sponzorb
Member
I’ve seen a few threads on here about where Chandler might be sourcing germanium transistors. I would be surprised if the germanium mic pre did not use germanium transistors.
As you might know, the numbers are scratched off the power transistors in some of Chandler’s products. I found an image of the transistors from the mini rack mixer without the numbers scratched off. I have 4 Chandler devices (TG2-500 and TG12345 MK IV eq). Between those 4, I was able to determine they are the same transistors as in the mini rack mixer. They are silicon. I assumed they would be germanium considering the original TG consoles use germanium. I found no mention of germanium in their marketing for the TG products, only the mention that they are an accurate recreation of modules from
the console that recorded Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon — implicitly germanium. I know the TG consoles use silicon and germanium, but 100% of the transistors in my units are silicon (unless I missed something big).
I wonder why they chose to scratch the numbers off the transistors.
My take away is this: I think these units do the TG sound well even though they apparently don’t use germanium. It makes me think the whole germanium thing is probably hype and the sound of TG comes much more from the circuit. It also makes me wonder if getting hung up on period accurate components is a waste of effort. Some people go to great lengths to source NOS parts. If you can apparently use a silicon transistor where a germanium transistor was used and get the same sound, surely the components themselves are not the concern. I’m curious to know others’ thoughts.
As you might know, the numbers are scratched off the power transistors in some of Chandler’s products. I found an image of the transistors from the mini rack mixer without the numbers scratched off. I have 4 Chandler devices (TG2-500 and TG12345 MK IV eq). Between those 4, I was able to determine they are the same transistors as in the mini rack mixer. They are silicon. I assumed they would be germanium considering the original TG consoles use germanium. I found no mention of germanium in their marketing for the TG products, only the mention that they are an accurate recreation of modules from
the console that recorded Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon — implicitly germanium. I know the TG consoles use silicon and germanium, but 100% of the transistors in my units are silicon (unless I missed something big).
I wonder why they chose to scratch the numbers off the transistors.
My take away is this: I think these units do the TG sound well even though they apparently don’t use germanium. It makes me think the whole germanium thing is probably hype and the sound of TG comes much more from the circuit. It also makes me wonder if getting hung up on period accurate components is a waste of effort. Some people go to great lengths to source NOS parts. If you can apparently use a silicon transistor where a germanium transistor was used and get the same sound, surely the components themselves are not the concern. I’m curious to know others’ thoughts.
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