[sdiy] diode war

[harrybissell]

I like bipolar red-red LED... this way its just one component
(and I have a bunch of them...)

You really have to decide what level you want to clip at.

Second favorite... shottkey diodes like 1N5817...
these start to clip at such a low level... its possible
to put an inverse-parallel pair in your guitar with a
toggle switch... and have a passive fuzzbox.  ;^)

H^) harry

Dave Krooshof wrote:

> Y'ellow Y'all,
>
> I am experimenting with clipping/distorion etc. In the basics
> it's just an opamp with two diodes anti-paralel in the feedback loop.
> Or, like in the big muff, three diodes in series in both directions.
> ->>>-
> -<<<-
> I like the simple design, as it is the clipping component that reveals
> its audio qualities this way. I tried several of the diodes I had
> about the house.
>
> [black] I first had two black ones (no type #, sorry): Familiar fuzz sound.
> Then I tried 3 by 3 regular standard diodes (those orange glassy ones that
> open @ 0.7 volt), like the big muff does. That's relatively sweet/warm,
> I imagine that this is due to the fact each diode opens up slightly
> different.
>
> [blue] I now have blue LEDs in them (open @ 1.5 volt), they sound fairly clean.
> That is: this is just clipping, not a distortion. Cool as in not warm.
>
> [red] I'll make a switch to hook the semi-transperant light-red LEDs in again,
> as those sound crazy in the midrange. Wow!
>
>              So the QUESTION is:
>              What's _your_ favourite clipping component?
>
> Any experience with the expensive LEDs like IR and bright-white
> for the purpose of clipping?
>
> Dave
> --
>
> --
>
> http://pages.vpro.nl/3voor12/journalism/index.shtml?2534202+2584688+2584508+7333367