MOTM

hodad1@... wrote:
> 
> From: hodad1@...
> 
> Seems to me the best route to go on modular distortion would be
> germanium(germaniums?  I
> think we grew some of those in the garden this year.)--what I personallly
> use is an old
> Ibanez Tube Screamer with the  germanium whatevers in it(sorry to get so
> technical),
> & am quite satisfied with it.  Helps me to get that fabulous Link Wray sound
> from my guitar.

The tube screamer uses an jrc4558 with diodes in the feedback path. The
MXR Distortion+ is similar in that it has diodes to ground. With both 
of these distortion schematics, I've  had a lot of fun playing with 
different types and numbers of diodes; germanium, green LEDs, two diodes 
in one direction and one in the other, etc.. You can really change the 
characteristics of the distortion.

I don't have the electronics experience to design it, but if some enterprising
individual (hint, hint) could come up with a way to use voltage control to go 
between different diode configurations, perhaps in two dimensions, i.e. two vc
inputs to modify the character of the distortion, this could be more than
your run-of-the-mill stomp box.

Of course, you could just design a low quality band pass filter fed into
a distortion based on germanium transitors and call it "Hendrix-in-a-box."
Or would that be HIAMOTM.

Thomas