2SK389 - forgery

[StevenOH]

2SK389 - forgery
2SK389 - TO-92, three legs, from Matchaknob, NY.
I've got the last stock. Apparently, they have sent plenty of
them to unsespecting buyers. At least for the 2SJ109 they did
mention three legs in their catalog, but not for the 2SK389. What a surprise!
I have sent the claim with the datasheet to the distributor (no
response), and filed a complain with my credit card.
Better Business Bureau and Attorney General of NY can also be
informed, if necessary.

[hifimaker]

Thanks for the heads-up.

After the $12K GB jfet forgery problems several months ago, I will never order nor purchase these jfets from anyone. Fakes have completely flooded the market.

Linear Systems here in the Bay Area actually does have legit 2sk389 and 2sk170 clones they manufacturer themselves.

-David

[housing]

Originally posted by StevenOH
2SK389 - forgery
2SK389 - TO-92, three legs, from Matchaknob, NY.
I've got the last stock. Apparently, they have sent plenty of
them to unsespecting buyers. At least for the 2SJ109 they did
mention three legs in their catalog, but not for the 2SK389. What a surprise!
I have sent the claim with the datasheet to the distributor (no
response), and filed a complain with my credit card.
Better Business Bureau and Attorney General of NY can also be
informed, if necessary.

2SJ109, 2SK389 - TO-92? Matchaknob must be sick!

[StevenOH]

In my two attempts (in a couple years span) to buy parts from them I had no luck. They accepted the order and requested my c/c# the first time, but never filled it, (without explanation or excuse, and kept the c/c info up to now, expired already), this second time have resulted in a loss. Although it is very small - it is a reliable measurment of their honesty and integrity.
I believe, one english language forum has a thread about suppliers evaluation. I think, we should start one here too.

And, no, those TO-92 did not test like a JFET.

[jacco vermeulen]

Steven and Jules run a parts store, the printed MAK catalogue shows a lot of parts, whether or not that makes the MAK gentlemen component specialists is debatable.
The slip-up with the 3-legged dual JFETs occurred with the switch to their new MAK site layout.
MAK run out of the Toshiba duallies long time ago, i bought up all of their remaining stock three years ago, even checked with Jules at a later date if they had managed to obtain some more.
Same deal with most of the other online vendors, at the time i bought every low priced Toshiba dual JFET i could find from Hong Kong to Canada.
Turned out cheaper than simply ordering a thousand part batch from a pro trader, but involved a lot more work.
I didn't receive a single fake dual JFET from any of the sources, but i asked questions first and paid later.

(no need to send emails, the ones i did not need have already been distributed in small numbers amongst friend and foe on three continents)

[StevenOH]

I guess, this:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...984#post640984
from 05/2005 sums up our experience with them.
DURING OUR PHONE CONVERSATION they told me that they have only twelve 2SK389 left, and no 2SJ109-7legs (that is how exactly these 2 items were described on their web site at the time of ordering, in addition to 2SJ109-3legs line).
The pebble they have sent to me are marked with very low resolution dots - just like an old matrix printer will do.
No manufacturer's logo.
I guess, form now on, we should ask any parts distributor, how many legs those parts in stock have.
It is true, that the majority of replacement parts dealers have no idea what they are dealing with. I have plenty of examples of 2SKxxx advertising, which actually were 3SKxxx (4 legs by definition).

On a separate note, there is now a lot of discouragement to discuss any good parts in open forum. A lot of the very good old (discontinued) parts are out there in a very short supply, which either disappear after being mentioned/recommended, or get priced too high, or become a lure for many unscrupulous people in this world. That famous ill-fated GB for these Toshiba parts (at $6?-excuse me) is a good example of the trouble ahead...

[StevenOH]

I thought the pic (with MAK handwriting) would be informative.
Note the tiny marking, the quality of the top seam. The grading is not of Tosiba's.

[JohanB]

Should better look like this !!
I have many NOS Toshiba 2SK389-GR for sale.



JohanB

[Luke]

but thats just dumb. How can you sell a part that doesnt even look like the one in the datasheet?

[jitter]

Originally posted by Luke
but thats just dumb. How can you sell a part that doesnt even look like the one in the datasheet?

Really? To me they look just like the drawing the datasheet!

http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datashe...BA/2SK389.html