Is there a military equivalent to the NKT275? I'm really having a hard time finding the NKT275.

Well I see no response from anyone so I'll take a stab at a half educated guess with a little common sense and a dab of "this is to much of a strange coincidence"

NKT275=NTE158
2SB175=NTE158
AC128=NTE158

Now here is where I guess; 2SB175 is darn close in numbers to the NKT275.  I think there is definately a connection here.

Matsushitas factory was suppose to have been set of by Mullard folks with Mullard tooling and what not.  

I use to have a sheet that have the 2sb crossrefed with the OC class.  It was in Japansese but understandable.  It had the 2SB175 as being the Japanase OC75 and the 2sb176 as the OC76 for example.  But the NTE site says the OC75 is an NTE102A  and the NKT275, 2SB175, and the AC128 as being NKT158.

So that is my small attempt to help you make a guess to get close to something like the NKT275.   I don't think NKT275 is an actual designattion of type of tranny.  NKT stands for Newmarket it is not an standard designation like OC, AC, CV, 2N, 1N etc.  So my guess is the NKT275 like the 2SB175 was built to be the equiv to a standard tranny such as the OC75 or AC128.  

This is all just speculation on my part and my best guess.  If anyone has a better answer for this guy step forward.  My last add is that I doubt they made a military equiv in Europe for just Newmarkets trannys.  Again I think the NKT275 was designed to be comparable to some OC or AC unit, maybe the AC128!  I mean FF used first the ac128 then the NKT275 in the same circuit.   Just way to many coincidences for me.

SO my recommendation?  Buy a bunch of Matsushita 2SB175 and plug in and find the ones that sound the best.  

that is my best guess.

If I provided incorrect info anywhere sorry.  But correct me don't just say I'm wrong.

Most of the Ge transistors we use are in the same class, spec wise. So most will come up as a NTE 158 or NTE 102 on their cross-reference data. OC44, OC75, AC128, 2N404, etc. Alot of the military Ge's are labeled CV7xxx, such as the CV7003 (OC44). Unlike tubes (that actually were more rugged in some cases), military Ge's were probably lots that were very consistant, gain wise, and low leakage. The military would supply the parameters (specs), and the manufacturers have meet them. Most military Ge's would be the same. A military NKT would sound like a mil- spec AC, like a mil-spec OC, like a mil-spec Ti, etc.

In the golden age of Ge's most small signal Ge's were pretty close in spec, so any that cross reference to the NTE 158 or 102 will be fine as long as they are stable, low leakage, and proper gain. Silicon transistors are a different story. There is where NTE's cross check is sometimes only a guide, not an exact equivalent. They tend to lump so many slightly different si transistors in the same NTE equivalent.

It's been said here before, but don't get hung up on one specific Ge transistor as having a unique sound. Stability, proper gain, and low leakage are what counts. Any that meet it will sound great if biased right. If there ever was differences in sound between the transistors back in the 60's and 70's, the only thing that separates them today is how they were manufactured back then. Certain American and Japanese types seem to survive age better than some of the more famous types. I always find more decent TI and SB's than OC's and AC's.

Amen.

That is why a ways back I bought some.

Now I have Thirty TI175 and 200 something Matsushita 2SB175

They sound tremendous and are all for the most part usable.  All of the TI are usable after measure and I haven't measured all the 2SB175 but they are pretty consistent.

I'm looking for a good PNP to use in a Ge Fuzz Face and everyone says that the NKT275 is the one to use, so I'm trying to find some. It sounds like people are saying that the TI series are good transistors due to their stability and low leakage. I have a good supplier of the TI CV7003 (OC44), would these work for a fuzz face?

What are the average gains for the NKT275 and the average gain for the CV7003?

Thanks!

Many times, people just repeat what they've read. The new production NKT275's aren't that consistant, and you will pay a premium for vintage 275's, and probably get a high reject rate. AC128's usually have high reject rates, but the ones that are stable, proper gain, and low leakage will sound as good as any other.

Like I said, forget the model number........ any stable, low leakage Ge of the proper gain will sound great when biased right. You'll just happen to find more of these with certain brands, or origins of manufacture than others. Many of the American and Japanese model numbers you've never heard of will probably have more useable units per lot than some of the transistors you're familiar with.

Gain for the NKT and CV7003? Due to their age, most all Ge's end up between 30 and 250 hfe regardless of what their original data sheets were spec'd for. If you can get a good supply of the Ti CV7003, buy them. You'll probably find they are pretty low leakage. Yes they can be used for fuzz's, Rangemasters, or whatever. Remember, all Ge's just like Si's tend to group gain wise in manufacturing lots. One lot may be 250 hfe, the next lot may be 70 hfe, etc. So...be prepared...... any lot you buy, has the possibility to be grouped above or below the target gain range. Some lots are picked over, and have all different gains in one batch. Welcome to the wonderful, annoying world of buying Ge transistors.

If all you want to do is make a couple of fuzz's, it would be easier to buy matched sets from Small Bear. Don't even think of buying lots of untested transistors unless you are going to test them yourself.

Thanks Fretwire!

I'll buy a mess of the CV7003's and see if I can put them to good use in the Fuzz Face as well.

You might try here for Euro Germaniums:

http://amp-restoration.com/

Marc (the proprietor) IIRC ebays some stuff also besides the stuff on the site, so try asking him. Probably has some very hard to find parts.