Quick Big Muff Diode Switch Question

[Scruffie]

Got a Black Russian muff here and i've stuck a switch to go between 1N4148 diodes and 1N4002 in it at the first clipping stage like the image below... now I didn't try the 1N4002 first and to be honest there's not a bit of difference between them and the 1N4148, however if I carefully stick the switch inbetween the up and down position I get a much bassier and more interesting sound, so is this just connecting both sets of diodes and adding a 3rd clipping stage to the muff? If so is it just as simple as me sticking another 2 diodes to one side of the switch?

Many Thanks.

[PRR]

First: cut the red wire, see what you hear.

An in-between switch is "likely" to be OPEN, no connection. In this case, that means no diodes working.

If that's not what's happening, try soldering all your diodes parallel, though I don't think that is perceptibly different than single (normal) diodes.

> 1N4002 ...honest there's not a bit of difference between them and the 1N4148

No interesting difference. An insignificant change in the clipping level, which isn't a precision thing.

The plan in the picture, normal diodes against LEDs, is a big change in clipping level and maybe some change in clipping curve. That effect alone could be gotten by changing gains of amplifer stages. However the amps have clipping levels too, so without other changes you have a new ratio of diode clip to amplifier clip, and a different sound. Good? Bad? Easier to try than to think about it.

[fuzzo]

I made a russian big muff with led in clipping stage, not really good, less distortion than a regular big muff (the output volume seems weaker too) 

[Scruffie]

I made a russian big muff with led in clipping stage, not really good, less distortion than a regular big muff (the output volume seems weaker too) 

It didn't change anything with mine, I can just hear a slight noise as it changes over and there's really no change in volume, tone, anything, i'd probably need a scope to see a difference.

First: cut the red wire, see what you hear.

An in-between switch is "likely" to be OPEN, no connection. In this case, that means no diodes working.

If that's not what's happening, try soldering all your diodes parallel, though I don't think that is perceptibly different than single (normal) diodes.

> 1N4002 ...honest there's not a bit of difference between them and the 1N4148

No interesting difference. An insignificant change in the clipping level, which isn't a precision thing.

The plan in the picture, normal diodes against LEDs, is a big change in clipping level and maybe some change in clipping curve. That effect alone could be gotten by changing gains of amplifer stages. However the amps have clipping levels too, so without other changes you have a new ratio of diode clip to amplifier clip, and a different sound. Good? Bad? Easier to try than to think about it.

Red wire? do you mean the pink one?

It may well be no clipping actually.. that makes more sense and explains the increased output and bass, I don't know why I didn't really think of that, i'l try jumpering it and that'll probably get me what I want.

[MikeH]

Yeah, you're getting no clipping.  You could just remove one set of diodes (since you're not going to get much difference between the two you've got there) and on one side you'll have that sound.  I think big muffs sound cool with the first stage diodes lifted too.

[John Lyons]

With no diodes in the second stage (first clipping stage)
you have what is known as the Jumbo Tonebender.

[Scruffie]

Aha, Cheers John, Well I changed the switch to change it to a Jumbo Tone Bender and I really like it, sadly I don't get to keep the Muff as I was just fixing the Jacks for someone and putting a mod in  but after my first experience with one, I might get one.

[nbabmf]

I put a toggle on my Russian Muff to lift the first set of clipping diodes and it RULES.  Great accident you found yourself with!