2N929

Frequently asked question on transistors: types, substitutions, how to test, use and misuse them.
Post Reply
User avatar
polifemo
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 140
Joined: 09 Nov 2007, 21:42
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by polifemo »

Hi,

I've got some silicon/npn/metal can 2N929 transistors that I bought 2 years ago, and that I really like the sound of.
I'd like to buy some more of them, but my supplier has ran out of them...

There's no company name printed on the transistor, but apart from "2N929" it also says "M348".

Anyone that know what transistor this might be?

User avatar
tasteless
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 91
Joined: 09 Jan 2010, 16:54
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by tasteless »

Hey Man ,

Take a look here -
http://alltransistors.com/crsearch.php? ... &caps=TO18

They list over 40 potential substitutes , So I would imagine there would have to be something fairly close.

User avatar
polifemo
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 140
Joined: 09 Nov 2007, 21:42
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by polifemo »

Thanks. Right now I don't get much information out of those numbers, but maybe I will.

User avatar
polifemo
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 140
Joined: 09 Nov 2007, 21:42
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by polifemo »

If someone would be so nice and explain WHAT - in a datasheet like these - is of importance sonically when using a transistor in a Fuzz, it would be much appreciated! (I DO understand the importance of HFe)

Regarding the 2N929: http://alltransistors.com/transistor.ph ... istor=6434 what I like about it is that it sounds quite fat/dark, that it has a nice compression and that it distorts a but more than many other transistors.

Is it possible to trace these characteristics in any of the specs in the datasheet?

User avatar
tasteless
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 91
Joined: 09 Jan 2010, 16:54
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by tasteless »

I was just directing You to the list of substitutions.
I looked around for a couple of them But , They ALL seem to be fairly obscure ( and expensive ).

Apart from Hfe - The spec sheets won't really indicate any 'sonic' characteristics as such.
Which circuit are You using them in ?

User avatar
polifemo
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 140
Joined: 09 Nov 2007, 21:42
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by polifemo »

Hi,

I've been using them in "Q2" in FF/Mk1.5 type of circuits, and there's just "something" about them that I like a lot.
(The HFe measures 130 - 250 in the stash I've got)

When I bought them 2 years ago I payed about 3.70usd for 20 of them!

Spec wise the TI474 seems to be identical to the 2N929:
TI474: http://alltransistors.com/transistor.ph ... stor=46729

User avatar
Davelectro
Information
Posts: 19
Joined: 13 Jun 2009, 06:08
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by Davelectro »

hfe-wise is very similar to 2N2369A -which is one of the best options for a smooth, low gain fuzz face-.

And probably less noisy because of its lower fT (30 Mhz).

User avatar
polifemo
Breadboard Brother
Information
Posts: 140
Joined: 09 Nov 2007, 21:42
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by polifemo »

Davelectro wrote:hfe-wise is very similar to 2N2369A -which is one of the best options for a smooth, low gain fuzz face-.

And probably less noisy because of its lower fT (30 Mhz).
My 2N929 measure from 130 - 250 while a 2N2369A won't go any higher than 120.

I've got plenty of 2N2369's (measuring from about 60 - 100) that I sometimes use in Q1 in my low gain FF boxes.
When I'm lucky enough to find a 2N3440 with a hfe that is high enough - they usually measure at about 30-60 - I use these instead.

User avatar
Davelectro
Information
Posts: 19
Joined: 13 Jun 2009, 06:08
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by Davelectro »

Interesting.

Datasheet says the hfe range for 2N929 is 40-120, just like a 2N2369A. :hmmm:

Post Reply