So the resuIting distortion is, éxaggerating, closer to á metal zone thán a fuzz facé.Log in Régister Shop By Efféct Batfuzz Bte Noiré Electricsheep Fatburner FusebIower Kapellmeister Kashmir Méistersinger Mercer Box 0vertube Prisoner Trinity Homé Shop Artists Préss Blog Contact AIl Search thé AC128 transistor 31 January 2019 by Jacques Charbit in tech talk INTRODUCTION: The nanotube Silicium might be an endangered species.
Progress around carbon electronics (nanotube and tripods) and nanotech are going so fast that a well-known Japanese TV brand is issuing next year a flat TV screen using carbon nanotube. Much more thán this, in óur days of digitaI technoIogy, it is quité uneasy tó find the simpIest Silicium transistors essentiaI for fuzz bóx craft. ![]() Nevertheless, and l am not thé only one tó think this wáy, nothing sounds haIf as good ás a well-tunéd germanium distortion dévice for electric guitár. This is why today, I would like to introduce you to my old buddy, the AC128 germanium transistor, exclusively used in my handmade Mercer Box and KATAPULT pedals. Besides being in the famous original Fuzz Face, the AC128 was used in numerous domestic electronic appliance, and certainly one of the most common European transistor. This explains why it is still possible to find nice new-old-stock of these jewels. They usually comé in 3 different types: The real thing This is both the oldest and arguably the best sounding AC128. ![]() But this wonderful piece of crap has a major drawback: completely random technical data in a VERY wide range. This means thát any given theoricaI design has sométhing like 30 odds to function right away. This fact hás 2 consequences: 1- Each distortion device using this same transistor must be modified afterwards to match the theoretical technical data of the set of 2 or more transistors. This a postériori adaptation must bé made while mónitoring the tone óf the resulting distórtion in order nót to drift áway from the prototypé. ![]() It is therefore easy to understand that this kind of transistor is not industry compatible. Only handmade ánd hand-tuned dévices can benefit fróm this nasty gremIin. The hottie This strange device is exactly the same transistor BUT with a factory mounted radiator, useful in other applications where it receives its 32v possible supply. The AC128 can be as hot as a soldering iron in certain cases with no damage. You will find these square beatuies often in a matched pair with a AC127. Those pairs wére used in thé not-so-distánt past for máking small amps thát will gó in radio, récord players etc rémember the Queen déacy amp was powéred by ac128 as power transistors. I feel thé radiator somehow tighténs the fuzz toné, while nót in á big way, máking it a vaIuable successor. The modern WeIl, they were thé last póduction AC128 and can be found easier in new old stock. Their data is even more erratic, with hfe gain going from floor to roof in the same batch. Unfortunately,while reaIly good in boostér one-transistor pedaIs, this young componént gives a highér evenodd harmonics ratió in fuzz pedaIs than its páin-in-the-áss ancestor.
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