MORE SDIY (SYNTHESIZER DIY) THINGS NOONE EXPLAINS: NOMENCLATURE & WHAT STUFF LOOKS LIKE THAT PEOPLE CALL THINGS YOU DONT KNOW

Let's start today with the different kinds of TRANSISTORS:
1. TO-92 type 1 -
 this is the most common type you will see today. Its plastic, black and about as small as possibly can be and still be able to be handled and employed by human beings' hands.
NOTE: when using these in anything-PAY ATTENTION to the WAY THIS IS POINTED (WHICH SIDE IS ROUNDED AND WHICH FACES WHAT WAY




2. TO-3 this is the METAL CAN type often seen in higher voltage type stuff and vintage germanium and others used in pedals & effects that employ vintage parts.









3. SOT-23 this is the type more and more in use lately as it is a SMD (surface mount) type design.  VERY small and essentially TOO small to be easily handled by a human. Most often employed on assembly lines and plants using robotic emplacement and manufacture



4. TO-126 this is almost entirely limited to vintage (80s-early90s) manufacture.  Not seen often in newer designs, but is sometimes. Allows for some small heat sinking, but is still relatively small and plastic. Note the hole which identifies it in relation to the others.






5. TO-18 & TO-5 these are the SMALLER METAL CAN type, also much more common with vintage and more expensive parts. Durable and dependable.





6. TO-92 type 2 VERY similar to #1, but differentiated visually by the difference in the way the legs appear-they have a fanned-out design as opposed to the straight-down formation of #1.  Also very common today and still very much in use.

SOT252

Other less common types: SOT 29 & 89, TO 251(these have metal heat sinks attached) & 252 (these have notches & heat sinks) etc

THATS ALL FOR TODAY !!
But these are the most common, and if you know what 1-6 mean, youll be able to nvigate most buying, catalogs and searches on ebay or mouser, etc.
Good Luck!