need recommendations for something good and easy to make using 1N34As

[charmonder]

I just got a bunch of 1N34As in the mail, it was about two months ago I ordered them, I totally forgot what I wanted them for in the first place.  I mostly other wise have common silicon transistors and op amps,

[oliphaunt]

Electra / COT

[LucifersTrip]

you can pretty much use em in any fuzz/distortion that calls for a ge diode...

here's a couple:
http://fuzzcentral.ssguitar.com/schematics/squarewaveschem.gif
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=95551.0

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schematics/audio/pictures/mufffuzz.gif

http://tonebender.webs.com/UMI%20BUZZTONE.GIF
(this one's great, but ge trans)

this thread was started recently:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=96872.0


good luck

[Jdansti]

I recently made a passive diode clipping box which I place after any number of effects that have a high enough output to be clipped. For example, I place it after my valvecaster or a compressor to get some distortion.  I also use it after my tube screamer by turning the gain on the TS down and the level up. This gives me additional clipping options without having to do any surgery.  You can arrange the diodes for asymmetrical and asymmetrical and switch between the two. You can also use a rotary switch to select a number of different clipping options, especially if you throw in some Si diodes and LEDs.

Here are some links to how you can build simple clipping circuits with minimal parts:

http://www.muzique.com/lab/warp.htm

http://www.muzique.com/lab/sat.htm

Have fun with it!

[rousejeremy]

MXR Dist+

[pinkjimiphoton]

almost any kind of fuzz or distortion sounds good with them. you MAY get a volume drop with them...in that case, use 'em in series with 1n914's or something similar...that'll keep the tone about the same, but keep your volume up.

[CodeMonk]

You can use a 1N34a in place almost anywhere you use a 1N914/4148.
It will sound different though.

[charmonder]

awesome, I think Ill just go back over some of the fuzz pedals I couldnt ever get to sound right

[Perrow]

I'm always interested in 1N34 circuits, I thought I ordered 6 from futurlec once, I didn't, I ordered 6 packs of 10

[Seljer]

A green ringer or other octave up is another fine choice

[Mark Hammer]

Ge diodes have a lower forward voltage.  If one is using that trait to introduce harder clipping via diodes to ground, the price you often pay is a lower ceiling on maximum output level.

One of the nice traits about diodes in general, though, is that their forward voltage is essentially additive.  If one 1N34A has a forward voltage of 237mv and another has a forward voltage of 243mv, placing them in series gets you a forward voltage (that voltage level at which they will conduct) of 480mv.  What that enables you to do is use them to make incremental changes to forward voltage and clipping threshold, instead of having to think in terms of Ge or Si or LED, and restricting yourself to big shifts in clipping threshold.

So, yes a back-to-back pair with a GE in series with one of those diodes will get you "asymmetrical clipping", but then so will a 3+2 set of GEs, or a 5+3 set, and so on.

So there is no specific pedal you ought to use your 1N34As for, but feel free to use them to alter the properties of things you have that might presently use 1N914s.

[amptramp]

You could always build a crystal radio so you have something to listen to while you are building pedals.

[birt]

a necklace.

[Perrow]

Mark (or anybody who knows), I know we can do "multiples" of diodes to increase the forward voltage, and that we use germanium diodes for their specific clipping properties but a few days ago I started wondering and have thought about to ask, does the clipping properties add up. I.e. do we get any sonic bonus for using series of 1N34s or just louder effects?

[charmonder]

interesting about using them in series, I should give it a try because I've noticed so far that if I just take a circuit and swap the silicon diodes for a 1n34as, there are usually resistor changes that need to be made to solve huge volume drop.

[senko]

Passive Ring Modulator

4 Ge Diodes
3 input jacks
2 Transformers

That's it.  I've built several of these and it's the most bang for your buck, the most effect for part count.  You'll just be trying everything you've got once you've got the circuit built.  Damn cool...

[Mark Hammer]

Mark (or anybody who knows), I know we can do "multiples" of diodes to increase the forward voltage, and that we use germanium diodes for their specific clipping properties but a few days ago I started wondering and have thought about to ask, does the clipping properties add up. I.e. do we get any sonic bonus for using series of 1N34s or just louder effects?

Personally, I don't think one gets any distinctly-Ge sonic bonus.  That said, finding a sweet spot between a forward voltage of 210mv (which many Ge diodes will do, due to component tolerances) and 630mv (Si, for the same reasons), can be helpful.  My recommendation wasn't so much to derive any special Ge mojo, but to allow the user/builder to approach clipping thresholds incrementally, rather than in big leaps.  One will frequently see diode configurations in boutique pedals with a 1N914+1N34 (or functional equivalent) on on side, and a 1N914 on the other.  The 1N34 is not there to add any special Ge properties, but to simply stagger the clipping thresholds of each half-cycle in amusically pleasing way.  If Si types had a foward voltage a fraction of Ge's I'd be making the inverse recommendation.