Testing transistors?
- Thread starter jimijames
- Start date
RLee
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
This link gives decent steps for basic "good or bad" functionality, assuming you know the pin outs (fig 1 steps): http://www.hobbyprojects.com/test_and_measurement/testing_transistors.html
This link also has tips on testing, if you scroll down to the "Testing a Transistor" section, and also has some common pin out diagrams: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/tran.htm
As far as gain testing, you'd need to put it into a simple circuit to let you measure base current vs. collector current. Or get one of those multimeters that have a transistor socket built-in to measure gain/leakage etc.
The circuit shown in the second link for a switching test would work for testing gain, but you have to limit the base current to the linear portion of the gain curve (which you could do by using a large-value pot in place of the base resistor, and slowly decreasing it until the led is fully on).
This link gives decent steps for basic "good or bad" functionality, assuming you know the pin outs (fig 1 steps): http://www.hobbyprojects.com/test_and_measurement/testing_transistors.html
This link also has tips on testing, if you scroll down to the "Testing a Transistor" section, and also has some common pin out diagrams: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/tran.htm
As far as gain testing, you'd need to put it into a simple circuit to let you measure base current vs. collector current. Or get one of those multimeters that have a transistor socket built-in to measure gain/leakage etc.
The circuit shown in the second link for a switching test would work for testing gain, but you have to limit the base current to the linear portion of the gain curve (which you could do by using a large-value pot in place of the base resistor, and slowly decreasing it until the led is fully on).
jimijames
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
awesome, it's good to know I can resort to the most simple method
The reason I ask is I plan on getting a BYOC ESV fuzz in the next few weeks (primarily once I get the cash-ola) and I wanna be able to test the transistors - I figure if it sounds great, it sounds great, if it doesn't I can test the transistors and see if it'll sound better with other transistors or if I should just move on.
awesome, it's good to know I can resort to the most simple method
The reason I ask is I plan on getting a BYOC ESV fuzz in the next few weeks (primarily once I get the cash-ola) and I wanna be able to test the transistors - I figure if it sounds great, it sounds great, if it doesn't I can test the transistors and see if it'll sound better with other transistors or if I should just move on.
RLee
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
Cool, let me know how you like the ESV fuzz, I'm always curious about new fuzz tones, especially from BYOC, since I love their kits. I built their triangle-era big muff (large beaver) pedal, and absolutely love it... a wide variety of killer tones in that pedal.
I always test every component when I build kits, as I'm putting each part in, since it's quick and easy, especially compared to finding a bad part later on. My Fluke has a capacitor tester, but not a transistor tester.
Cool, let me know how you like the ESV fuzz, I'm always curious about new fuzz tones, especially from BYOC, since I love their kits. I built their triangle-era big muff (large beaver) pedal, and absolutely love it... a wide variety of killer tones in that pedal.
I always test every component when I build kits, as I'm putting each part in, since it's quick and easy, especially compared to finding a bad part later on. My Fluke has a capacitor tester, but not a transistor tester.
jimijames
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
Yeah, I built their triboost and it's awesome - the ESV fuzz is a bunch simpler and with their exchange policy I can keep trying until I get a pair of transistors that are truly exceptional. I just need people to buy my stuff first so I can get the kit - but I'll definitely put up a review after I've had some time to play around with it.
Another plus is the tiny number of parts in the kit, so if something's not right it's really easy to troubleshoot.
How do you like the big muff (large beaver)? I've heard a few demos of it on youtube, and I especially like that David Gilmour used one for some pink floyd stuff - I was actually considering that as an alternative to the ESV fuzz...
Yeah, I built their triboost and it's awesome - the ESV fuzz is a bunch simpler and with their exchange policy I can keep trying until I get a pair of transistors that are truly exceptional. I just need people to buy my stuff first so I can get the kit - but I'll definitely put up a review after I've had some time to play around with it.
Another plus is the tiny number of parts in the kit, so if something's not right it's really easy to troubleshoot.
