Looking for a large assortment of NOS germanium transistors...

[AndersonENGINEERING]

What would you recommend? I am willing to spend up to $70-80 on a large assortment that has a lot of germanium transistors that are commonly used in fuzz pedals. I want at least 100 transistors.

I have looked on eBay and this is one I came across...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164028791873

Would that be a good route to take?

I am open to ideas. I have the means to test them if needed.


EDIT:

found these... https://www.ebay.com/itm/293298794905

[Steben]

What would you recommend? I am willing to spend up to $70-80 on a large assortment that has a lot of germanium transistors that are commonly used in fuzz pedals. I want at least 100 transistors.

I have looked on eBay and this is one I came across...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164028791873

Would that be a good route to take?

I am open to ideas. I have the means to test them if needed.


EDIT:

found these... https://www.ebay.com/itm/293298794905

Depends on whether you have a use for every type of item in the bag of tricks.
Will you have a project with leaking low gain ones?

[AndersonENGINEERING]

I am honestly not sure what is common or why I will use tbh. This is something that to be honest I am not sure what I nerd. If there are three or four very common Ge transistors, I could order bulk of those specific ones


I have built some pedals, but I am an amp modder. This is new to me. I prefer some firm of bulk because it is more bang for the buck.

If you could recommend five to ten common ones I will buy just those.

I guess $70-80 for the right combination of usable transistors for fuzz pedals.

[EBK]

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/FuzzFaceFAQ/FFFAQ.htm

Especially relevant is item 7 from that page.

[Ben N]

I have recently come across a vendor in Poland who is a good guy to deal with and has some nice stuff--one shipment in, so far, so good. His name is Piotr https://www.ebay.com/usr/sp9tnm?_trksid=p2047675.l2559. BTW, if you order multiple items from him at once, he will refund you extra shipping charges that ebay takes on the order.

[smallbearelec]

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/FuzzFaceFAQ/FFFAQ.htm
Especially relevant is item 7 from that page.

Also #18 concerning Russian devices. The biggest issue with ordering them from eBay sellers is that they don't usually tell you what gains/leakages to expect. I have tested samples of the ones I sell, and the prices reflect both the testing and local rent and labor. I offer similar information on my bulk lots:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/bulk-rough-sorted-lots-1/

and you can easily roll-your-own assortment from there if you want to try U.S. and West European types.

[Steben]

[AndersonENGINEERING]

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/FuzzFaceFAQ/FFFAQ.htm
Especially relevant is item 7 from that page.

Also #18 concerning Russian devices. The biggest issue with ordering them from eBay sellers is that they don't usually tell you what gains/leakages to expect. I have tested samples of the ones I sell, and the prices reflect both the testing and local rent and labor. I offer similar information on my bulk lots:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/bulk-rough-sorted-lots-1/

and you can easily roll-your-own assortment from there if you want to try U.S. and West European types.

I see only individual and no lots, am I looking at the correct page?

Would you offer a discount on an order of say 50 transistors?

[mozz]

Beware of the gain ratings on the Russians. They are often taken at higher currents and most will read at the lower end of the advertised gain. I don't even see the 100 packs on eBay much more, they used to be $18 or so, now they sell packs of 5 or 10. Some will work fine in certain circuits, others won't. I test for AC beta anymore after testing on a DCA55.

[digi2t]

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/FuzzFaceFAQ/FFFAQ.htm
Especially relevant is item 7 from that page.

Also #18 concerning Russian devices. The biggest issue with ordering them from eBay sellers is that they don't usually tell you what gains/leakages to expect. I have tested samples of the ones I sell, and the prices reflect both the testing and local rent and labor. I offer similar information on my bulk lots:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/bulk-rough-sorted-lots-1/

and you can easily roll-your-own assortment from there if you want to try U.S. and West European types.

I side with Steve on this one. Out of that list, I see a handful which MIGHT be in the correct range for anything fuzz related. Then, out of that handful, you have no idea if any will be suitable gain/leakage. It's a $50 crap shoot. Looking at the list, I see lots of A suffix models, which are generally EXTREMELY low gain, and some B's, which MIGHT be high enough to be useful. As with any Russian transistor, read the datasheet, and assume that the majority of any quantity you buy will reside in the lower quarter of any stated gain range. In this case, when you are only getting 2 or 4 of each, the possibility of 2 or 4 duds is great. Looking that particular sale... I see the potential for someone having put together a duds package to make a quick fity dola.

In my experience, I would prefer spend $50 on 50 or 100 of one type of Russian Ge transistor, from a reputable dealer. To date, I've gotten fair returns on what I've bought, with a rejection rates under 25%. But, as mozz stated, those packs are starting to get rare. I got years ago when the pickings were good. Boxes of 100 would go for around $20. Now they've wised up, and are piece mealing them. Pretty sure that they're testing them as well, and pricing them accordingly. Babushka didn't raise no fools.

There are already a few thread around the forum in regards to Russian transistors, specifically what models work well. Look around, and good hunting.