For Science!
I think the switch in this is bad. It works with the 4.7 nF cap, but when I switch to the 22 nF cap it goes silent. I replaced the cap, but it wasn't that, so I'm guessing the switch is bad.
You know, half the problem with building stuff anymore is that SO many of the parts are crap.
Anyway, I've been experimenting with different transistors. Right this minute I've got a Russian GT308B in there, which is actually one of the best-sounding transistors I've tried.
The leakage actually does seem to be a factor. The more leakage the transistor has, the splattier the boost seems to be. These old Russian transistors have NO measurable leakage. Like, they come up as 0.00 mV on the tester. All of them so far. Germanium transistors with no leakage. Crazy. The Russians really built this stuff right.
Anyway, these transistors have a very cool sound. They sound grain-y and a little overdrive-y, but still very tight and articulate. I tried an OC44 and an OC75 and they both sounded fine, but not really any different than an AC128 or a 2N527. It really does seem to be a function of leakage that varies the overall sound of the effect. I think. I mean, I may be missing something else, but the sound changed a lot when I went to these low-leakage (no leakage?) Russian transistors.
For Science!
I think the switch in this is bad. It works with the 4.7 nF cap, but when I switch to the 22 nF cap it goes silent. I replaced the cap, but it wasn't that, so I'm guessing the switch is bad.
You know, half the problem with building stuff anymore is that SO many of the parts are crap.
Anyway, I've been experimenting with different transistors. Right this minute I've got a Russian GT308B in there, which is actually one of the best-sounding transistors I've tried.
The leakage actually does seem to be a factor. The more leakage the transistor has, the splattier the boost seems to be. These old Russian transistors have NO measurable leakage. Like, they come up as 0.00 mV on the tester. All of them so far. Germanium transistors with no leakage. Crazy. The Russians really built this stuff right.
Anyway, these transistors have a very cool sound. They sound grain-y and a little overdrive-y, but still very tight and articulate. I tried an OC44 and an OC75 and they both sounded fine, but not really any different than an AC128 or a 2N527. It really does seem to be a function of leakage that varies the overall sound of the effect. I think. I mean, I may be missing something else, but the sound changed a lot when I went to these low-leakage (no leakage?) Russian transistors.