any Canadians????

[Canucker]

are there any fellow Canadians around here? So far I haven't bumped into many (any?) pedal builders around here and limited places to buy supplies...or at least crazy price differences for supplies so I keep going back to the same spot... I think I'm going to have to start mail ordering to the states for some supplies... there isn't Germanium anything to be found. I've been able to get a hold of the parts to make a Rat, Tube Sound Fuzz, Dual Voicing Filter, Atari Punk Console, MXR Distortion plus (though I haven't put that one together yet) and a silicone FuzzFace and a couple of boost pedals. Theres obviously other stuff I'd love to try and build...oh and no vero board around here either.

[Jdansti]

Greetings North American neighbor (I'm in Texas ).   There are a few Canadians on the forum. I'm sure some of them will reply. As for parts, some of us are fortunate to live near a good parts house, but most of us order over the web regardless of where we live.  The Canadians should also be able to tell you which online suppliers are best for shipping to Canada.

Radio Shack and Frys stores in the US carry some components but their selection is limited and the prices are much higher than the online suppliers. I'm fortunate to have a surplus electronics store nearby that has any value of passive components I might need and many ICs. The pricing on most items is reasonable, but the pots are high. They don't carry stomp switches or decent enclosures, however.

[kingswayguitar]

eh from Bathurst, NB (although i've lived from coast to coast in most provinces at one time or another)
i order from newark online in the US for some stuff - shipping is awesome quick
i also use the store here at diystompboxes - the 3pdt switches and pt2399 are great
other than that i have a few canadian ebay stores that are reliable

[digi2t]

I'm in Quebec.

Parts sources;
ABRA (25$ min order, but they haven't ever charged me shipping).
Newark
Digikey
Mouser
Effects Connection
and last, but not least, Ebay.

Oh yeah.... 95% of everything I build, is on vero. I love the stuff, and I've been building a library of vero layouts since I got into this racket. I get my boards from a supplier in B.C., who's got a store on Ebay. Super great prices, and a large selection of board sizes as well. But that's just me  .

[CynicalMan]

There are quite a few Canadians here. I'm in Ontario myself, and my main sources are Small Bear, Tayda, and Pedal Parts Plus. The shipping from the US is generally pricey, but I don't order or build that much, so I'm fine with that. The parts selection and prices at the local electronics shops are much worse, even taking shipping into account. I should point out that shipping from the forum store is quite cheap, even though it's in Hawaii.

[scratch]

there a few of us here in the Ottawa area ...

I get most of my parts from Digikey, Mouser and Smallbear ... We have an Active store locally so I've gotten some things there, as well as a couple of other local electronics stores.

[cloudscapes]

I live in Montreal.

I get some things from a local place, Addison, mainly just hammond boxes and switches sometimes. Everything else there's Smallbear, Mouser and Digikey. Sometimes ebay. 

[electrosonic]

I am in Vancouver.

Suppliers? Usual mail order Small Bear, Tayda, sometimes Digikey.ca (their $8 flat rate shipping is cheaper than mouser)

Locally, Lee's Electronics at around 30th and Main is the best local shop.

Andrew.

[davent]

Like others have said Digikey is great, free shipping on orders over $200 and overnight delivery. Tayda, Small Bear, Pedal Parts, Effects Connection, Hoffman Amps all offer reasonable shipping, delivery times vary greatly. Then of course there's ebay.

If you're anywhere near Toronto, Honson Computers is a candy store of parts although for enclosures and ¼˝ jacks you'll need to go elsewhere. Canadian sites; Electrosonic for Hammond, Switchcraft, Neutrik, Mode, good prices on Kester solder. Tip Top in Winnipeg has the best prices i've found this side of the border on Hammond products, being out of province i can avoid a load of taxes, shipping comparable to local. Active123 for Hammond boxes and excellent quality tools and accessories. Plus there are are other local independent suppliers.

http://www.e-sonic.com/acc/home.aspx
http://www.tiptopelectronics.com/
http://www.active123.com/

As a side note... I'm now at the point where i've have to place an order with Mouser. They have three shipping option, what's the least expensive, surprise free shipping method that they offer? What are people's experience with them, i've always used a US based intermediary for receiving their orders.
dave

[HOTTUBES]

I'm from Saskatoon ....


I get my stuff from Mammoth or Direct from China !!
I hate to buy any product locally , they charge an arm & a leg !( and i mean CRAZY $$ !! )
In Saskatoon , if you can find 1N34A , you need about 3$ ea.  NO JOKE !!!

[Mark Hammer]

Ottawa

[mattthegamer463]

Smallbear and Digikey here in Toronto, I try to order lots of the usual stuff (footswitches, jacks, knobs, misc. pots) so that I don't have to order too often.  The shipping is often 30-50% of my costs from smallbear orders, hurts me

[HOTTUBES]

There are quite a few Canadians here. I'm in Ontario myself, and my main sources are Small Bear, Tayda, and Pedal Parts Plus. The shipping from the US is generally pricey, but I don't order or build that much, so I'm fine with that. The parts selection and prices at the local electronics shops are much worse, even taking shipping into account. I should point out that shipping from the forum store is quite cheap, even though it's in Hawaii.

Forum Store ..... ?

Please explain , Thank you !!

[davent]

I overlooked but have used the forum store as well, great T-shirt!

http://www.diystompboxes.com/zencart/

[HOTTUBES]

Thanks for the link !!

[Yeahno]

Lee's Electronics has everything. And Raymond is an amazing resource. Even if you don't see it on the website, they probably have it. It's just that they're typically too busy to list it.

Oh, and it's cheap. Can't say what shipping costs are.

http://www.leeselectronic.com/

[amptramp]

If you are in the Toronto area, we have Sayal and Double A in the same strip mall on Matheson and A-1 near Sherway.  I have a large stash of components from my other hobby, repairing antique radios, so the local places are good enough for me.  Sayal has Hammond boxes at list price and A-1 is slightly cheaper.

[Puguglybonehead]

Welcome to the forum! I'm in Toronto, myself.
Definitely check out Honson Computers if you're near T.O. They carry a lot of the ICs and components you'll want for a lot of the projects here. (believe it or not, they operate out of the side of a Home Hardware store downtown!)
A-1 Electronics in Etobicoke are also good. Lots of surplus stuff, and NOS tubes and stuff, good selection of transformers, etc. And, they ship you stuff really fast.
I even found a good Canadian source for Eminence speakers on Ebay.
Hell, I've even found some great Canadian sources for hardwood and finishing products for luthiery (guitar-building....if you're into that sort of thing...)
For other pedal-related stuff, Mouser, Tayda and Small Bear are good to order from.
For really specialized, hard-core tube stuff Antique Electronic Supply are great.

[rousejeremy]

Toronto! If you can't find a part at Honson you can usually find it just east of Spadina at Creatron.

[davent]

If you're in S. Ontario, I had good luck in the past with Q Components in Kitchener/Waterloo for Eminence Speakers and other cabinent hardware. Quick delivery or pick-up and decent prices.

http://www.loudspeakers.ca/products.htm