Who is your favorite parts suppliers?

[Axtman]

Who is your favorite electronic parts supplier, and why?

I used Antique Electronic Supply (https://www.tubesandmore.com/) because it is geared toward amp repair guys. I know it is not the cheapest place, but it also doesn't have a million parts to scroll through.

If I can't find what I need, I go to Mouser (https://www.mouser.com/) and scroll through a million parts. The advantage is they have everything except obsolete parts.

Sometimes, I will use:

Studio Sound Electronics (https://www.amprepairparts.com/)

Digikey (https://www.digikey.com/)

[DrGonz78]

If I am working on an old Ampeg fliptops.net
is integral at times of purity. I got to have the exact part thing people go through. If I am working on germanium solid state stuff from the 60’s I am going on eBay and more specifically Sofia, Bulgaria. I have a few trusted sellers over the years. Good used tube guys… Never got burnt either. I can’t tell you how much excellent stuff I have collected through eBay over the years.

We have talked about justradios.com and their capacitors lately. They have minimum $25, free ship at $100 and 10% discount at $149. Good place to stock up for the apocalypse!

In phoenix we used to have Apache reclamation and it was my candy shop. Tons of resistors, coupling caps, transistors everywhere and tubes. Not to mention a million other things. They have a shop in New Mexico that they relocated a lot of that stuff. Surplus City!! I checked the site and there is cat that lives inside. The one in Phoenix one had a house cat that shopped with you. Followed me all over the store. No website but look up the pictures on google. It’s a candy store! Also note that there are a lot of ma & pa electronics stores in ABQ.

[Justin Thomas]

Once I figured out how to use the filters better at DigiKey, it's a LOT easier! Haven't mastered Mouser yet, was also curious about SmallBear?

I used Tayda once years ago, looking for pots for my Arion SCH-1; I'll keep that thing going as long as I can no matter how ugly it gets.

Been using tubedepot for years, AES on occasion, also liking Hoffman a lot lately. Him & Mojo are both kinda "local" to me now, too.

Jusrin

[The Dude]

I get most everything from Digikey, mostly because they are close and I can have parts in a couple days. I get tube amp parts (the ones not available at Digikey) from CE Distribution. There are exceptions mostly due to availability. For hard to find parts, my go to is Audio Lab of GA.

[Axtman]

What is the difference between CE Distribution and Antique Electronic Supply?

[g1]

What is the difference between CE Distribution and Antique Electronic Supply?

AES is one of their many retail outlets. You need an account to deal with CE at wholesaler level and pricing.

[Tom Phillips]

AES is one of their many retail outlets. You need an account to deal with CE at wholesaler level and pricing.

CE Distribution is not casual about accepting accounts. They currently require a copy of a re-sale certificate or business license. I have also received phone calls from them regarding questions about my business name. After all that, their pricing is only a little bit better than they charge through AES. It's certainly not what I would consider "wholesale" compared to the standards of the old days. Point being that, if you are a hobbyist buying from AES, you are not missing out on great deals from CE Dist.

[GoldtoneWorkshop]

Also check out Syntaur, Partsisparts, and pacparts (need a business licence) for synth stuff and Korg affiliated brands. Syntaur isn't the cheapest, especially for common things like op amps, but it takes a lot of the guess work out when trying to find the right part for a synth quickly.

[nevetslab]

I too have been using Antique Electronic Supply for tubes, reverb tanks, as well as Darren Riley; Magic Parts, Studio Sound Electronics, Parts is Parts, DigiKey, Mouser, Newark, JustRadios (for axial and radial electrolytic caps), and when needed, ebay (selectively). Locally Pacific Radio Burbank, which is two short blocks down the street from my shop. Good source for Switchcraft, Neutrik, cable/wire, Techflex, Denatured Alcohol, Caig.

[Jazz P Bass]

When searching for opamps & other solid state components I like to use Find Chips.
https://www.findchips.com/

[DrGonz78]

Not to derail the thread but are there any amplifier companies selling parts to customers? I remember calling up Rivera amps and ordering a transformer from them directly. The guy I dealt with asked me to explain why I thought it was bad. Next email states Mr. Rivera agrees completely. So the owner of the frickin company was looking out for his customers. I wonder if that doesn’t happen anymore?

i don’t think peavey offers much any. Carvin is gone, essentially. I even miss Loud and calling for schematics or parts. GK was excellent too. Fishman and Traynor really backed their gear, do they still? I just haven’t had to reach out to any company directly in long while it seems. But I still remember Enzo just saying to call a company direct and you have nothing to lose. That encouragement helped motivate me.

[GoldtoneWorkshop]

FWIW, Peavey, and GK have been quick to respond with schematics and help recently even if they don't have parts.

When searching for opamps & other solid state components I like to use Find Chips.
https://www.findchips.com/

Very cool site! Hadn't heard of this one yet

[Greg Robinson]

FWIW, Peavey, and GK have been quick to respond with schematics and help recently even if they don't have parts.



Very cool site! Hadn't heard of this one yet

Octopart is another alternative to findchips, it's my first port-of-call.

[35L6]

I mostly use Mouser and AES . AES sometimes has sales on Hammond and Jenson . Small Bear is good for pedal stuff . They threw in a bag of NOS film caps . Beats that stale candy . Don't forget the radio sites , they come in handy too .

[Axtman]

I forgot to mention that I also use Parts Express (https://www.parts-express.com/), but mostly for complete PCBs and Class D amp modules.