Parts · Transistors

2N3903

Si NPN BJT TO-92 TH.15 circuits use this part. Listed as: BJT transistor, NPN, TO-92; BJT transistor, NPN TO-18; BJT transistor, NPN TO-92.

Datasheet · from onsemi.com

Substitutes Si NPN transistor

Matched on material, polarity and the limits below from the transistor parameter database. Pinouts and packages are not in that data: check the datasheet before you drop one in, and expect gain to change the sound.

This part

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT
2N3903	50	40 V	200 mA	0.31 W	250 MHz

Used on other boards here

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT	Boards
2N4123	50	30 V	200 mA	0.31 W	240 MHz	2
2N3904	40	40 V	200 mA	0.31 W	300 MHz	870
MPSA05	50	60 V	500 mA	0.33 W	100 MHz	6
2SC1175	40	45 V	200 mA	0.3 W	170 MHz	1
2N3053	50	40 V	700 mA	1 W	100 MHz	4
PN100	40	35 V	500 mA	0.625 W	200 MHz	5
MPSA06	50	80 V	500 mA	0.625 W	100 MHz	6
2N3416	75	50 V	500 mA	0.36 W		1

Closest by the numbers

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT
PN3905	50	40 V	200 mA	0.31 W	250 MHz
BSS66R	50	40 V	100 mA	0.3 W	250 MHz
2N6503	50	40 V	1000 mA	0.35 W	250 MHz
BSR17R	50	40 V	200 mA	0.35 W	250 MHz
2N5380	50	40 V	200 mA	0.36 W	250 MHz
BCY70P	50	40 V	200 mA	0.4 W	250 MHz
2SC3915	50	50 V	500 mA	0.3 W	250 MHz
2SC4120	50	50 V	100 mA	0.3 W	250 MHz

Circuit	Based on	Category	Vendor	Box	Knobs	Price	BOM
Oberon Vintage Distortion 2N3903 Jordan Bosstone · 125B	Jordan Bosstone	Distortion	Aion FX	125B	2	$12.50	30
Rift Octave Fuzz 2N3903 · 2N3904 Univox Super-Fuzz · 125B	Univox Super-Fuzz	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	68
Circle Electric Co. Spirit in the Sky Fuzz Vero14×11 Verified 2N3903 Circle Electric Co. Spirit in the Sky Fuzz	Circle Electric Co. Spirit in the Sky Fuzz	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	20
Earthquaker Devices Black Ash Endangered Fuzz Vero17×10 Verified 2N3903 EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	24
Jordan Bosstone Alhambra Vero13×9 Verified 2N3903 Jordan Bosstone Alhambra	Jordan Bosstone Alhambra	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	2	—	15
Reeves Electro Zo: Vero12×10 Verified 2N3903 Reeves Electro Zo	Reeves Electro Zo	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	16
Shin-ei FY6 Superfuzz MOJO layout Vero27×26 Verified 2N3903 Univox Super-Fuzz	Univox Super-Fuzz	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	2	—	27
EQD Black Ash Perfboard Verified 2N3903 EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	Fuzz	Effects Layouts (blog)	—	3	—	20
Ashes 2N3903 EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	Fuzz	Five Cats Pedals	—	3	£4.50	23
NostalgiTone Electric Warrior Dual Combo PCB SET 2N3903 · TL072 1590BB2	—	Fuzz	GuitarPCB	1590BB2	5	$10.95	44
NostalgiTone ModBender: Classic ToneBender 2N3903 125B	—	Fuzz	GuitarPCB	125B	3	$7.95	25
Black Ash Fuzz 2N3903 EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	Fuzz	PCBWay: Glory to Ukraine	—	3	—	17
Carbon Black Fuzz 2N3903 EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash · 125B	EarthQuaker Devices Black Ash	Fuzz	PedalPCB	125B	3	$8.00	24
Overcast Fuzz 2N3903 Circle Electric Co. Spirit in the Sky Fuzz · 125B	Circle Electric Co. Spirit in the Sky Fuzz	Fuzz	PedalPCB	125B	3	$10.00	22
Desert Bighorn 2N3903 · MMBF4393 Animals pedal Diamond Peak Overdrive	Animals pedal Diamond Peak Overdrive	Distortion	Sheepylove	—	6	€10.00 out	37