Parts · ICs
LM301A
Single BJT-Input Op-Amp DIP-8 / SOIC-8.23 circuits use this part.
Datasheet · from ti.com
Substitutes same socket
Parts that fit the same socket: the same function, pin count and pinout. The figures are read off each part's datasheet (this one's from page 3), 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 | Input | Supply | GBW | Slew | Noise | Iq | Boards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LM301A | bipolar | 10–36 V | 1 V/µs | 1.8 mA | 23 |
Externally compensated: needs a capacitor (30 pF for unity gain) between pins 1 and 8, and the value sets its slew and treble response in fuzz and distortion circuits.
Fits the same socket
| Part | Input | Supply | GBW | Slew | Noise | Iq | Boards | Differs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LM308 | bipolar | 10–36 V | 0.3 mA | 96 | Needs a compensation capacitor (30 pF typical) between pins 1 and 8; the cap sets slew rate and tone. | |||
| OP07CP | bipolar | 6–36 V | 0.6 MHz | 0.3 V/µs | 9.8 nV | 1 | internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are offset null (1, 8), NC (5). Precision but slow (0.3 V/µs); its offset trim uses pins 1 and 8, not the 741's 1 and 5. | |
| TS321 | bipolar | 3–30 V | 0.8 MHz | 0.4 V/µs | 50 nV | 0.6 mA | 1 | internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are NC; input range reaches the negative rail. Single-supply LM321-style op-amp sold only in SOIC-8 and SOT-23, so a DIP socket needs an adapter. |
| 741 | 10–30 V | 0.5 V/µs | 0.13 mA | 256 | internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are NC on the D and P packages (offset null on pins 1 and 5 in the PS package). This 2026 revision lists pins 1 and 5 as no-connect on the DIP, so an offset-trim pot there does nothing. | |||
| LF355 | JFET | ?–36 V | 2.5 MHz | 5 V/µs | 20 nV | 2 mA | 1 | JFET input; internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are offset null (1, 5), NC (8). Lower-power, slower sibling of the LF356. |
| NE5534 | bipolar | 10–30 V | 10 MHz | 13 V/µs | 4 nV | 4 mA | 44 | needs a compensation capacitor across pins 5 and 8. Compensated for a gain of 3 or more; below that it needs a capacitor (22 pF) between pins 5 and 8. |
| CA3130 | mosfet, RR out | 5–16 V | 4 MHz | 10 V/µs | 10 mA | 54 | MOSFET input; 16 V max, not for 18 V; input range reaches the negative rail; rail-to-rail output; draws 10 mA per amplifier. Needs a 47 pF capacitor between pins 1 and 8 for unity-gain stability (15 MHz uncompensated) and is limited to 16 V total supply. | |
| TL061 | JFET | 10–30 V | 1 MHz | 3.5 V/µs | 30 nV | 0.2 mA | 34 | JFET input; internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are offset null (1, 5), NC (8). Low-power JFET op-amp at 200 µA; the pin table gives offset null on 1 and 5 though the drawing marks them NC. |
| LF356 | JFET | ?–36 V | 5 MHz | 12 V/µs | 12 nV | 5 mA | 14 | JFET input; internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are offset null (1, 5), NC (8); draws 5 mA per amplifier. JFET single drawing about 5 mA; specified at ±15 V. |
| TL051 | JFET | 10–30 V | 4.5 MHz | 17.8 V/µs | 10.8 nV | 2.1 mA | 8 | JFET input; internally compensated: the board's capacitor across pins 1 and 8 no longer shapes the tone; pins 1, 5, 8 are NC. Trimmed-offset upgrade for the TL071/TL081; pins 1, 5 and 8 are no-connect in this revision. |
| Faceplate | Circuit | Based on | Category | Vendor | Box | Knobs | Price | BOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Fx TD-X Vero18×17 Verified LM301A · LM301AN · TL072 Buffalo Fx TD-X | Buffalo Fx TD-X | Overdrive | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 4 | — | 29 | |