How do you like the big muff (large beaver)? I've heard a few demos of it on youtube, and I especially like that David Gilmour used one for some pink floyd stuff - I was actually considering that as an alternative to the ESV fuzz...
RLee
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
I really love the BYOC big muff. I especially like the 4 position mode selector that lets you select classic, mid-boost, more mid-boost, and wide-open (which takes the tone control out of the circuit).
It's easy to dial in very gilmouresque tones (which is primarily why I got it). Tons of sustain.
Sadly, it doesn't dial in gilmour's fingers for you, but I knew that going in. :cool2:
Here's a vid I did awhile ago using it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93z24eBkQpM
I flavored the output of the big muff a tad with a BK Tube Driver, but this is primarily the big muff, driven from a seymour duncan antiquity II custom bridge.
I really love the BYOC big muff. I especially like the 4 position mode selector that lets you select classic, mid-boost, more mid-boost, and wide-open (which takes the tone control out of the circuit).
It's easy to dial in very gilmouresque tones (which is primarily why I got it). Tons of sustain.
Sadly, it doesn't dial in gilmour's fingers for you, but I knew that going in. :cool2:
Here's a vid I did awhile ago using it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93z24eBkQpM
I flavored the output of the big muff a tad with a BK Tube Driver, but this is primarily the big muff, driven from a seymour duncan antiquity II custom bridge.
jimijames
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
Great video! Funny thing is I was planning on buying a strat to if enough of my stuff sells, and ya know which one I was gonna get? A black one that I could put a black pickguard on! I've read a lot about david gilmours' guitar, and I was gonna put a black pickguard, a callaham tremolo w/ the gilmour short bar, and new pickups.
Speaking of, what pickups do you have in that guitar? It really nails that Gilmour sound on the solos, which, in my opinion, is just about the prettiest solo sound there is.
Great video! Funny thing is I was planning on buying a strat to if enough of my stuff sells, and ya know which one I was gonna get? A black one that I could put a black pickguard on! I've read a lot about david gilmours' guitar, and I was gonna put a black pickguard, a callaham tremolo w/ the gilmour short bar, and new pickups.
Speaking of, what pickups do you have in that guitar? It really nails that Gilmour sound on the solos, which, in my opinion, is just about the prettiest solo sound there is.
RLee
New member
Re: Testing transistors?
Thanks... I bought that guitar as my first strat, it was a fender american deluxe strat, with the SCN pickups and S-1 switching, and an ugly gold-ish pickguard. The first thing I did to it was put the black pickguard on.
I wasn't that happy with the SCN's, and bought another strat, one of new 2007 american standards, and nearly sold the black strat. Then I thought, why not have some fun and put new pickups on it, and make myself a "gilmour" strat. So I got a set of fender Custom Shop '69's to try. It totally changed the tone, and I loved it, except for the bridge pickup; it was a bit thin, as vintage single coils tend to be, so I bought a duncan antiquity II custom bridge, and that just nailed the tone I was going for. It's a bit overwound, but not as much as say the SSL-5, so it still has that treble bite, but with a fatter tone. It's the best rock single coil I've tried. Highly recommended. Now this black strat is one of my fav guitars.
Now I need to finish it up with the Callaham bridge...
Thanks... I bought that guitar as my first strat, it was a fender american deluxe strat, with the SCN pickups and S-1 switching, and an ugly gold-ish pickguard. The first thing I did to it was put the black pickguard on.
I wasn't that happy with the SCN's, and bought another strat, one of new 2007 american standards, and nearly sold the black strat. Then I thought, why not have some fun and put new pickups on it, and make myself a "gilmour" strat. So I got a set of fender Custom Shop '69's to try. It totally changed the tone, and I loved it, except for the bridge pickup; it was a bit thin, as vintage single coils tend to be, so I bought a duncan antiquity II custom bridge, and that just nailed the tone I was going for. It's a bit overwound, but not as much as say the SSL-5, so it still has that treble bite, but with a fatter tone. It's the best rock single coil I've tried. Highly recommended. Now this black strat is one of my fav guitars.
Now I need to finish it up with the Callaham bridge...
