BARGAINS!

[IvIark]

Anyone who wants low profile electrolytic caps, this looks like a good buy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220982119323

Don't let the SMD thing put you off.  These caps have a plastic base which the cap leads go through and then bend outwards.  If you bend them in you can pull off that plastic base and they will sit perfectly in a 2.5mm pitch, and I reckon should be suitable for a 5mm as well if you bend the leads out a bit and then back in.  All useful values as well because even those 47u 6.3V will work perfectly well as the vref filter cap.  I could see this being popular with 1590A builders

[rocket88]

this is from my side of the pond, but for anyone looking for old school style metal BC108 transistors and doesn't mind doing gain sorting themselves i found this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131117540804

i ordered 100 for $32usd they came quickly, and well packed. they just showed up today, i sorted through them got about 1/3 200-299hfe, 1/3 400-499hfe, and the last 1/3 in the high 100hfe range, mid 300hfe range, and even in the 500hfe. great score for relatively little money, plus you get that nice hint of mojo from the metal tin. as always any of you guys across the ocean want them and if they're charging too much for shipping let me know, i'll do what i can to help out.

btw, i'm thinking of ordering some more just to stock up before they disappear. the american semiconductor still sells them at $3.22 each, where as here you can get 20 for $6.50. if that's not a bargain, i don't know what is.

[IvIark]

Another resistor bargain for people who may not want the larger quantities in some of the other kits, or just don't want to spend as much.  This gives you a good selection for peanuts

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161270963805

[Megal]

For the euro people, there is a supplier in Berlin that has better prices for jacks sockets than that I saw in eBay.
http://www.banzaimusic.com/6-3mm-Open/

[GeGhostRider]

hi lVlark,
I've been really busy following the blog for quite a while : you guys are doing a marvelous job, many many thanx.
do you know a good source for Ge diodes? there seems to be a lot of fakes or out-of-specs and I can't afford to buy in large quantities...
also the above resistor link doesn't seem to work.
thanx again

[IvIark]

The link still works fine for me.  Try changing .co.uk to .com, it may just be a regional thing although I would still expect you to be able to see them on the .co.uk site.

For germanium check out these:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=ussr+germanium+diode&_osacat=0&_from=R40&LH_PrefLoc=2&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xussr+germanium+diode+10pc&_nkw=ussr+germanium+diode+10pcs&_sacat=0

I've bought the Russian germanium diodes from most of these seller and they've always been fine.  The minimum quantity they seem to sell is 10, although you may find other non-eBay seller who may have them in lower quantities, but at higher individual prices.

There are also a number of sellers on eBay selling 1N34A diodes very cheaply now.  Just make sure you get the real germanium ones with the transparent glass case and black band, rather than the silicon schottky diodes pretending to be germanium which are smaller DO35 type diodes with a red body and black band (they look like common 1N4148 silicon diodes).

[rocket88]

Ge, the russian ones mark posted are great, i've got a bunch from there, i would suggest sticking with ones that look are in the DO-7 package, like the D9 diodes, also the D310, here, are great replacements for 1n34a, but they are on the large side.

if you need 1n270 diodes, which are one of my faves, here is a good, reliable, cheap source for them. i bought from those guys a few times, all tested within range on my DCA55.

[GeGhostRider]

thanx for the quick replies guys, I'll check those.
I use to socket germanium diodes so I don't think the D310 will do, but I'll try the D9.
there are many variations of the D9, which ones would you recommend?
thanx again!

[rocket88]

check out this, midwayfair did a writeup describing tone and type of distortion you get from a bunch of different Ge diodes. the russian ones are in the middle.

despite the side of the D310 leads, you can test them out with a socket, the just barely fit and get stuck so you can test them, and if you like them remove the sockets and solder them in, also you can still use them on a switch. don't write them off completely. i think the tone you get from them, plus the fact that they look like little nuclear container/bombs, is freaking sweet, trumps the lead size. i have some builds that they are perfect, and people that have seen them go crazy of the mojo, and i joke that gives them a nuclear boost.

[IvIark]

Yes I've got some of the D310 and D311's and they do look awesome.  They're the type of diode you'd use if you wanted to scare anyone opening the box, you just don't know if they're going to clip your signal or reach criticality

[GeGhostRider]

you guys convinced me, ordered some D310 & D9J along with a few Ge trannies from Bulgaria.
Midwayfair's test was really helpful too...will have to hunt for some OA1160 now...
thanx again

[Silver Blues]

I'm sure there are many of these in this thread already but I just received this resistor kit. 10 each of 140 different values from 1Ω to 22M 1% metal films. Good buy at just over $0.01 per resistor.

[iggy]

OA1160 look for Minifux on ebay. he usually has lots of 20 listed.
 don't buy his germanium trannys.

[iggy]

DIY Guitar Pedals .com has OA1160 as well. and he's a great guy to deal with.

[GeGhostRider]

thanx Iggy, I was already looking at the australian site and might give it a go. I may be wrong but I'm quite hurrying on these Ge diodes as they tend to become "obsolete". I hope they won't pop up cheaper in the future...

[IvIark]

Just bought 50 x BC108C (£0.25 each) and 50 x BC109C (£0.20 each) from Rapid Electronic.  I know these can be had from a number of sellers on eBay and maybe cheaper, but you never know what you're getting and these ones have a pretty good endorsement:

http://www.rapidonline.com/customer-profiles/skreddy-pedals

[rocket88]

so i wanted to add a few things i've found:

i bought the small kit of SMD electrolytics, they are tiny tiny, and like mark said if you remove the plastic base they can be put into a vero layout. i found another much bigger kit for about double. i should get it this week, but they appear to be the same as the others. two problems/warnings: 1 the leads are very fragile so you don't want to wiggle them too much, 2 you can get no more then a 2 row span.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310427513317?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

2 different auctions for multilayer ceramic sets. i've started stocking up on them, as you can fit them in tight spaces. i think i ordered 3 of each set, i sent them an email and got a discount.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121075015531?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261211877823?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

those that want to stock up on 3pdt switches. if you do that math it works out to $1.83 each, which is dirt cheap compared to normal prices.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191276862977?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

also, some 2n270 diodes. believe it or not these ARE Ge diodes, and yes they are that cheap. i've used them in some of my favorite pedals i've built, including the my modified bass rat.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181096054758?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

here's the 1n34a diodes i use that in in DO-35 diodes. they're relatively cheap, according to all my tests they are Ge, but it's suspect since they are in the smaller package, but it is a glass package. the forward voltage is between .23V and .33V, and sound FANTASTIC.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281239469465?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

some 1n60/1n60p diodes, that appear to be Ge according to the tests, and i've got nothing but good quality, reliable, and real parts from this seller. for the price it's definitely worth the risk, especially cause they sound great.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261030223032?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

lastly, for those looking for panasonic poly caps, here where i've gotten mine from. fast shipping, and reliable.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360624882883?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Chris60601]

Sweet! The Pannies have my interest - thank you!

[rocket88]

no problem. i've messaged them and they put together a set that has 100 of each cap for me. i can nearly see the bottom of my box, and as i've learned from mark that means it's time to restock.

[IvIark]

Those 1N60P's you linked are schottky, although a lot of sellers are describing them as germanium.  That's why the forward voltage is very similar to what you might expect from Ge.

I haven't seen any true germanium diodes in a DO35 case before