LED clipping diode qestion

[bassk81976]

So, i've been reading up on LEDs used as clipping diodes, and i have a few questions that i can't answer for myself on a breadboard currently...damn lack of money and supplies.

I understand that an LED's clipping threshold s much higher than other diodes, causing them to generally be smoother because they have fewer wavepeaks that they actually clip, and more passes through untouched. I've also read that it is rarely hit with enough energy to actually make the LED light.

BUT...

what if i designed a fuzz, running the signal through multiple transisters or a darlington pairs, until the waveform is large enough for the LED to cut the signal down to a square-wave-ish shape. Wold this impart enough energy to make it light up? Just curious, and i know it doesn't really matter if the LED lights or not, just an idea.

[phector2004]

yup, i've got red 5mm LEDs in a JFET distortion section I breadboarded and they light up like its Christmas!

Not bright at low gain, but when you crank up the gain they're about as bright as an indicator LED (especially with chords!)
Don't quite remember and I'm too lazy to test, but I don't think it works if you mix regular diodes with LEDs... Tried it with a 1N914 + LED, and nothing