Parts · Transistors

2N3904

281 circuits use this part. Listed as: BJT transistor, NPN TO-18; BJT transistor, NPN TO-92; BJT transistor, NPN, TO-92; JT transistor, NPN, TO-92; NPN transistor.

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
2N3904	40	40 V	200 mA	0.31 W	300 MHz

Used on other boards here

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT	Boards
2N3903	50	40 V	200 mA	0.31 W	250 MHz	8
MPSA05	50	60 V	500 mA	0.33 W	100 MHz	2
2N5845	25	40 V	1000 mA	0.625 W	300 MHz	1
2N3053	50	40 V	700 mA	1 W	100 MHz	1
MPSA06	50	80 V	500 mA	0.625 W	100 MHz	2
BC639	40	80 V	1000 mA	1 W	50 MHz	1
2SC536	60	30 V	100 mA	0.2 W	115 MHz	1
2SC1815	70	50 V	150 mA	0.4 W	80 MHz	28

Closest by the numbers

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT
BFJ67	40	40 V	1000 mA	0.36 W
BFJ68	40	40 V	1000 mA	0.36 W
BSS79B	40	40 V	800 mA	0.35 W	250 MHz
BFV85A	40	40 V	800 mA	0.36 W	250 MHz
BFW68	40	40 V	200 mA	0.36 W	250 MHz
2SC945R	40	50 V	150 mA	0.25 W	300 MHz
KSC945	40	50 V	150 mA	0.25 W	300 MHz
BSS81B	40	35 V	800 mA	0.35 W	250 MHz

