Here's a round-up of places to buy
parts for your projects. Contents are based on my
experiences in buying all sorts of stompbox innards over
the last few years.
|
Who |
Web Site |
Printed
Catalog |
Pros |
Cons |
|
Stompbox/Guitar
Gear Specific |
Small Bear
www.smallbearelec.com
Focused on stompbox making--you won't have to
wade through thousands of mystery parts to find
what you need. |
Good stock list Basic search
Online ordering/shopping cart |
None |
Inventory is very focused on stompboxes. You
won't have to sift through tons of mystery parts
to find what you are looking for Good
selection of enclosures, pots, chips,
transistors
Decent selection of NOS transistors
Replacement/repair parts for older pedals |
Doesn't ship as fast as the big boys |
|
Mid-Tier
General Suppliers |
Mouser
www.mouser.com
Big huge throbbing mega-supplier.
|
Millions of parts Basic, advanced, and
filtered search
Online ordering/shopping cart/project manager
Links to datasheets
Links to catalog page |
Huge, black and white phone book |
Everything you would ever want Powerful web
site
Super fast shipping |
Because of the sheer breadth of products, double
and triple check what you are ordering. You'll
end up with mystery pots or SMD chips if you
aren't careful |
|
Huge
Mega-Suppliers |
Jameco
www.jameco.com
Mid-tier supplier with a color catalog and
some good deals.
|
Lots of parts Basic and advanced search
Online ordering/shopping cart
Links to datasheets
Links to catalog page |
Compact color catalog. Color does make a
difference! |
Great mid-tier supplier for stompbox stuff
Offer a ValuePro line of lower-priced components
Color catalog! |
Site
can sometimes be slow Search is good, but not
up to Mouser or Allied |
Allied Electronics
www.alliedelec.com
Big huge throbbing mega-supplier, but a bit
pricey on some parts. |
Millions of parts Basic, advanced, and
filtered search
Online ordering/shopping cart/project manager
Links to datasheets
Links to catalog page
|
Huge color catalog. Best in the business if you
like to see things first |
Another big supplier, stocks interesting things
that often aren't at the other big sites Fast
shipping |
Costly. Allied is not always the best deal in
terms of price. |
Digikey
www.digikey.com
Big huge throbbing mega supplier with a
crappy web site.
|
Millions of parts, probably one of the biggest
selections around Absolutely CRAPPY website.
Basic search, but an interface that dates back
to the 1980's. |
Huge (really) black and white phonebook-style
catalog |
Huge selection Good prices |
As
with other mega sources, do the research to make
sure you are ordering the actual part you need. |
|
Surplus and
Misc Suppliers |
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