NPN

NPN is a type of transistor used in many fuzz and overdrive circuits, typically as a silicon device in negative-ground configurations¹². In fuzz pedals, NPN silicon transistors are described as having harder edges and more sustain than germanium PNP, though early prototypes were found to be noisy and very bright³⁴. The 1970 Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face was the first to use NPN silicon transistors⁵, and many Fuzz Face-style circuits, including the Amptweaker Tight Fuzz and Rutherberg Undead Fuzz, use NPN transistors⁶⁷. Vintage Big Muff Pi circuits were made with both PNP and NPN transistors, with no real effect on the sound either way⁸. NPN can also refer to germanium transistors, as in the Cornish NG-2's clipping stage⁹.