OT(?) germanium transistors

[Hairy Harry]

The intrinsic voltage drop of silicon is about .7 volts...
Germanium is only about .3V
This makes a big difference in how fast the transistors clip.
Germanium is leakier at elevated temperatures...but not a problem
at room temperature..

Germanium (of course) also has the elusive "vintage vibe" factor
that will always make it superior to anything available today, even
if today's product is proven superior...

Q: How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb
A: Fifty. One to change the buld, and forty-nine to lament how
   the new bulb just "isn't the same..."

H^)  harry

>From: "edanderson" <edanderson at mail.davidson.alumlink.com>
>Reply-To: <edanderson at mail.davidson.alumlink.com>
>To: <synth-diy at node12b53.a2000.nl>
>Subject: OT(?) germanium transistors
>Date: Thu,  5 Oct 2000 00:32:48 -0400
>
>
>I hope this in some way relevant (seems possible).  I am wondering what 
>gives germanium transistors their different sound.  Is it just that the 
>more modern silicon designs have better linearity or is there something 
>else?  All other things being equal, how would two transistors compare if 
>one was silicon based and the other germanium?
>
>I know that germanium 2n270 and 2n261x transistors showed up in several 
>effects boxes- so are there many older synth designs that used germanium 
>transistors?
>
>Thanks for contributing to what one of the most informative lists I've 
>subscribed to thus far.
>
>Ed Anderson

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