PRP Resistors

[renshen1957]

Hi,

I've used them primarily as cathode resistors, and in a few places where I couldn't get the values I required by other brands.

I've read of another hi-end brand with internal breakage, the leads bent to close to the resistors body, the older Holco brand.

At $0.45 a piece 1/2 watt, these are inexpensive made in the USA metal film resistors. I never have the problem, but I use two forceps to bend leads.

Since I use some resistors that start at $3.50 and higher for 1/2 watt and 2 Watt at $15.00 and Vishay VAR-Series "naked" Z201 Z-FOIL RESISTOR 1% 0.4W start around $15.00, I don't consider 45 cents all that expensive.

Needless to say I don't use these Hi price for every resistor position.

The green Vishay Sprague/Kiwame 2W Carbon Film resistors make a nice color contrast to the PRP. Not that the electrons care what color resistor they flow through.

Best regards,

Steve

Have you used any of the z-foil resistors?

i tried the texas instruments version, i think it was, of those resisters.. got them direct so not as much $... but they suck for everything ive tried them in that was guitar and amp related... they have a unique sound, but i guess its only good for hifi because they always sound worse then anything else basically.... id look elsewhere

Hi,

I agree about the Z foils, only place to use them would be V1a position, and frankly other less expensive conventional Hi Fi metal films sound better. You can get a little warmth with Tantalum Films, but the Kiwame and AmTrans Carbon Film would be cheaper and Takman's Rex are good, too and a pretty colour for all us who want eye candy in our Amp.

TDK makes 2 watt Metal Film resistors http://www.partsconnexion.com/resistors ... _watt.html

As to price, $0.11 cent resistor in 1960's would cost about $0.80 cents. So the price for non-magnetic resistors isn't that expensive. I use a magnetic to check resistors, if its very magnetic, good chance that it is cheaply made (regardless of cost). Slight magnetic attraction isn't necessarily bad, as this usually is associated with higher voltage rating.

Best Regards

Steve

[diagrammatiks]

K thanks guys. I guess the only places I would consider using them would the grid and the plates.

The high voltage version aren't normally stocked by anyone though.

bulk foils seems to top out at 300vdc normally.

hndme.com has a great price on the PRPs...32cents each when you buy them 100 at a time...but they only carry the 1/2 watt versions.

[trane34]

Takman's Rex are good, too and a pretty colour for all us who want eye candy in our Amp.

That's good to hear. I just bought some of these from pcx as well as some PRP for a 183 build. Just wanted to try something different than the norm. Any chance you noticed any difference in tone with the hi-fi non-magnetic type resistors?

[surfsup]

Sonicraft sells 1 watt PRP. They have a sale every once in a while if you are patient...

[renshen1957]

Takman's Rex are good, too and a pretty colour for all us who want eye candy in our Amp.

That's good to hear. I just bought some of these from pcx as well as some PRP for a 183 build. Just wanted to try something different than the norm. Any chance you noticed any difference in tone with the hi-fi non-magnetic type resistors?

Hi,

Did I hear a difference, yes, small, but a difference. But my ear isn't as great as the late Ken Fischer. I am not into resistor rolling other than tweaking a value rather than a type. Not the major reason I choose most metal films. I use them in places that I do not want to add noise.

The US, French, and especially the Japanese made products are generally higher quality than what's produced in the rest of the world. Reliability is the name of the game if you want to build a word of mouth reputation.

All do respects to the Global village, however, how many times have you ordered US name brand components from Mouser and it comes with a country of origin sticker, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, China, or Taiwan? I feel ripped off. The first thought is will this part be up to the job or not. You might reflect that some US worker lost their job to an outsourced employee, so a management will endear themselves to the stock owners and alienate their customer base.

I build two styles of amps, best parts no matter which country, no holds barred (Germany, Japan, France, US, Canada) or the Made in the USA amp.

If I go to the time and expense to build an amp for someone who wants made in America, I purchase made in US parts. People tell me no on would know the difference, but I would know. Also the US parts I source are high quality.

I have my suspicions about one Big Name manufacturer who claims made in the US and has counterfeit Cliff style jacks (made in China), under rated components such as zener diodes, cheesy looking resistors in their most recent amps that just look the same as fraction of a penny by the thousands that I purchase for non-audio/guitar electronics for a client who wants everything at low a price as possible.

Too late, too much temptation to digress.

Best Regards,

Steve

[Colossal]

I build two styles of amps, best parts no matter which country, no holds barred (Germany, Japan, France, US, Canada) or the Made in the USA amp.

If I go to the time and expense to build an amp for someone who wants made in America, I purchase made in US parts. People tell me no on would know the difference, but I would know. Also the US parts I source are high quality.

+10. I hold the same philosophy. Quality is just that, it doesn't come cheap for a very good reason. If it costs an extra $100 to build an amp for someone of high quality parts that I never see it again for reasons of killer tone and equally importantly, reliability, then that is money well spent. I also want to keep US workers employed and US dollars from leaving our shores. We have actually elevated this rule to priority 1 in our household: we do not buy anything that is Made In China. Period. As has been discussed, it's not the chinese, they will build whatever you ask them to to any degree of quality, but I do not support US or other corporations that have sold out to cheap labor so that Walmart can be flooded with junk that will likely fail inside of a year. If it means living without an item because there are no US ( or Japanese, German) made substitutions, then so be it, I'll do without.

Steve I would be interested in hearing which company you are referring to so that I can be sure I am not supporting them. PM is fine if you would prefer not to post.

[67plexi]

It takes time to find 1% to 2% mil-spec resistors; I like the Mepco-Electra, IRC, US made Vashay-Dale
Piher, RCA, Sprague Q-Line. I hate china crap commie junk. People can’t understand why I part out
Fender silver face amps, for pot’s and iron.
I’m glad I stocked up on tool steel pre 2001 now all the tool steel is made by the china slaves’ pure trash.
For all the US, Canada, German, French corporations that have gone, multinational.
I pray for Double-Destruction.

Have a nice day. Steve.