Cool!
PM me your details so I can get some out to ya' ;D
I have a smallish batch of OLD OA85's I'd pit them against. I'll only have about 10 left after my 10-run of fuzzes I designated them for, and another 10 or so if I don't do a run of the bass fuzzes (I'm not sure about the bass fuzz I'm using these in... may run Schottky instead of Ge).
Anyways, I got my batch from an old jar full of parts dating no later than about '63, that I could tell. I have a bunch of random Ge's as well... couple Sylvania 1N112's, couple 1N43's... got a super mojo "USAF" marked black tophat 1N315 I gots to find a couple USAF Ge transies to go with. :icon_twisted:
I'm making a ring modulator soon I was gonna try Ge diodes in. I'd love to try some!
[edit] I know that's not a clipping circuit. But it's cool! I'm also planning to put an Octavia and a modified Univox Squarewave on the breadboard, if those are more interesting to you.
I'm working on a Muff Fuzz now and have gone thru a bunch of different ge diodes, but I'd always like to try more.
Rather than sending for free, I could send you 10 vintage 1960's 1N192's in exchange for 10 of yours...that's if you don't already have 192's and would like more variety.
I ordered some Russian Д2Д germanium diodes and КД522 silicon diodes. they should be here in about a week. maybe we can trade 10 for 10. or 5 + 5 for 10 of yours. we could trade some of my 2n5133 germanium NPN and МП16Б germanium PNP also if your interested.
Sounds like there is a lot of interest.
I am only willing to ship within the US cause I can just throw them in an envelope on the cheap! :icon_rolleyes:
I have had 2 people PM me as of now. If anyone else is interested, send me a PM with your address and I will try to get some off to you.
Only going to accomidate a few people with some freebies so 1st come 1st served.
Thanks ;D
EDIT: I appreciate all of the offers for trades however, the only items that I am in need of are 3PDTs, MN3008 BBDs, and a Wah pot. These are really not "trade worthy" for some Germ diodes (unless... of course you REALLY need the diodes ;))
Thanks everyone. I have enough guinea pigs now! ;D
To those who PM'd me, I will try to get these out by the end of next week.
Diodes were sent out to my willing volunteers last Thursday.
Thanks for offering to help. Looking forward to the feedback ;)
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on July 24, 2011, 02:16:50 PM
EDIT: I appreciate all of the offers for trades however, the only items that I am in need of are 3PDTs, MN3008 BBDs, and a Wah pot. These are really not "trade worthy" for some Germ diodes (unless... of course you REALLY need the diodes ;))
i would do a 3pdt for 25 -30 diodes...
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 02, 2011, 03:39:29 PM
i would do a 3pdt for 25 -30 diodes...
I would do that deal ;D
BUT..... let me wait for the feedback from my guinea pigs. Honestly, I do not want to send out any of these in trade only to find out that they are terribly suited for circuits.
Once I get a feeling for how they work, I will definitely be interested in some trading or what not...
Unless you REALLY, REALLY, want to trade for these now! ;)
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 02, 2011, 03:44:22 PM
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 02, 2011, 03:39:29 PM
i would do a 3pdt for 25 -30 diodes...
I would do that deal ;D
BUT..... let me wait for the feedback from my guinea pigs. Honestly, I do not want to send out any of these in trade only to find out that they are terribly suited for circuits.
Once I get a feeling for how they work, I will definitely be interested in some trading or what not...
Unless you REALLY, REALLY, want to trade for these now! ;)
there's no rush, but as long as the diodes are not broken, they're cool
did you measure the forward voltage?
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 02, 2011, 03:54:05 PM
did you measure the forward voltage?
Diode check on DMM indicates 0.275 to 0.278 consistent through 25 pieces.
I got them in the mail, they look almost exactly like some other germanium diodes i have. Ill post more when I test them in a pedal
Quote from: EATyourGuitar on August 02, 2011, 09:13:08 PM
I got them in the mail, they look almost exactly like some other germanium diodes i have. Ill post more when I test them in a pedal
I have noticed that most Germs look the same. I have some others lying around here and they look like twins!
Received them. Will post comments. Thanks.
It has been over a week and I still have no feedback on the germ diodes that I sent out.
Have any of the people that received them been able to do any testing??
Unfortunately, I still haven't received them. :icon_cry:
Sorry... original post was a lunatic rant!
Still looking for feedback on the Germanium diodes that I sent out.
Anyone?? ;D
Have any of you even used them yet? It has been 2 weeks since they were shipped?
Am I not giving this enough time? ???
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 10, 2011, 02:25:56 PM
Have any of you even used them yet? It has been 2 weeks since they were shipped?
Am I not giving this enough time? ???
If you traded I would've given info immediately. I finished 2 circuits that used diodes in the past week...and I have another on the board now.
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 10, 2011, 02:50:24 PM
If you traded I would've given info immediately. I finished 2 circuits that used diodes in the past week...and I have another on the board now.
PM me with info and trade details!
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on August 10, 2011, 03:39:46 PM
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 10, 2011, 02:50:24 PM
If you traded I would've given info immediately. I finished 2 circuits that used diodes in the past week...and I have another on the board now.
