Anyone know where to get a 2N388A NPN? - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

moody07747 · 19th July 2006, 02:57 AM

I need a few, (5) 2N388A NPN Germanium Transistors with a HFE of about 80

I'm building an audio circuit and i have only found one supply but its pricey.

I really only need one but i have seen a few projects that use it transistor and would like to stock up on a few if they are this hard to find.

http://fuzzcentral.tripod.com/rangemaster.html

(building the bottom circuit.)

if anyone knows where i can get this transistor or even something to use in its place let me know, thanks.

Dr.EM · 19th July 2006, 10:46 AM

Unfortunately, germanium transistors are rare and as such expensive. They are not often needed; with guitar effects being the only application I know of (possibly some radio circuits?). So, you may have to buy from the expensive place you have seen them, but 5 should be plenty. I expect you have checked ebay, though I doubt there are any there.

HiTech · 19th July 2006, 09:04 PM

http://www.kelvin.com/ carries that transistor

cost: $4.95
part number: 630115

zevon8 · 20th July 2006, 12:39 AM

One other way to get some is to buy garage sale radios, especially portables from the way-back machine. Many of them will have several germaniums in them, often matched pairs in fact.

NTE101 is supposedly a cross for this also. You can likely get a NTE part in lots of places. Ugly prices though, still in the 5 buck range.

Do a search of the stomp-box pages and you will see many substitutes for the germaniums.

moody07747 · 21st July 2006, 01:16 AM

ok i found that any NPN Germanium Transistor with a gain of about 80 will work on the circuit.

so now how do i look up transistors by their HFE value?

audioguru · 21st July 2006, 01:31 AM

The HFE of transistors is a range like from 40 to 160. Some transistors have a letter suffix that indicates a tighter range.
Here is a list of European germanium transistors. Note that N polarity is NPN and P is PNP.

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19th July 2006, 02:57 AM	(permalink)
moody07747	Anyone know where to get a 2N388A NPN? I need a few, (5) 2N388A NPN Germanium Transistors with a HFE of about 80 I'm building an audio circuit and i have only found one supply but its pricey. I really only need one but i have seen a few projects that use it transistor and would like to stock up on a few if they are this hard to find. http://fuzzcentral.tripod.com/rangemaster.html (building the bottom circuit.) if anyone knows where i can get this transistor or even something to use in its place let me know, thanks. __________________ Dave www.myspace.com/sonicorbstudios Welcome to "Sonic Orb Studios"

19th July 2006, 10:46 AM	(permalink)
Dr.EM	Unfortunately, germanium transistors are rare and as such expensive. They are not often needed; with guitar effects being the only application I know of (possibly some radio circuits?). So, you may have to buy from the expensive place you have seen them, but 5 should be plenty. I expect you have checked ebay, though I doubt there are any there. __________________ Angry!? I'm absolutely electrolytic! Will have to make do with myspace now I guess...

19th July 2006, 09:04 PM	(permalink)
HiTech	http://www.kelvin.com/ carries that transistor cost: $4.95 part number: 630115 __________________ Don't make me reach through this monitor to slap you a good one!

20th July 2006, 12:39 AM	(permalink)
zevon8	One other way to get some is to buy garage sale radios, especially portables from the way-back machine. Many of them will have several germaniums in them, often matched pairs in fact. NTE101 is supposedly a cross for this also. You can likely get a NTE part in lots of places. Ugly prices though, still in the 5 buck range. Do a search of the stomp-box pages and you will see many substitutes for the germaniums.

21st July 2006, 01:16 AM	(permalink)
moody07747	ok i found that any NPN Germanium Transistor with a gain of about 80 will work on the circuit. so now how do i look up transistors by their HFE value? __________________ Dave www.myspace.com/sonicorbstudios Welcome to "Sonic Orb Studios"