Parts · Diodes
1N270
Ge Signal Diode DO-7 TH.64 circuits use this part. Listed as: Ge diode 1n34a,; Germanium diode; 1N270 Germanium Diode Do-7; Diode, Germanium; Standard Diode.
Datasheet · archived copy from NTE; the part is discontinued and the maker no longer publishes it
Substitutes same kind
Diodes of the same kind; for clipping, the forward drop is what you hear. The figures are read off each part's datasheet (this one's from page 1), typical where the sheet gives a typical value, otherwise the maximum. Closest first; the last column says what differs. A different part can change the sound, and a circuit may lean on one particular figure, so read the build document's notes before you swap.
This part
| Part | Vf | If max | Vr | trr | Cj | Package | Boards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1N270 | 1 V @ 200 mA | 0.04 A | 100 V | 0.8 pF | DO-7 | 64 |
Vf is given only as a 1 V maximum at 200 mA, so the sheet says nothing about the clipping knee.
Alternatives
| Part | Vf | If max | Vr | trr | Cj | Package | Boards | Differs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OA91 | 0.18 V @ 0.1 mA | 0.05 A | 115 V | DO-7 | 8 | Point-contact germanium, typically 0.18 V at 0.1 mA (spread 0.1 to 0.25 V). | ||
| OA95 | 0.18 V @ 0.1 mA | 0.05 A | 115 V | DO-7 | 1 | Point-contact germanium, typically 0.18 V at 0.1 mA, slightly lower drop at 10 mA than the OA91. | ||
| 1N100 | 1 V @ 40 mA | 0.07 A | 100 V | DO-7 | 1 | Gold-bonded germanium; Vf is only a 1 V maximum at 40 mA, so the low knee is not specified. | ||
| 1N34A | 1 V @ 5 mA | 0.05 A | 65 V | DO-7 | 332 | Vf is only a 1 V maximum at 5 mA, so the low knee that makes it a soft clipper is not specified; leakage is high (up to 500 µA at 50 V). | ||
| AA119 | 1.5 V @ 10 mA | 45 V | 3 | Gold-bonded germanium; Vf is only a 1.5 V maximum at 10 mA, so the low knee is not specified. | ||||
| OA90 | 1 V @ 10 mA | 30 V | 10 | Gold-bonded germanium; Vf is only a 1 V maximum at 10 mA, so the low knee is not specified. | ||||
| 0A9 | 0.16 V @ 0.1 mA | 0.035 A | 25 V | 1 | OA9 gold-bonded germanium with a very low 0.32 V drop at 10 mA; single-ended glass body. | |||
| AA112 | 0.95 V @ 10 mA | 20 V | 3 | 20 V reverse. Gold-bonded germanium; Vf is only a 0.95 V maximum at 10 mA, so the low knee is not specified. | ||||
| OA47 | 0.17 V @ 0.1 mA | 0.05 A | 25 V | 1 | Gold-bonded germanium with a low 0.40 V drop at 10 mA; a miniature OA7. |
| Faceplate | Circuit | Based on | Category | Vendor | Box | Knobs | Price | BOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphelion (Legacy) 4558 · 741 · JRC4558 · LM741 MXR Distortion+ · 1590B | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Aion FX | 1590B | 2 | — | 21 | |
| Phobos (Legacy) PNP · TC1044 · TC1044S Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III · 1590B | Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III | Fuzz | Aion FX | 1590B | 4 | — | 30 | |
| Screaming Life 2N2907A · AC128 · MPSA18 · TC1044 JHS Bunrunner · 1590BBS | JHS Bunrunner | Fuzz | Dead End FX | 1590BBS | 5 | $15.00 | 51 | |
| Cornish SS-2 Light Drive Vero18×20 Unverified 1458 · BC549C Cornish SS-2 | Cornish SS-2 | Overdrive | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 3 | — | 35 | |
| Dead Air Sawzall Vero24×20 Verified TL071 · TL072 Dead Air Sawzall | Dead Air Sawzall | Distortion | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 8 | — | 41 | |
| God City Instruments Uno Fuzz Vero20×21 Verified 741 · BC550 · LM741 God City Instruments Uno Fuzz | God City Instruments Uno Fuzz | Fuzz | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 1 | — | 33 | |
| MXR Distortion Plus Vero14×10 Verified 741 · LM741 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 2 | — | 14 | |
| MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive Vero18×17 Verified 741 · TL061 · UA741 MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive | MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive | Overdrive | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 1 | — | 29 | |
| PRS Guitars Horsemeat Overdrive Vero25×24 Verified TL072 PRS Guitars Horsemeat Overdrive | PRS Guitars Horsemeat Overdrive | Overdrive | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 5 | — | 46 | |
