Varying clipping threshold of diodes: add another diode vs. add resistance?

[bipedal]

I'm planning to tackle a Tube Reamer for my next project, and do lots of tinkering to find a nice diode combo for my setup and sound preferences.  I've done some digging, researched info on various clipping diode combinations, and also spent some time reading through AMZ's interesting warp control discussion.

In a diode clipping network -- such as in a Tube Screamer -- one way to raise the clipping threshold is to add a diode (or several diodes) in series.  It also seems that inserting resistance in series with a diode will raise the clipping threshold (good example is the Blues Breaker).  So, either route could be used to delay the onset of clipping...

The average Ge diode typically clips at a much lower voltage than the average Si diode, but couldn't a Ge diode + the right value resistor essentially mimic the clipping response of a Si diode?  Or would they still likely have a different sonic "flavor", even if they clip at the same voltage?

Just thinking through these ideas, and wondering about potential sonic differences between diodes-in-series compared to diode+resistor...   

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

They will sound slightly different.
If you look at the current vs voltage curve for a Si diode, and compare it with a Ge diode plus resistor in series, they are a slightly different shape.
That is why there are so many different distortions & fuzzes in the world - fortunately there are many different musicians too...

[bipedal]

That is why there are so many different distortions & fuzzes in the world - fortunately there are many different musicians too...

Amen to both.   

Yep, I'll definitely have to tinker with variations on these ideas.  I've had fun with using a switch to select between clipping diode configurations, but I'm more intrigued with the possibility of a variable control for "dialing in" flavors.

Cheers -

- Jay