freestompboxes.org

Hi Everyone,

Intersil no longer makes the CA3080… as everyone knows. But according to a tech at that company, Rochester Electronics in Newburyport MA has bought the remaining wafers and dies for the 3080 series and will make the parts until they run out of supplies. They currently have a bunch of the CA3080AE 8 pin DIP packages in stock. Other model numbers require a special order (they may or may not have metal cans… there is some confusion at the company as to what model number stands for what product).

I'm a bit fed up with trying to get CA3080s that work reliably. Ebay is simply not an option - every single 3080 that I've bought on there has been a fake (or at least not working). I don't always trust Futurlec (though I think they mean well), and Small Bear can't sell in large quantities. I am aware that there are some other options (LM13700 and NTE996), but I would prefer to just have CA3080 ICs as drop ins for synths and pedals that need them. I am also aware that some people have had success with this part on ebay, but every link that I have been sent has feedback with the words "fake" and "counterfeit" in it. So, I really just would rather avoid that route.

I called Rochester, but unfortunately, the minimum order is $250.00. I was first quoted $2.50 each, but I now have a new quote for $2.27 each (which I hope is correct - I have it in an email, so I think they have to honor it). At this price, I'd have to get 110 units. I'm thinking of keeping 40-50.

Would anyone else be interested in getting some? I wouldn't add any markup, just a couple bucks for shipping. I realize that there are cheaper options on ebay etc. If that works for you, I understand… this post is for people who don't want to deal Hong Kong sellers. They are not cheap... I know. But you would know they were real. I can forward any emails from Rochester if anyone wants price/product verification. Please let me know if you are interested (PM or post)… and say how many you would want. I still don't really know the best protocol for doing this - collect first, then order or order then collect… I'm open to suggestions.

if you read my other post on "the other forum"… I apologize for the redundancy.

best - DT

$2.27 is obscenely expensive for an IC that used to cost $0.07!

Do you really have to support these profiteers?

The 3080 was always a noisy, distorting beast, and it's trivially easy to redesign ANY circuit that uses it for better, more modern parts. I've used BA662 in many pedals as an almost direct replacement (though the board layout has to change).

My current "Dynacomp" version (yes - people still want them) uses the easily available LM13700, and doesn't waste the "redundant" side of the IC - it gets used as the bypass buffer.

HI,

Yes, I understand - it is quite expensive. My alternatives are to send money to Hong Kong and hope I get stuff that works (which has not been the case for me in the past) or to spend 2.50 per IC at SmallBear. I don't mind supporting SmallBear, but I want to get at least 40 of these, and he understandably does not like selling in large quantities.

As I said in my first post, I fully understand that there are alternatives. Using them makes sense if you are building your own pedals etc. However, the reason I want these is because a lot of my old synths and pedals use them. I really don't want to deal with trying to make adaptors for broken vintage gear that just needs a 3080.

But I suppose not two many people are interested (I only have three positive responses so far)... so perhaps I will just have to buy some from SmallBear and try my luck with some Hong Kong "superseller" or Futurlec. I'll wait and see if there is more interest over the next week.

Thanks - DT

mictester wrote:$2.27 is obscenely expensive for an IC that used to cost $0.07!

Once rare... price goes up. Results from the past are no guarantee for the future. etc etc.
There's plenty of examples to be found where the price for a component is far higher than it was 10-20 years ago. And seven cents is obscenely cheap.

Dirk - JRC4558P was $0.028, 2SC1815 were < $0.01 (selected "GR" ones were $0.015), LM324 was $0.03.... Rarity "value" is nonsense - especially when you can trivially re-design the circuit to use modern components!

I've got one LM3080AN IC in a piece of black conductive antistatic foam sitting in front of me right now....

mictester wrote:Dirk - JRC4558P was $0.028, 2SC1815 were < $0.01 (selected "GR" ones were $0.015), LM324 was $0.03.... Rarity "value" is nonsense - especially when you can trivially re-design the circuit to use modern components!

In quantities of?
And redesign is indeed a logical option when designing. However, If I'm doing a repair I do have little need for a redesign. Neither am I interested in routing piggyback PCB's to be able to do a repair when I can still have the real thing for a few Euro's/Dollars/Pounds.

Dirk_Hendrik wrote:

mictester wrote:Dirk - JRC4558P was $0.028, 2SC1815 were < $0.01 (selected "GR" ones were $0.015), LM324 was $0.03.... Rarity "value" is nonsense - especially when you can trivially re-design the circuit to use modern components!

In quantities of?
And redesign is indeed a logical option when designing. However, If I'm doing a repair I do have little need for a redesign. Neither am I interested in routing piggyback PCB's to be able to do a repair when I can still have the real thing for a few Euro's/Dollars/Pounds.

I take your point - there's sometimes a need for the "original" component - particularly if you're trying to repair an original piece of equipment to the original standards.

However, I frequently find that modern components - and minor circuit changes to accomodate them - frequently improve the performance of an old effect to a remarkable extent. At the very least you get improved noise performance!

I never "try" to repair

As for the rest, fully agreed.

mmm, I just orderd a handful of these from ebay as I'm building myself a 'janglebox'

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170449358344? ... _996wt_754

what do you think? I hope I haven't just wasted $9 on a load of tat. (they haven't arrived yet btw)

mictester wrote:$2.27 is obscenely expensive for an IC that used to cost $0.07!

Do you really have to support these profiteers?

The 3080 was always a noisy, distorting beast, and it's trivially easy to redesign ANY circuit that uses it for better, more modern parts. I've used BA662 in many pedals as an almost direct replacement (though the board layout has to change).

My current "Dynacomp" version (yes - people still want them) uses the easily available LM13700, and doesn't waste the "redundant" side of the IC - it gets used as the bypass buffer.

do you have an available project, pcb, or schematic available for your version of the dynacomp lm17300?

Thanks.

jimmybjj wrote:

mictester wrote:$2.27 is obscenely expensive for an IC that used to cost $0.07!

Do you really have to support these profiteers?

The 3080 was always a noisy, distorting beast, and it's trivially easy to redesign ANY circuit that uses it for better, more modern parts. I've used BA662 in many pedals as an almost direct replacement (though the board layout has to change).

My current "Dynacomp" version (yes - people still want them) uses the easily available LM13700, and doesn't waste the "redundant" side of the IC - it gets used as the bypass buffer.

do you have an available project, pcb, or schematic available for your version of the dynacomp lm17300?

Thanks.

My version is just based on the Ibanez CP9 with a few tweaks. It's lower noise than the 3080-based devices, and squishes just as much!