Parts · Transistors

MP38A

Ge NPN BJT TH.10 circuits use this part. Listed as: Germanium NPN.

Substitutes Ge 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
MP38A	45	15 V	20 mA	0.15 W	2 MHz

Used on other boards here

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT	Boards
AC130	50	15 V	100 mA	0.145 W	2 MHz	2
2SD77	40	25 V	100 mA	0.15 W	2 MHz	1
2N1304	40	20 V	300 mA	0.15 W	4 MHz	4
AC127	50	12 V	500 mA	0.34 W	1.5 MHz	15
MP38	25	15 V	20 mA	0.15 W	2 MHz	3
2N1306	60	15 V	300 mA	0.15 W	8 MHz	13
2N388	60	20 V	200 mA	0.15 W	7 MHz	2
MP14B	30	30 V	20 mA	0.15 W	1 MHz	1

Closest by the numbers

Part	hFE min	Vce	Ic	Pc	fT
2N312	50	15 V	200 mA	0.1 W
2SC182	45	20 V	100 mA	0.125 W	3 MHz
AC183	50	16 V	150 mA	0.25 W	2 MHz
2SC129	45	20 V	200 mA	0.15 W	4 MHz
AC185	50	16 V	500 mA	0.27 W	2 MHz
2N1391	40	18 V	200 mA	0.15 W	3 MHz
AC172	45	12 V	10 mA	0.2 W	1 MHz
2N595	35	15 V	300 mA	0.15 W	2 MHz

Circuit	Based on	Category	Vendor	Box	Knobs	Price	BOM
Fuzzhead Fx Box of Germanium Mk. II Vero17×14 Verified MP38A Fuzzhead Fx Box of Germanium Mk. II	Fuzzhead Fx Box of Germanium Mk. II	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	30
Fuzzhead Fx Mammoth Bender Vero Verified GT404 · MP38A Fuzzhead Fx Mammoth Bender	Fuzzhead Fx Mammoth Bender	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	20
Great Eastern FX Focus Fuzz - Hybrid version Vero19×16 Verified BC107B · MP38A Great Eastern FX Focus Fuzz - Hybrid version	Great Eastern FX Focus Fuzz - Hybrid version	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	28
PedalPCB / Chuck D. Bones Celestial Overdrive Vero21×21 Unverified J112 · MP38A · NE5532 PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Celestial Overdrive	PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Celestial Overdrive	Boost	Dirtbox Layouts	—	5	—	41
PedalPCB / Chuck D. Bones Chuck's Buzzaround Vero16×14 Verified BC109C · J111 · MP38A PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Chuck's Buzzaround	PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Chuck's Buzzaround	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	3	—	23
PedalPCB/Chuck D. Bones Yankee Screwdriver Deluxe Turbo Vero20×18 Verified 2N5089 · BC109C · BS170 · J112 PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Yankee Screwdriver Deluxe Turbo	PedalPCB Chuck D. Bones Yankee Screwdriver Deluxe Turbo	Fuzz	Dirtbox Layouts	—	5	—	41
Range Bender 2N2222A · MP38A Colorsound Hybrid Tone Bender · 125B	Colorsound Hybrid Tone Bender	Fuzz	Effects Layouts	125B	4	$7.00	43
Slava Ukraine GT310B · KP103G · KP103L · KT315A Ltava Fuzz Wah · 1590DD	Ltava Fuzz Wah	Tremolo	PCB Guitar Mania	1590DD	8	€1.00 out	127
Aberration Fuzz BC107B · MP38A Great Eastern FX Co Focus Fuzz · 125B	Great Eastern FX Co Focus Fuzz	Fuzz	PedalPCB	125B	3	$12.00	45
Bog Fuzz BC549C · BC560C · MP38A Dunlop JHF-3 Band of Gypsies Fuzz	Dunlop JHF-3 Band of Gypsies Fuzz	Fuzz	Sheepylove	—	3	€10.00	36