| Prescription Electronics Depth Charge Vero21×20 Verified 2N3904 Prescription Electronics Depth Charge | Prescription Electronics Depth Charge | Fuzz | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 4 | — | 30 | |
| Ross Distortion w. Tan/Black switch Vero15×11 Verified 4558 Ross Distortion w. Tan/Black switch | Ross Distortion w. Tan/Black switch | Distortion | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 2 | — | 18 | |
| Tycho Brahe Parapedal Vero16×16 Unverified 1458 · MC1458 Tycho Brahe Parapedal | Tycho Brahe Parapedal | Wah / Envelope | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 1 | — | 18 | |
| Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic Perfboard Verified TL074 Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic | Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic | Distortion | Effects Layouts (blog) | — | 5 | — | 24 | |
| Cornish SS-2 Perfboard Verified 1458 Cornish SS-2 · 125B | Cornish SS-2 | Overdrive | Effects Layouts (blog) | 125B | 3 | — | 25 | |
| Ross Distortion Perfboard Verified 4558 · RC4558P Ross Distortion · 1590A | Ross Distortion | Distortion | Effects Layouts (blog) | 1590A | 2 | — | 11 | |
| MXR Distortion + 741 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | — | — | 16 | |
| MXR Distortion Plus 741 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | — | — | 18 | |
| MXR Envelope Filter CD4016 · CD4069 · CD4069UB MXR Envelope Filter | MXR Envelope Filter | Wah / Envelope | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | 2 | — | 47 | |
| COT Five-Zero 2N5088 Lovepedal COT50 · 1590B | Lovepedal COT50 | Overdrive | Five Cats Pedals | 1590B | 2 | £4.50 | 19 | |
| Super Sweety Drive Cornish SS-2 · 1590B | Cornish SS-2 | Overdrive | Fuzz Dog | 1590B | 3 | £38.40 | 37 | |
| Unofuzz 741 · BC550 God City Instruments Uno Fuzz · 125B | God City Instruments Uno Fuzz | Fuzz | God City Instruments | 125B | 1 | $10.00 | 52 | |
| YJM250 Plus 741 · LM741 DOD YJM308/250/D+ · 1590B | DOD YJM308/250/D+ | Distortion | Griffin Effects | 1590B | — | $8.00 out | 18 | |
| Tone Buzzer NKT213 Fulltone Soul Bender · 1590B | Fulltone Soul Bender | Fuzz | HotKits | 1590B | 3 | $2.50 | 21 | |
| Distortion+ 10K MXR Distortion+ · 1590B | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | OP Electronics | 1590B | — | €1.50 out | 4 | |
| Ultimate Pharaoh 2N5089 · 2N7000 · MPSA18 Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh · 1590BB | Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh | Fuzz | PCB Guitar Mania | 1590BB | 5 | €11.90 out | 58 | |
| Distortion Plus (PCB 2) 741 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | PCBWay: Glory to Ukraine | — | 2 | — | 13 | |
| Grease Box GB80 2N1304 D*A*M GB-80 GreaseBox | D*A*M GB-80 GreaseBox | Other | PCBWay: Glory to Ukraine | — | 2 | — | 16 | |
| Overdrive 250 741 · LM741 DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp | DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp | Overdrive | PCBWay: Glory to Ukraine | — | 2 | — | 13 | |
| Deep End Fuzz 2N3707 Prescription Electronics Depth Charge · 125B | Prescription Electronics Depth Charge | Fuzz | PedalPCB | 125B | 4 | $12.00 | 61 | |
| Distortion 250 741 · LM741 MXR Distortion+ / DOD Overdrive 250 Preamp · 125B | MXR Distortion+ / DOD Overdrive 250 Preamp | Distortion | PedalPCB | 125B | 2 | $8.00 | 21 | |
| Soul Vendor NKT275 · TC1044 · TC1044SCPA Fulltone Soul Bender · 125B | Fulltone Soul Bender | Fuzz | PedalPCB | 125B | 3 | $8.00 | 29 | |
| The Slammer Overdrive 741 · TL061 · TL061CP · UA741CP MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive · 125B | MXR Jail Guitar Doors Drive | Fuzz | PedalPCB | 125B | 1 | $12.00 | 35 | |
| Fred Briggs Overdrive 2N7000 Fred Briggs Fuzz | Fred Briggs Fuzz | Overdrive | Revolution Deux | — | 2 | — | 19 | |
| Revolution Deux Clock of Tone 50 VeroTurret board 2N5088 Lovepedal COT50 | Lovepedal COT50 | Overdrive | Revolution Deux | — | 2 | — | 16 | |
| Sola Sound / Vox Tone Bender MKIII (3 knob) Vero ? Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III | Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III | Fuzz | Revolution Deux | — | 3 | — | 24 | |
| Top Tone Light Drive (Pete Cornish SS-2) 741 Cornish SS-2 | Cornish SS-2 | Overdrive | Revolution Deux | — | 3 | — | 40 | |
| Tycobrahe Octavia Vero MPS6519 · MPSA18 Roger Mayer Octavia | Roger Mayer Octavia | Octave / Pitch | Revolution Deux | — | 2 | — | 25 | |
