Tubescreamer clipping diode question ??

[ChrisGS]

Hey Everybody ,

If I understand right , germanium diodes clip "softer" than silicon , and silicon clips softer than LED...Are there differences in different labled silicons.. In other words , will 1n4148's sound different than 1s1588's etc ..? Same question for different labled germanium diodes ? I see so many different diodes in Smallbear, and I'm wondering if the different varietys of a type of diode makes a difference in sound .

Thanks ,
Chris.

[Mark Hammer]

The most audible aspect of diode choice will be what proportion of the time the signal you feed it will exceed the clipping threshold, given the input signal amplitude, and the gain built into the pedal itself.  All that stuff about "softer clipping" etc is likely true, but stands out about as much as whether you used table salt or sea salt in a pot of 5-alarm chili laced with habanero peppers.

So,  is there a difference between this silicon diode and that one?  Yeah probably under certain conditions.  Is it as big a difference as that between clipping at roughly 190-240mv amplitude vs 480-620mv amplitude, or between clipping at 480-620mv vs 1.5v (LED)?  nah.

[dmk]

some great information there mark.