What's your preferred cipping diode config for a Tube Screamer?

[clubsprint]

Considering there are a lot of options for replacing the clipping diodes, I was wondering what the most preferred by the members of this forum is?

[Hanglow]

I like symetrical red LED's, also no diodes is quite good as well. you get much more boost obviously

[Andi]

1N914 on one side, 1N914 and a 3mm orange LED on the other.

I'm not sure the LED colour really matters. 

[svstee]

I built a "clipping board" on a couple TS variants using a 10 position DIP switch.
I agree with Andi, it produces nice asymmetrical clipping that works well with the circuit.

If you want to try somthing a little different (in a good way) two 1N914 on each side gives you amazing responsiveness and extra output, but the do sacrifice gain a bit.

[bipedal]

Your question is a bit like asking 'what's the best ice cream flavor'?  Depends on your tastes.

As you noted, with so many different variations and so many diverse tonal preferences among the forum folk, I dunno if you'll see a "most preferred" combo emerge.  A switch allowing multiple clipping diode combos in a single pedal is a pretty common solution.

Me?  I've gotten a bit bored with the stock symmetric clipping (a silicon diode on each side) in my lightly modded TS9, so I'm going to add another diode --probably a germ -- to one side soon.

If you're building a TS, socket your diodes so you can easily try out a few different combos and find what sounds best to you.

Don't forget to read R.G.'s great Technology of the Tube Screamer  - see "Mods and Modified Versions" section for some discussion of diodes in the circuit.

- Jay