there are lots of Ge pedals that can use low gain transistors, like the fuzzrite, and you can also use them in Ge buffers. also, you need remember that these russian Ge's don't seem to play by the same rules as their US and EU counterparts. myself, and lots of guys have made FuzzFaces with russians that had hfe's in the 50's and they rip, mostly due to having great frequency responses.
i wouldn't put this one off just because of the transistors. I would grab just one set of each from those auctions, and sort for the circuit, plus you'll have more for other builds. also, remember that lower gain hfe Ge FuzzFaces will have a more overdrivey open sound to them, while higher gain will typically be more compressed and distorted.
it's not so much more common transistors, its what sounds right. as emperor of the Ge Deathstar, i can tell you that there is no one Ge for as specific build, as each model adds its own bit of character to it. take a look at the thread i started pinned towards the top about Ge's. a bunch of us have been trying to keep a record of tonal characteristics, hfe readings, etc.
but, my top suggestions for general russian ones to have are:
PNP
MP20A
1T308V-GT308V military version
MP16B
NPN
MP38A
these typically aren't too expensive.
Locked