Circuit	Based on	Category	Vendor	Box	Knobs	Price	BOM
360 Bass Preamp 2N1306 · 2N3904 · 2N5088 · LT1054CP	Acoustic 360 Preamp	Preamp / Amp-in-a-box	Aion FX	1590XX	5	$22.00	120
360 Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N5088 · GE NPN	Acoustic 360 Fuzz	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	2	$12.50	53
Antipode Vintage Fuzz 2N3904 · LM741	Roland AF-60 Bee Gee	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	54
Aperture Octave Fuzz 2N3904 · MPSA14	Ampeg Scrambler	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	53
Ascalon Octave Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N5089	King Tone Octaland	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	4	$12.50	70
Astra Silicon Fuzz 2N3904	Astrotone Fuzz	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	35
Charon Overdrive 2N3904 · 2N5087 · 2N5088 · 2N5457	Ibanez CR-5	Overdrive	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	75
Constellation Vintage Fuzz 2N3904	Shin-ei Companion FY-2	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	40
Flare Fuzz Machine 2N3904 · GERMANIUM	ZVEX Fuzz Factory	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	8	$12.50	36
Flare (Legacy) 2N3904 · PNP	ZVEX Fuzz Factory	Fuzz	Aion FX	1590B	8	—	27
Halo Distortion / Sustainer 2N3904	EHX Big Muff Pi	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	4	$12.50	59
Hexatron Optical Phaser 2N3904 · LT1054CP · PDV-P9203 · RC4558P	Mu-tron Phasor II	Phaser	Aion FX	125B	3	$16.00	107
IVP Preamp 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5088 · LF356N	Intersound IVP	Overdrive	Aion FX	1590DD	6	$24.00	197
L4 Bass Preamp 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5088 · 2N5457	Lab Series L4	Preamp / Amp-in-a-box	Aion FX	1590XX	6	$22.00	201
L5 Preamp 2N3904 · 2N3906 · J112 · LF356N	Lab Series L5	Preamp / Amp-in-a-box	Aion FX	1590XX	7	$22.00	207
L5 Preamp Clean Channel 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5457 · LF356N	Lab Series L5 Preamp	Preamp / Amp-in-a-box	Aion FX	1590BBS	3	$16.00	107
L5 Preamp Drive Channel 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5457 · LF356N	Lab Series L5 Preamp	Preamp / Amp-in-a-box	Aion FX	1590BBS	5	$16.00	129
Monad Vintage Boost 2N3904	Univox Uni-Drive UD-50	Boost	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	36
Obscura Octave Blend 2N3904	Prescription Electronics COB	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	52
Octagon Octave Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N3906	Tycobrahe Octavia	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	2	$12.50	38
Orpheus Silicon Fuzz 2N3904	Mosrite Fuzzrite	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	2	$12.50	30
Particle Vintage Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N404A	Interfax Harmonic Percolator	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	32
Penumbra Bass Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N5457	ZVEX Woolly Mammoth	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	6	$12.50	44
Photon Booster / Line Driver 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5087 · 2N5089	SD Pickup Booster	Boost	Aion FX	125B	2	$12.50	44
Rift Octave Fuzz 2N3903 · 2N3904	Univox Superfuzz	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	68
Zeta Distortion / Sustainer 2N3904	Jumbo Tone Bender	Fuzz	Aion FX	125B	3	$12.50	52
Bootstrapping is great 2N3904	—	Fuzz	Bent Fishbowl	—	—	—	9
Buzz Farm - My first pedal 2N3904	—	Fuzz	Bent Fishbowl	—	3	—	9
Enveloping Timbre: envelope distortion 2N3904 · TLO72	—	Distortion	Bent Fishbowl	—	5	—	26
LFOstortion 2N3904 · LM358 · TLO72	—	Distortion	Bent Fishbowl	—	5	—	26
Morley M2 Volume Wah (M2WA) schematic 2N3904	—	Wah / Envelope	Bent Fishbowl	—	—	—	13
Precision Fuzz: TL431 based fuzzes 2N3904 · TL431LP	—	Fuzz	Bent Fishbowl	—	—	—	16
VCA-1 multipurpose VCA pedal 2N3904 · LM358 · LM555 · TLC272	—	Wah / Envelope	Bent Fishbowl	1590B	2	—	36
Abductor Delay Ii 2N3904 · 2N5457 · PT2399	—	Delay	Dead Astronaut FX	—	2	£15.00	113
Skinwalker Hi Gain Distortion 2N3904 · J201	—	Distortion	Dead Astronaut FX	—	3	£15.00	49
Anticarus 2N3904 · BS170 · J201	Spaceman Effects Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive	Overdrive	Dead End FX	125B	2	$12.00	23
Big Ear 2N3904 · 2N5087 · BC546B	Spaceman WOW Signal	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	4	$15.00	52
Calypso 2N3904 · LMI5532	Spaceman Explorer phaser, but with a twist	Phaser	Dead End FX	1590C	6	$20.00	69
Definite Phase 2N3904 · 4558 · LM3914	ProphecySound Systems Infinitphase	Phaser	Dead End FX	—	11	$35.00 out	163
Deshere 2N3904 · BS170	Spaceman Sputnik	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	5	$15.00	51
Flint 2N3904 · BS170 · LND150N3-G	Spaceman Saturn V Harmonic Booster	Overdrive	Dead End FX	125B	2	$12.00	25
Fugu 2N3904 · BS170 · BS250	Spaceman Effects Titan II	Fuzz	Dead End FX	125B	3	$12.00	30
Glenn 2N3904 · BS170 · BS250 · LND150N3	Spaceman Effects Atlas III booster	Boost	Dead End FX	125B	1	$12.00	27
Hapalochlaena 2N3904 · 2N3906 · AD633AN	Frostwave Blue Ringer v	Ring Mod / Synth	Dead End FX	1590D	2	$20.00	87
Inchindown Redux 2N3904 · 2SA1015Y · 2SC1815BL · BS170	hidden gem, the Ibanez EM5 Echomachine	Vibrato / Chorus	Dead End FX	1590J	6	$15.00	93
Kakehashi'S Nightmare 2N3904 · 2N5087 · 2N5089 · 2SK30A-GR	BOSS DB-5 DRIVER	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590D	5	$20.00	108
Laika Fuzz V.2 2N3904 · 2SB172 · 2SK30A-Y · BS170	Spaceman Effects Sputnik II	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	4	$7.50	58
Laika II 2N3904 · 2SB172 · 2SK30A-Y · BS170	Spaceman Effects Sputnik IIb	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	4	$15.00	58