PM me with info and trade details!
already did days ago on the 5th
Still haven't gotten mine, dangit! Freaking post office! :icon_evil:
Quote from: Keppy on August 10, 2011, 11:00:58 PM
Still haven't gotten mine, dangit! Freaking post office! :icon_evil:
i've had problems when you mail "hard" objects letter rate ["Envelope containing a rigid object", .64 cents]....but no prob if you go large envelope or package rate $1.71
if you mail with a normal stamp [.44 cents], you're taking a chance because "Envelope containing a rigid object" is .64 cents
lol... I actually have a diode switching rig set up with 4 pairs on it now (2 x 1P2-12T rotary switches), a ~7x gain jfet amp on the breadboard. Gotta dig through the rest of my Ge's and grab a couple other pair, and throw in a pair or 2 of schottky's for the heck of it. Decided to order a pair each of what Mammoth carried and a couple rotary switches when I ordered some other stuff on the 25th, and built the rig that Friday night because I got bored and the parts came in. lol, with Ge's in hand, I would've had them tested thoroughly by Sunday afternoon.
;D
Quote from: LucifersTrip on August 10, 2011, 11:29:55 PM
i've had problems when you mail "hard" objects letter rate ["Envelope containing a rigid object", .64 cents]....but no prob if you go large envelope or package rate $1.71
if you mail with a normal stamp [.44 cents], you're taking a chance because "Envelope containing a rigid object" is .64 cents
When I mailed out the samples, they were in a padded envelope at the $1.71 package rate :icon_twisted:
I have seen some of the recipients online here in the past few days but sadly, none of them have responed with the requested feedback. Only Keppy has responded diligently and he never even received them in the mail :icon_rolleyes:
BTW Kep... I have not gotten them back to me either >:(
Like I have said before..... Fool me once.... >:(
Hey GL. Sorry for the delay.
Received the ones you sent with no problem. My project this weekend is to give you a review.
hey man, I just wanted to say that I do have a breadboard and I can test them against other germanium diodes that I have. but the reason I haven't posted a video or audio is that I'm using a $20 practice amp and a cell phone for the audio. on the meter, your diodes have the same voltage drop as any germanium diode. before you sent them to me, I thought you had some rare diode. I was hoping someone else with a scope, a function generator and better recording equipment could post real scientific results. I can throw them in the next muff I build but its a slow process for me and how I build and I dont have any other muff's with germanium to do a direct A/B comparison. I did offer you a trade of some rare NOS russian pulse film diodes in my original post. I also have russian PNP MN16B I can send you. I hope your not mad.
(https://www.woodstockmusicshop.com//media/images/Dean%20Markley%20Amp-Large.jpg)
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/04/incredible60015.jpg)
I'm not mad!
I was just hoping for some feedback on testing as originally requested in my offer. I just wanted to know how they sounded/clipped in circuit. I'm really not in a huge hurry but I was told that most of the recipients were ready and waiting for them. That is why I am surprised that I have not heard anything yet. Was just hoping to hear some feedback by now.
Just got through with putting several of the diodes through a clipper. Worked great - 8)! The circuit is a stock Sam Ash Fuzz, which already has some dirt from the first transistor gain stage if you have the Attack up too much. The diodes are after this stage sitting between two coupling caps clipping the peaks to ground. Simple emitter follower and tone control to output. Swapped them around with some standard 1N914s, a pair of blue LEDS, and MOSFETs (BS170s). They, of course, have a lower V forward and thus cause a lower output than silicon. I had been planning to add a ~2-3 x gain boost to better compare the diodes. In the interest of getting back to you, I put that off.
Liked the tone very much. In terms of character in this circuit, they are a bit less brittle or a bit more smooth depending on how you what to call it. They worked well in the circuit. I will put up some comparison clips, hopefully, later this week.
Thanks for letting me try them out. ;D
Did you get to compare them to any other Ge's? Like 1N34As, maybe?
I will. Ran out of time before dinner.
OK. I finally finished some clips using different diodes for comparison. It is a quick 4 bar lick. I have 10 different clippers, including the "clean" effect, the 1N781As, several other Si and Ge diodes, two LEDs, and a pair of BS170s. There is a simple backing track with drums and bass.
Question: how would you like to hear them: a single clip with all of them in sequence, the 781s intercalated between each, individual clips, with or without the backing track, other? I'll put them up tomorrow.
Well, I have mixed the comparison clip down to a wave file posted on soundcloud. http://soundcloud.com/boogietone/gl-ge-fuzz-comparison/s-prcgE. Please let me know what you think.
The clip is a single wave file with a repeated 8 bar lick. There is a backing drum and bass part. The guitar used was a Les Paul Standard, bridge pickup, volume and tone controls set to 10. It was recorded direct to Cubase. The recorded guitar was then reamped out through the fuzz circuit and rerecorded for each of the diodes . The only further processing of the recorded signal was some balancing of the volume for better comparison. This was done by adjusting a fader for each diode's track until it read approximately -15dB RMS. Note that this is necessarily approximate. You will hear some loudness differences since each diode clips a bit differently and there are definite differences between the Vf for the germanium, silicon, and LED tracks. The drums and bass have some compression and 'verb so that the whole thing does not sound too sterile. No master compression or other effects were used.
The circuit is an unmodified Sam Ash Fuzzz, with the attack control about midway and the tone control all the way up. The only thing changed for each track were the diodes. The diodes used in order are 1N781A, 1N34A, 1N60P, 1N914, MA856, 1S1588, BS170, blue LED, yellow LED, and the circuit w/o diode clipping. Note that the circuit itself has some transistor clipping itself in the first, and only gain stage. The diodes between the gain transistor and the emitter follower clip the signal to ground. This is a very repetitive clip with 8 bars of the same lick through the each diode. There is some sympathetic ringing that can be heard from the original guitar line. I did not hear it initially and can rerecord it all if needed. But, I think that this can give a decent idea of the differences between the diodes. The ringing does not come from the fuzz effect. Let's hear what you think.
Enjoy! :icon_cool: