Parts · Transistors

BC550B

Si NPN BJT TO-92 TH.11 circuits use this part.

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
BC550B	200	45 V	100 mA	0.5 W	150 MHz

Used on other boards here

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT	Boards
BC546B	200	65 V	100 mA	0.5 W	150 MHz	7
BC547B	200	45 V	100 mA	0.5 W	200 MHz	61
BC107B	200	45 V	100 mA	0.3 W	150 MHz	14
BC237B	200	45 V	100 mA	0.3 W	150 MHz	1
2N6428	200	50 V	200 mA	0.625 W	100 MHz	2
ECG123A	200	40 V	800 mA	0.5 W	300 MHz	1
ZTX382B	240	45 V	100 mA	0.45 W	150 MHz	1
2SC1815Y	200	50 V	150 mA	0.4 W	80 MHz	3

Closest by the numbers

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT
2SC945-GR	200	50 V	150 mA	0.4 W	150 MHz
BC847B-AU	200	45 V	100 mA	0.33 W
BC850B-AU	200	45 V	100 mA	0.33 W
BC290	200	40 V	100 mA	0.36 W
BC290A	200	40 V	100 mA	0.36 W
BC290B	200	40 V	100 mA	0.36 W
BC451B	200	45 V	100 mA	0.3 W	150 MHz
BC147B	200	45 V	200 mA	0.25 W	150 MHz

Circuit	Based on	Category	Vendor	Box	Knobs	Price	BOM
Catalinbread Katzenkönig Vero Verified BC550B Catalinbread Katzenkönig	Catalinbread Katzenkönig	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	4	—	33
Exar DS-02 Distortion Vero20×16 Unverified 741 · BC550B · J113 · LM741 Exar DS-02 Distortion	Exar DS-02 Distortion	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	24
Exar HM-02 Heavy Metal Vero25×32 Unverified 2SK117 · 4558 · BC547B · BC550B Exar HM-02 Heavy Metal	Exar HM-02 Heavy Metal	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	5	—	46
Exar HR-03 Hammer Vero21×21 Unverified 2SK30A · BC550B · TL072 Exar HR-03 Hammer	Exar HR-03 Hammer	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	41
Exar KM-03 Kamikaze Vero25×33 Unverified 2SK30A · 4558 · BC547B · BC550B Exar KM-03 Kamikaze	Exar KM-03 Kamikaze	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	6	—	51
Exar MM-04 Moon Metal Vero21×21 Unverified 2SK30 · BC550B · TL072 Exar MM-04 Moon Metal	Exar MM-04 Moon Metal	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	5	—	35
Exar SF-02 Super Fuzz Vero24×21 Unverified 4558 · BC550B · J113 · JRC4558D Univox Super-Fuzz · 125B	Univox Super-Fuzz	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	125B	4	—	32
Exar TB-04 Tuber Vero19×17 Unverified 2N5457 · 4558 · BC550B · RC4558 Exar TB-04 Tuber	Exar TB-04 Tuber	Distortion	Dirtbox Layouts	—	4	—	31
Double Muff BC550B Electro-Harmonix Double Muff · 1590B	Electro-Harmonix Double Muff	Fuzz	Fuzz Dog	1590B	2	£26.40	31
Karma Sutra 1T308A · BC550B Catalinbread Karma Suture · 125B	Catalinbread Karma Suture	Fuzz	PCB Guitar Mania	125B	4	€9.90 out	27
EHX Double Muff Vero20×12 Verified BC550B Electro-Harmonix Double Muff	Electro-Harmonix Double Muff	Distortion	Tagboard Effects	—	2	—	18