| ARC Effects B3 Vero28×9 Verified 7660S · ICL7660SCPA · NKT213 ARC Effects B3 | ARC Effects B3 | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 19 | |
| Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround Vero15×10 Verified NKT213 Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround | Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 15 | |
| Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic Vero18×16 Verified TL072 Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic | Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 5 | — | 27 | |
| Bogner La Grange Vero33×24 Verified 2N5088 · 2N7000 · 7660S · BS170 Bogner La Grange | Bogner La Grange | Overdrive | Tagboard Effects | — | 5 | — | 62 | |
| Buzzaround-Alike Vero20×12 Verified 2N1302 · TL072 MicTester Buzzaround-Alike | MicTester Buzzaround-Alike | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 16 | |
| COT50 with Briggs mods Turret board Verified 2N5088 COT50 with Briggs mods | COT50 with Briggs mods | Boost | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 14 | |
| Clipper Ship v2 Vero19×11 Verified 2N5457 · NPN GE OR JFET Clipper Ship v2 | Clipper Ship v2 | Boost | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 25 | |
| Cornish SS-2 Vero18×15 Verified 741 · LM741 Cornish SS-2 | Cornish SS-2 | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 25 | |
| Fallstaff OD Vero15×11 Verified 2N2925 · AC176 Fallstaff OD | Fallstaff OD | Boost | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 19 | |
| Fulltone Soul-Bender Vero17×9 Verified PNP GERMANIUM Fulltone Soul Bender | Fulltone Soul Bender | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 21 | |
| Fuzz Central Liquid Drive Vero18×12 Verified OPA2134 · OPA2134AP Fuzz Central Liquid Drive | Fuzz Central Liquid Drive | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 15 | |
| MXR Dist + Vero Verified 741 · LM741 MXR Dist + | MXR Dist + | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 11 | |
| Prescription Electronics Yardbox Vero14×9 Verified PNP GERMANIUM Prescription Electronics Yardbox | Prescription Electronics Yardbox | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 4 | — | 20 | |
| Ross Distortion Vero13×9 Verified 4558 · RC4558P Ross Distortion | Ross Distortion | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 12 | |
| Rotosound Fuzz Vero23×8 Verified PNP GE Rotosound Fuzz | Rotosound Fuzz | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 18 | |
| Sekova FA-II Fuzz Vero20×10 Verified 2SB173 Sekova FA-II Fuzz | Sekova FA-II Fuzz | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 18 | |
| Sola Sound MKIV Tonebender Vero23×8 Verified PNP GE Sola Sound MKIV Tonebender | Sola Sound MKIV Tonebender | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 19 | |
| Sola Sound Tone Bender MkIII - 3 knob Vero21×9 Verified ? Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III | Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. III | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 18 | |
| Tycobrahe Parapedal Modified Vero16×17 Verified 1458 · MC1458 Tycobrahe Parapedal Modified | Tycobrahe Parapedal Modified | Wah / Envelope | Tagboard Effects | — | 1 | — | 18 | |
| Tycobrahe Parapedal Original Vero16×17 Verified 1458 · MC1458 Tycobrahe Parapedal Original | Tycobrahe Parapedal Original | Wah / Envelope | Tagboard Effects | — | 1 | — | 17 | |
| VOX MKIV Tonebender Vero23×8 Verified PNP GE Vox MKIV Tonebender | Vox MKIV Tonebender | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 19 | |
| Vox/Guyatone Zoom Distortion Box Vero12×10 Verified 741 · LM741 Vox Guyatone Zoom Distortion Box | Vox Guyatone Zoom Distortion Box | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 14 | |
| Distortion Plus TL071 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Tayda Electronics (DHEA) | — | 2 | $8.00 | 20 | |
| MXR Distortion Plus Ampotor 4558 MXR Distortion+ | MXR Distortion+ | Distortion | Tonepad | — | — | $8.00 | 23 | |
| MXR MicroAmp Ampotor 4558 MXR Micro Amp | MXR Micro Amp | Boost | Tonepad | — | — | $8.00 | 23 | |
| Tonebender 3 Knob ToneBender 3knob PNP GE Tonebender 3 Knob | Tonebender 3 Knob | Fuzz | Tonepad | — | — | $9.00 | 17 | |
| Dallas Rangemaster (NPN, Peter Davidoff mods) Tagboard NPN GE Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster | Dallas Arbiter Rangemaster | Boost | turretboard.org | — | 2 | — | 13 |