UK sourcing or parts

joefrost01 · Post by **joefrost01** » 02 Mar 2009, 17:22

Hi,

I'm really really sorry if there's already been a thread for this but I did a search and didn't find anything.

Where does everyone in the UK get their parts from?

I know that Maplin and RS carry various bits but they don't seem to have much in the way of Germanium stuff.

I was wondering if there was smaller, more specialised supplier that everyone used?

Best regards,

Joe

rackham · Post by **rackham** » 02 Mar 2009, 18:41

Bardwells and Cricklewood both do GE trannies.

Ebay is prolly your best bet for cheapness though.

There's places like Banzai in Europe but obviously the exchange rate isn't the best at the minute. Otherwise it's Smallbear etc in the States.

Hope that's of some use..?

grievousangel · Post by **grievousangel** » 02 Mar 2009, 18:42

Try here: http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/
UK based and only £1.50 p and p regardless of the size of the order.

Here: http://www.musikding.de/index.php/language/en
German company with fast shipping and reasonable prices. Will provide you with most of the things Bitsbox can't.

And here: http://www.futurlec.com/ValuePacks.shtml
Thai company with super cheap prices, especially for these value packs and pots.

I've built over a dozen pedals now (still a noob) that I've sourced myself and I've managed to get everything from the three companies above.

Hope this has helped.

Oh, and Ebay of course for anything NOS!

joefrost01 · Post by **joefrost01** » 03 Mar 2009, 09:14

Thanks for the replies, they're really helpful, had no clue that those places existed.

IvIark · Post by **IvIark** » 03 Mar 2009, 11:23

Rapid Electronics are pretty good as well and if you're ordering over £30 it's free carriage. No germaniums unfortunately but I'd always get Russian germs from eBay now anyway. Rapid, Futurlec and eBay are pretty much the only places I order from

kierc · Post by **kierc** » 03 Mar 2009, 16:04

+1 for Rapid

- that free carriage is Next Day aswell! They're very helpful aswell with the live chat support thing

forestcaver · Post by **forestcaver** » 04 Mar 2009, 16:54

Agree with all those posted above - have used them all (apart from futurelec and small bear). Still haven't found a UK source for 16mm pots in the necessary values (us. alpha) though - I am having to order from Banzai or musikding - anyone found anywhere in the UK ?

Cheers,
Andy

IvIark · Post by **IvIark** » 04 Mar 2009, 18:57

forestcaver wrote:Agree with all those posted above - have used them all (apart from futurelec and small bear). Still haven't found a UK source for 16mm pots in the necessary values (us. alpha) though - I am having to order from Banzai or musikding - anyone found anywhere in the UK ?

I bought a load of 16mm pots from Bendables on eBay and they were pretty cheap. Futurlec blows them away on price though at only $0.55 each, and the shafts are shorter than the ones from Bendables which makes them a better match with a wider range of knobs.

forestcaver · Post by **forestcaver** » 04 Mar 2009, 21:57

Sorry - should have been clearer - it's solid shaft pots that I am searching for a UK supplier (with some of them reverse log tapers) - doesnt look like bendables or futurlec do them

Thanks anyway...

Cheers,
Andy

IvIark · Post by **IvIark** » 05 Mar 2009, 00:01

I've been using the split shafts with screw on knobs and not had any problems at all, and you could always make a reverse log from a standard linear taper by adding a couple of resistors. Just a suggestion anyway if you have any problems sourcing

soulsonic · Post by **soulsonic** » 05 Mar 2009, 06:50

http://bitsbox.co.uk has a nice selection at very reasonable prices. I've ordered from them, and they were no hassle for an overseas export order, so I expect their service would be good for local orders as well.