Low Blow V.2 2N3904 · BS170	Katanasound Super Bass Fuzz	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	3	$15.00	52
Moonstone 2N3700 · 2N3904 · 2N5088 · BC547B	Wyllie Moonrock	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	4	$15.00	65
Mother Brain 2N3904 · TL072	Lovetone Big Cheese fuzz	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	3	$15.00	47
Q2 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5484	Frostwave Resonator, so here it is	EQ / Filter	Dead End FX	1590D	7	$20.00	131
Shillelagh 2N2222A · 2N3904 · BS170	Last Gasp Arts Labs 46 Sooperfuzz	Fuzz	Dead End FX	1590BBS	2	$15.00	64
Sprocket II 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5088 · BS170	Spaceman Spacerocket II, but with a DEFX twist	Fuzz	Dead End FX	125B	2	$12.00	40
Synergy V.2 2N3904 · J201 · MC33178 · TL072	TWA Triskelion 3	Overdrive	Dead End FX	1590BBS	3	$15.00	65
Trahald 2N3904 · BS170	Spaceman Effects Rumblefuzz II	Fuzz	Dead End FX	125B	3	$12.00	30
Tresonator 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2N5484 · LM13700	Frostwave Resonator, but	Wah / Envelope	Dead End FX	—	6	$20.00 out	80
Wally II 2N3904 · BS170 · BS250 · VLC22	Spaceman Apollo VIIb	Overdrive	Dead End FX	125B	2	$12.00	43
Buckler 2N3904	—	Fuzz	Effects Layouts	125B	4	$4.50 out	38
Cranky Speaker 2N3904	Electra Distortion	Boost	Effects Layouts	1590A	1	$4.00 out	11
Darkmantle 2N3904 · 2N3906	EQD Tentacle / Green Ringer	Octave / Pitch	Effects Layouts	1590A	—	$5.00	24
Distortion Supreme 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 2SK170 · TL072	Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion	Distortion	Effects Layouts	125B	5	$10.00	97
Sasquatch II 2N3904 · 2N5087 · 2N5089 · NPN	Green Ringer + Big Muff	Fuzz	Effects Layouts	125B	5	$10.00 out	83
Widogast Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N5089 · 2N5458 · BS170	EHX Big Muff	Fuzz	Effects Layouts	125B	—	$12.00	79
Козак (Cossack) 2N3904 · 2N3906 · 555 · 7660	Klon Centaur	Overdrive	Effects Layouts	125B	3	$10.00	75
Axis Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N3906	Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz	Fuzz	Five Cats Pedals	—	2	£4.50	21
DuckDuck 2N3904 · TL072	Nurse Quacky	EQ / Filter	Five Cats Pedals	—	3	£4.50	32
Fromage Fuzz 2N3904 · TL072	Lovetone Big Cheese	Fuzz	Five Cats Pedals	1590BB	3	£5.00	46
Gomorrah 2N3904 · 2N5103/2N5457	EQD Zoar	Fuzz	Five Cats Pedals	1590B	7	£4.50	48
Hybrid Germanium Fuzz 2N3904 · AC128	—	Fuzz	Five Cats Pedals	1590B	5	£4.50	19
Noise Gator 2N3904 · 2N5458 · LM4558	MXR Noise Gate	Compressor	Five Cats Pedals	1590B	1	£4.50	41
Random Cats 2N3904 · 2N4401 · PN2222	Mid-Fi Electronics Random Number Generator	Utility	Five Cats Pedals	—	1	£3.50	25
Spanker 2N3904	EQD Speaker Cranker	Distortion	Five Cats Pedals	1590A	2	£3.50	15
2.5 Revs 2N3904 · J201	Fairfield 900	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	4	£36.00	38
360 Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N5088	Acoustic 260/360	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	1	£42.00	40
AF-60 2N3904 · LM741	Roland AF-60 Bee Gee	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£31.20	43
Ampeg Scrambler 2N3904 · 2N5088 · MPSA13	Ampeg Scrambler	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	3	£28.80	41
Axis Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N3906	Axis Fuzz	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£24.00	24
Behold! 2N2222 · 2N3904 · 78L05	EAE Beholder	Reverb	Fuzz Dog	1590BB	7	£48.00	58
Blue Fool - MXR Blue Box+ 2N3904 · 2N5088 · 4558 · CD4013	Blue Box	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£31.20	53
Canyon '66 2N3904 · 2N5088	Nicols 66 / Liverpool Fuzz Tone	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	4	£33.60	31
Cherub Chorus 2N3904 · 5532 · PT2399	Little Angel Chorus	Vibrato / Chorus	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£39.60	50
Cloven Ripper 2N3904 · 2N5087 · 2N5089 · MPSA18	Hoof Reaper	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590DD	1	£62.40	107
Cone Cranker 2N3904	Speaker Cranker	Overdrive	Fuzz Dog	1590B	1	£21.60	12
Deceased Dobbin 2N3904 · 4558	ProTone Dead Horse	Distortion	Fuzz Dog	1590B	3	£31.20	38
EPic Boost 2N3904 · 2N5457/	EP Boost	Boost	Fuzz Dog	1590B	1	£22.80	24
Engorged Gherkin Fuzz 2N3904 · MPQ3904	Swollen Pickle	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590BB	7	£43.20	67
Fat Furry Freak - Vertical config 2N3904	Woolly Mammoth	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£30.00	20
Fat Furry Freak - bass fuzz monster 2N3904	Woolly Mammoth	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	4	£28.80	22
Fat Furry Freak - board-mounted pots 2N3904	Woolly Mammoth	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	4	£31.20	22
Filth Fack - board-mount version 2N3904 · PNP	Fuzz Factory	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	5	£36.00	19
Filth Fack! - Crazy Germanium Fuzz 2N3904	Fuzz Factory	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	5	£33.60	11
Filth Fack! - Vertical config 2N3904 · PNP	Fuzz Factory	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	5	£36.00	19
FuzzPup Axis Fuzz 2N3904 · 2N3906	Axis Fuzz	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590A	2	£26.40	24
FuzzPup FY2 2N3904	Shin Ei FY2 Fuzz	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590A	3	£28.80	31
FuzzPup Tube Screamer 2N3904	Tube Screamer	Overdrive	Fuzz Dog	1590A	3	£31.20	33
Gate Keeper Noise Gate 2N3904 · 2N5952 · 4558	M-106 Noise Gate	Noise Gate	Fuzz Dog	1590B	1	£28.80	40
Greasy Tool - Crossover Distortion 2N3904 · 2N3906 · BS170	Machine	Distortion	Fuzz Dog	1590B	1	£31.20	32
Green Ghetto 2N3904	Green Giant / Ghetto Stomp	Distortion	Fuzz Dog	1590B	4	£26.40	15
Grinder 2N3904 · 2N5457	Zoar	Distortion	Fuzz Dog	1590B	6	£42.00	44