UPDATED MAY 30TH
The AnalogMan Sunface has always been a favourite among boutique Fuzz Face enthusiasts. It is well built, sounds amazing and, relative to the cost of an original vintage example, quite a bargain. There are numerous forum threads popping up on the topic of transistor choice lately (among other options) and it’s only heating up. With the return of the Red Dot NKT’s availability, the choice has become harder than ever…
OPTIONS
To date, AnalogMan currently offers approximately 12 or so optional transistors in addition to the “Standard” Japanese Germanium 2SB175 (medium-high gain) available for fresh Sun Face builds. A staggering amount, considering the importance fuzz fanatics place on having the “right” components in their pedals, especially when it comes to the transistors. This stock option is anything but standard in the tone department, but with so many available transistors to “upgrade” to, it would be ideal to match your transistor to your style and fuzz requirements. Low down dirty Blues that just hints at Fuzz? Lo-Gain Germanium. Biting raspy Fuzz for snarling 60’s Psychedelic Rock with a screaming edge to it? High gain silicon is your choice. Among the usual germanium and silicon camp lie many variations; we will delve deeper into these soon. The aim here is to prevent any potential option anxiety Sun Face purchasers face with so many available transistor options. Keep in mind that Analog Mike doesn’t seem to put out anything less than amazing, so there really are no bad transistor choices per se; just some better suited to certain styles than others. Some users even find themselves exploring genres they previously didn’t because of how good some of the lower gain options are.
We will take an in depth look at each transistor later. For a quick reference here is a chart with a few brief descriptions of each and of their attributes, both bad and good. These have been cross referenced with AnalogMike’s website, but more importantly, they have been thoroughly verified by actual use. In another post I will also list discrepancies, if any, from the AnalogMan descriptions, but for now here is the list. The key here is to use this as a guide, and your ears as the judges in the actual evaluation. Since there is almost always some variation in transistors keep in mind that these findings may be different than yours.
Link for detailed reviews to come soon…
Japanese Transistors
| Transistor | Standard Japanese 2SB15 (Medium) | Standard Japanese 2SB171 Low |
| Gain | Medium-high | Low |
| Pros | Cheap, all around usage, super smooth, warm | Cheap, all around usage, super smooth, balanced |
| Cons | No grit (but not the point) | Obviously not High Gain |
| Usage | Non-descript fuzz, great all-arounder | Smooth refined fuzz, fusion styled soloing sound |
US made Transistors
| Transistors | Red Dot NKT Newmarket (2017) | Standard Germanium 2N USA |
| Gain | Varies, usually Medium, (Low, Medium and High Available.) | Medium (available High Gain) |
| Pros | CLASSIC Transistor, little to fault, can clean up fairly well (gain dependant) Fairly close to the NKT-275 | Cheap, great standard choice a bit of character, |
| Cons | Priciest option (listed) Low Gain is Clear and Sweet but can’t Scream like High Gain (and Vice Versa) | Not a lot of bark, particular example a bit dark |
| Usage | Classic Fuzz Tones, 60’s Pop and Psychedelic to Modern Shoe-Gazing | 70’s Fuzz, sits a bit better in the mix than wooly transistors |
| Transistor | Vintage Low Gain | High Gain Germanium – from Baldwin Organs |
| Gain | Low | Medium-high |
| Pros | Cheap, cleans up well(great actually) | Cheap, all around usage, super smooth, warm |
| Cons | (Obviously) not a lot of gain on tap | Very smooth, No grit (but not the point) |
| Usage | Laid back tones, smokey blues, even non-fuzz overdrive tones | Non-descript fuzz, not a defining tone as such, but fits well with many styles |
| Transistor | 1973 Mullard (UK) CV7005 | White Dot NKT-275 |
| Gain | Low to Medium | Varies, usually Medium |
| Pros | Cheap, all around usage, super smooth, balanced | CLASSIC Transistor, little to fault, can clean up fairly well (gain dependant) |
| Cons | (Obviously) Won’t do High Gain | Priciest option (listed) |
| Usage | Smooth refined fuzz, close to NKT275 so classic tones abound | Classic Fuzz Tones 60’s Pop to Psychedelic * |
*Found this to be higher gain than any others, but could just be this particular example ….
| Transistor | Red dot NKT-275 (Discontinued) | GE General Electric Black vintage |
| Gain | Medium (available High Gain) | Low, Med-High, & High gain |
| Pros | Cheap, great standard choice, a bit of character | cleans up well, Warm and Crisp, smooth |
| Cons | Not a lot of Bark, this particular example was a bit dark | Seemed like it had a bit more compression than other Germaniums |
| Usage | 70’s Fuzz, sits a bit better in the mix than wooly transistors | Classic warm fuzz tones |
| Transistor | TI/UK ** | More to come… |
| Gain | Medium-high | |
| Pros | Great NKT alternative (but distinct enough to have both though!) Known to be a bit brighter than most Germaniums | |
| Cons | Not an NKT (but quickly getting close to the same price!) | |
| Usage | Anywhere you want warm Germanium tones but with a bit more cut |
** These have become really hot lately so keep an eye out for them at a relatively decent price online or otherwise. Again, they have just enough of their own voice to warrant having both an NKT loaded Sun Face and a TI/UK.