Big Muff/DS-1 silicon vs. germanium diodes

[alex frias]

I've tried 4 Ge for each stage on a BM and liked the results.

[Guitarfreak]

I've tried 4 Ge for each stage on a BM and liked the results.

Does this mean you replaced each single silicon diode with two Ge diodes in series?

[Guitarfreak]

Here is a question for all.  I just replaced the stock silicon diodes in my DS-1 (supposed to be around the .6-.7 Voltage Drop mark) with silicon diodes with voltage drop of 1V.  Since 1N34A Ge diodes also have a Voltage drop of 1V, should there be much qualitative difference if I swapped these ones out?  Again, I apologize for so many arbitrary questions about Ge diodes and the like, but I am extremely curious about this and Monte Allums is on vacation until the 11th so I won't get them until next week sometime  

[alex frias]

I've tried 4 Ge for each stage on a BM and liked the results.

Does this mean you replaced each single silicon diode with two Ge diodes in series?

Yes

[Guitarfreak]

I've tried 4 Ge for each stage on a BM and liked the results.

Does this mean you replaced each single silicon diode with two Ge diodes in series?

Yes

I think I remember reading that the voltage drop of two identical diodes in series is the same, so what do you actually gain by doing this?

[Guitarfreak]

I feel like a fool, I just realized that the diodes in my stock Muff are schottky diodes so even replacing them with silicon diodes would be a mod    Oh well, I am looking forward to receiving my Ge diodes any day now (It's taking so long!!!) but I may make the other side of the switch 1N4150 silicon diodes with a Voltage drop of 1V.  This finding does explain very well why the Muff lacks so much compression and low end that I've heard so much about  

[Guitarfreak]

What does the .1uF capacitor between the emitter and diodes do?  Is that acting as a high pass?

[Fender3D]

Caps in series with signal will always act as high pass filters.
You have to realise what's the resistance loading to calculate ft.

PS
When you'll see tube pedals in your spectrum analyzer you have found the FrequencyCentral (or central freq. ... I can't remember )

[Guitarfreak]

Caps in series with signal will always act as high pass filters.
You have to realise what's the resistance loading to calculate ft.

PS
When you'll see tube pedals in your spectrum analyzer you have found the FrequencyCentral (or central freq. ... I can't remember )

Out of curiosity, why would an engineer choose to filter there?  There is plenty of filtering going on elsewhere in the circuit.

Is the corner frequency 15.9Hz?

[alex frias]

I've tried 4 Ge for each stage on a BM and liked the results.

Does this mean you replaced each single silicon diode with two Ge diodes in series?

Yes

I think I remember reading that the voltage drop of two identical diodes in series is the same, so what do you actually gain by doing this?

[alex frias]

Well, try it out and tell me if it has no effect, ok?

[Guitarfreak]

Well, try it out and tell me if it has no effect, ok?

On the offchance that it does what I would hope it would do, does it make it louder?  More octave effect?

[alex frias]

In my opinion it makes the BM less fuzzy and more responsive to dynamics.

[Guitarfreak]

Cool, if I get the chance I'll try it out.  If there is one thing I don't like about Ge diodes it's how quiet they make the pedal.  However, in the same breath, it makes the pedal perfect for boosting a lead channel to get a really doomy tone.  Which is pretty cool, so I can't complain too much.  A Maxon OD808 before the Ge Muff cleans it up a LOT.  Check out this clip I made today of the mod.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9653557