the myth/truth about FS36999 transistors

[username]

Hi everybody,
just found a great story about the FS36999's
here's the link (it's in german) http://forum.musikding.de/vb/showthread.php?t=13948" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Poorly translated:
a guy who met Mike Matthews in Brooklyn ask him about the FS36999 transistors and Mike told them that these transistors firstly were 2n5088 and later on bc239's. They just printed FS36999 on them to confuse other factories
great, heh?
Have a nice weekend!

[username]

I forgot to say that these FS36999 transistors were inside of the Ehx Ram's Head Big Muff!
Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nbabmf]

Interesting.

[null.fuzz]

a guy who met Mike Matthews in Brooklyn ask him about the FS36999 transistors and Mike told them that these transistors firstly were 2n5088 and later on bc239's. They just printed FS36999 on them to confuse other factories
great, heh?

MM seems to be a little crazy, so this isn't surprising. And given EHX's mode of operation it wouldn't really make sense for them to use some weird and hard-to-get transistors.

[skreddy]

Here's what a BC239 and a 2N5088 both look like:

This is called a TO-92 package.

Here's what an FS36999 looks like:


This is called a TO-106 package.

There were never any 2N5088's or BC239's made in TO-106 packages. The FS36999 is almost certainly a rebranded 2N5133, and Mike likely purchased them on the surplus market like he did so many other parts that had date codes of circa 1968 on his circa 1971 BMP's. Maybe a 60's TV mfg had them custom numbered, but I do not think Mike had the money to have custom transistors made for him at that time.

[knathan]

Here's what a BC239 and a 2N5088 both look like:

This is called a TO-92 package.

Here's what an FS36999 looks like:


This is called a TO-106 package.

There were never any 2N5088's or BC239's made in TO-106 packages. The FS36999 is almost certainly a rebranded 2N5133, and Mike likely purchased them on the surplus market like he did so many other parts that had date codes of circa 1968 on his circa 1971 BMP's. Maybe a 60's TV mfg had them custom numbered, but I do not think Mike had the money to have custom transistors made for him at that time.

Hey Marc- nice to see you here!

[nbabmf]

Haha, hey Marc. I was just about to post what you told me!

[username]

Here's what a BC239 and a 2N5088 both look like:

This is called a TO-92 package.

Here's what an FS36999 looks like:


This is called a TO-106 package.

There were never any 2N5088's or BC239's made in TO-106 packages. The FS36999 is almost certainly a rebranded 2N5133, and Mike likely purchased them on the surplus market like he did so many other parts that had date codes of circa 1968 on his circa 1971 BMP's. Maybe a 60's TV mfg had them custom numbered, but I do not think Mike had the money to have custom transistors made for him at that time.

Hey Marc- nice to see you here!

did you recognize him because of the guts of the Big Muff?
Like: "hi, are you the guy with these transistors in your fuzz box"
"yes how are you? Are your caps ok?"
Sry for that dumb thoughts.

@skreddy: thanks for the info

Best regards,
max

[daydreamdelay]

welcome aboard Marc!


I've got some old 2N5133's in my triangle clone that I bought from smallbear a couple years back.. I think they're lower in gain than optimal but it sounds really good to my ears.

I've read there isn't much difference between BC239's and 2N5088's but there must be something to the 239's because I tend to stick with them