Do you get what you pay for in this case?

[hesamadman]

I can buy 56K Ohm 1W Flameproof Resistor 10 Pcs.(These metal oxide power resistors feature an excellent flame retardant coating and stable performance in diverse environments. Each resistor is 1 watt with a 5% tolerance. Package of 10 pieces.) for .68 from parts express

or

Carbon Comp / Xicon 56k 1/2W Resistor from mojotone for .28

Ive always heard anything metal oxide is a better way to go. But what do you guys think about the differences here?

[PRR]

Where would you use a 56K 1W resistor??

And do pennies matter in DIY work?

Carbon Comp is an inferior obsolete technology much beloved by cork-sniffers. They drift badly. I would not use CC except after much ear-tasting.

Bottom of this page, link "Resistors", is known-good guitar-amp parts.

[hesamadman]

Where would you use a 56K 1W resistor??

And do pennies matter in DIY work?

Carbon Comp is an inferior obsolete technology much beloved by cork-sniffers. They drift badly. I would not use CC except after much ear-tasting.

Bottom of this page, link "Resistors", is known-good guitar-amp parts.

I didnt notice the 1 watt rating. What would it hurt to up the wattage rating though?

[mrr3000gt]

Where would you use a 56K 1W resistor??

And do pennies matter in DIY work?

Carbon Comp is an inferior obsolete technology much beloved by cork-sniffers. They drift badly. I would not use CC except after much ear-tasting.

Bottom of this page, link "Resistors", is known-good guitar-amp parts.

I didnt notice the 1 watt rating. What would it hurt to up the wattage rating though?

Carbon composition resistors don't drift badly: they do a very good job at it. They drift well, and hold their value poorly    Sorry I could not resist!!

PRR is correct: they do not make sense for a stable circuit. Metal oxides are much better. But there is a tonal quality to carbon comps some people like. I have been told the slight hisssss - called 'amp blow' - is from carbon comp resistors. Amps I have used all metal oxides on are absolutely quiet.

So I too don't have a use for corks or hissy amps...

[loogie]

One watters are nice because they're easy to read and they have stout leads. 

I don't think there is any science that supports using a carbon comp resistor, but there are claims (and possibly some (contrived) evidence) that at higher voltages they are less linear in ways that contribute positively to tone.  Sounds like cork sniffing to me.

Once you go one watt you can't go back.

[drew]

1 watt, 5% tolerance carbon film Xicons are 15.6 cents each for ten or more at Mouser.  Part number 294-56K-RC.  Definitely easier for aging eyes to make out the color bands on these than it is on the little blue 1/2 watt metal films that Doug stocks.

[mrr3000gt]

One watters are nice because they're easy to read and they have stout leads. 

I don't think there is any science that supports using a carbon comp resistor, but there are claims (and possibly some (contrived) evidence) that at higher voltages they are less linear in ways that contribute positively to tone.  Sounds like cork sniffing to me.

Once you go one watt you can't go back.

I agree 100%! I have a hippys ransom in 1 and 2 watt metal oxide resistors from years of building. I never ordered just one of a value: I always bought 10 at least. I have tons of 68k, 1.5k, 15k, 220k, 1 ohm, 1m, 22k, 56k, 100k, 100ohm and many other common values. I have odd ball values as well.

I did a quick fix to one of my amps and replaced the 1/2 watt with 1 watters. When I built boards, I tried to use 2 watt everywhere - it just looks awsome to see bumble bee sized resistors on a turret board. Like play school electronics for adults.

[nandrewjackson]

+1 on big body resistors.

I have a ton of 1/8 Watters from the "lab kits" I was forced to buy for school.  We waaay overpayed for the lab kits, and used about 10% of the parts we were forced to buy.  Gotta love the beurocracy and politics of a State University!