| Electronic Audio Experiments HD130 Preamp Vero19×19 Verified 4558 · 7660S · ICL7660S · LM301 Electronic Audio Experiments HD130 Preamp | Electronic Audio Experiments HD130 Preamp | Overdrive | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 5 | — | 28 | |
| Roger Mayer Spitfire Vero15×11 Verified BC549C · LM301 · LM301A Roger Mayer Spitfire | Roger Mayer Spitfire | Fuzz | Dirtbox Layouts | — | 2 | — | 22 | |
| Buffalo Fx TD-X Perfboard Verified LM301 · LM301A · TL072 Buffalo Fx TD-X · 1590B | Buffalo Fx TD-X | Overdrive | Effects Layouts (blog) | 1590B | — | — | 28 | |
| Roger Mayer Spitfire Perfboard Verified BC549C · LM301 · LM301A Roger Mayer Spitfire | Roger Mayer Spitfire | Fuzz | Effects Layouts (blog) | — | 2 | — | 22 | |
| SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny Perfboard Verified BS170 · LM301 · LM301A SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | Overdrive | Effects Layouts (blog) | — | 3 | — | 21 | |
| AR-317 VCO 2N3393 · 2N3638 · CA3080 · CA3080A | — | Ring Mod / Synth | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | — | — | 130 | |
| AR-318 Sample And Hold and Noise Generator 2N3393 · 2N3638 · 2N4870 · 2N5172 | — | Ring Mod / Synth | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | 2 | — | 132 | |
| AR-324 Lag and LFO 2N3393 · 2N3638 · 3347-1 · CA3080 | — | Ring Mod / Synth | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | 3 | — | 71 | |
| ARP 4012 LPF 2N5172 · 2N6076 · AD3958 · LM301A | — | Other | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | — | — | 66 | |
| Aries Voltage Controlled LPF CA3080 · E212 · LM301A | — | Utility | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | — | — | 56 | |
| Tau 1010 Ladder Filter ? · LM301A | — | EQ / Filter | Experimentalists Anonymous | — | 2 | — | 66 | |
| Fire Breather Fuzz BC549C · LM301A · LM301AN Roger Mayer Spitfire · 1590B | Roger Mayer Spitfire | Fuzz | Fuzz Dog | 1590B | 2 | £28.80 | 27 | |
| No-Tube Driver LM301A · LM301AN Buffalo Fx TD-X · 1590B | Buffalo Fx TD-X | Overdrive | Fuzz Dog | 1590B | 4 | £33.60 | 42 | |
| TD-X LM301A · LM301AN · TL072 Buffalo Fx TD-X | Buffalo Fx TD-X | Other | PCBWay: Glory to Ukraine | — | 2 | — | 30 | |
| Cattle Driver LM301A · LM301AN · TL072 Buffalo Fx TD-X · 125B | Buffalo Fx TD-X | Distortion | PedalPCB | 125B | 4 | $8.00 | 43 | |
| Soulsonic FX Hunny Bunny BS170 · LM301 · LM301A SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | Overdrive | Revolution Deux | — | 3 | — | 25 | |
| Arion MMP-1 Metal Plus Vero Verified 2N5088 · LM301 · LM301A Arion MMP1 Metal Plus | Arion MMP1 Metal Plus | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | — | — | 29 | |
| Pit Fighter Vero17×10 Unverified 2N5088 · LM301 · LM301A Pit Fighter | Pit Fighter | Fuzz | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 20 | |
| Roger Mayer Mongfire Vero20×11 Verified BC549C · LM301A · LM301AN Roger Mayer Mongfire | Roger Mayer Mongfire | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 24 | |
| Roger Mayer Page 1 Vero19×13 Verified AC128 · BC550C · LM301A · LM301N Roger Mayer Page 1 | Roger Mayer Page 1 | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 24 | |
| Roger Mayer Spitfire Vero18×11 Verified BC549C · LM301A · LM301AN Roger Mayer Spitfire | Roger Mayer Spitfire | Distortion | Tagboard Effects | — | 2 | — | 20 | |
| Soulsonic Hunny Bunny Vero16×13 Verified BS170 · LM301 · LM301A SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | SoulSonic FX Hunny Bunny | Overdrive | Tagboard Effects | — | 3 | — | 21 |