Some BBD chips are back!

[dubs]

Visualsound are getting some BBD chips made:
http://www.visualsound.net/BBDpage.html

[amz-fx]

The Panasonic MN3207 is still available from Small Bear for less...

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Ordering/Stocklist.htm

I thought it interesting that VS said "using the same manufacturing process that Panasonic once used", but that doesn't necessarily mean that the Panasonic chip masks are being used, only that the same process is being utilized...  is this misleading syntax or just an unclear choice of words?  I don't know...

Thanks for the link, we can bookmark it for when the nos chips are gone!

regards, Jack

[Mark Hammer]

I buy mine from a place here in Ottawa for $1.99@ Cdn in lots of 5.  The companion MN3102 is $1.49@ in the same quantity.  They get them from their main store in Toronto.  Failing that, I can get them from Supremetronic in Toronto for under $4@ Cdn in singles.  Either Visual Sound has very bad purchasers or very good marketers/sales staff.  I suppose the other thing to consider is that places like that find it a nuisance and disruption to provide small items like chips, and part of what yu pay for is the lack of being tooled up for such distribution, whereas places whose primary business is chips assume that volume sales will eventually work its magic, and are all ready to stick stuff in bubble wrap for pickup by the brown trucks.

[KlausSp]

Hello!

Newbie question: In what pedals are the MN3207 and 3102 used?

Greetings,

Klaus

[Mark Hammer]

The majority of analog chorus and flanger pedals made after, say, 1985 or so.  Some units continued to use the MN3007/MN3101 pair but the ability to run well off a 9v battery favoured use of the 3207/3102 combo.  The 3209 or 3204 would likely yield more desirable results for a flanger, but the 3207 made Boss and many other manufacturers able to produce a product that consumers bought in large numbers.

[scratch]

Hello Mark,

Where in Ottawa to you get the BBD's from?

[Lurco]

Visualsound probably gets them relabeled/stamped from China
(like Maxon probably)

[Mark Hammer]

Scratch,

I got them from L-Tronics over on Merivale, just beside Active.  They are based in Mississauga.  They carry a lot of interesting semiconductors at reasonable prices, though most of the stuff has to be shipped in from Mississauga, and not everything listed in their catalog/flyer is necessarily in stock there either.

I scored a bigger batch than I'll probably ever really need, so I can spare a few.  If you need some, and L-Tronics can't get them, drop me an off-line message and I'll happily spot you some for what I paid.

[Fret Wire]

What about the NTE1641 and NTE1639? Are they decent workalikes for the MN3007 and MN3101?

http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?&handler=data.listcategory&Ntt=*mn3007*&terms=mn3007&Dk=1&D=*mn3007*&N=0&crc=true

http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?&handler=data.listcategory&Ntt=*mn3101*&terms=mn3101&Dk=1&D=*mn3101*&N=0&crc=true

[doug deeper]

what!!!! nte makes bbds!!!!
that is the funniest thing ive heard all day!!!
they must suck so bad!!!
doug

[ExpAnonColin]

what!!!! nte makes bbds!!!!
that is the funniest thing ive heard all day!!!
they must suck so bad!!!
doug

Be nice... NTE has feelings, too.

-Colin

[Fret Wire]

No, NTE doesnt have the best rep, but, has anyone tried these?

[Peter Snowberg]

NTE is infamous for buying lots of old chips and re-stamping them. You never know what you're going to get.... might be good at a high price.... might be absolute junk at a high price. I've also heard they "play" with the ratings.

-Peter

[scratch]

Thanks Mark,

I'll keep that in mind.

I've never noticed that place, though I've gone to Active many times.

I've got a SAD4096 to build the CA Chorus. I was building a gtr tuner based on a TOS chip, the breadboard worked great, but tranferring it to PC perfboard I miss-wired it and blew the TOS chip ;-( they want $40-50 for those now. So I'm kind of lineing up potential BBD suppliers in case I muff up again ...

[gorohon]

I use NTE 1641's in my Ultra Flanger and my Zombie.  No complaints here!

[Fret Wire]

I use NTE 1641's in my Ultra Flanger and my Zombie.  No complaints here!

Really? No problems? Did the circuit originally call for the MN3007. How many have you tried?  Have you also tried the 1639 clock driver?

[gorohon]

Yes, in these two applications they called for MN3007's and I used the NTE1641's instead.  Between the two, the data sheets are identical, pinout is the same.  I have not used the 1639 clock driver though.  I have not been aware of NTE's supposed "bad" reputation.  It might be warranted in some cases, but, honestly, I have had no problems with these.  They sound great as well.  Unless you can get your hands on the original MN3007, which you can through Small Bear, the NTE 1641 is fine.  I did this route instead of Small Bear because I was ordering a bunch of stuff from Mouser at that time.  No use in paying twice for shipping.  I think it's about a dollar difference between the two--not that big of a deal, unless you're ordering a bunch.

[Fret Wire]

Thanks for the info. Nice to know there's another good option.