alternatives to Small Bear for wire (and everything else)

Started by slowpogo, April 30, 2020, 02:25:18 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

slowpogo

With Small Bear being shuttered due to the pandemic, I'm looking for alternatives for stuff I typically only bought there, like hook up wire.  I like Tayda for some things but have not tried a lot of their products because the ultra low prices make me wary of the quality.  As far as wire, this item on ebay looks decent and cost includes shipping:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22-AWG-Gauge-Stranded-Hook-Up-Wire-Kit-5-ft-Ea-8-Color-UL1007-300-Volt/302405808289?epid=16031101087&hash=item4668ca70a1:g:al8AAOSwrwhbwKEK

Also, vactrols like VTL5C3. Anyone have good recommendations for wire, vactrols, or other pedal DIY parts that you typically got from Small Bear?

Sooner Boomer

Dan of  ̶9̶  only 5 Toes
I'm not getting older, I'm getting "vintage"

patrick398

Depends a lot on where you are in the world. Rapid, mouser, digikey, cpc farnell, and rs components are worldwide as far as I know. Don't let Taydas prices out you off, it's cheap because it comes from source. It's likely the same stuff you see on eBay and Amazon for a lot more money

slowpogo

Thanks...sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm already aware of the suppliers you both mentioned. But they don't carry Xvive vactrols that are used in pedals, for example. Or probably a lot of other things you find on Small Bear like bucket brigade ICs, wah parts and things like that. I'm wondering if people have found alternatives for those highly specific pedal things, not necessarily any old electronics supplier

ElectricDruid

Sorry, I don't know any US places beyond Small Bear. There are plenty of German pedal places still open:

https://www.banzaimusic.com
https://www.musikding.de
http://www.uk-electronic.de/onlineshop/index.php/

I could probably find you one or two in Spain too!

Synthcube (USA) have got Excelitas vactrols. They might have other cheaper, I dunno. They're more Synth-DIY than pedal-DIY (Doh!) but there's a certain cross-over:

https://synthcube.com/cart/excilitas-vactrols?search=vactrol&description=true

HTH!

slowpogo

Thanks! Would prefer the US of course but glad there are some alternatives.