Low volume, scratchy tone pot on a Germanium Big Muff

[Nitefly182]

I worked up a germanium big muff today using 1n4001 diodes in place of the 100 ohm emitter resistors with the cathode pointed toward the emitter. I used CV7355/2N1307 germaniums ~220hfe and leakage around 200 microamps or lower. The resulting pedal functions but the output volume is just below unity with the volume pot maxed and the tone control scratches when turned. I checked the coupling cap off the wiper of the tone control and everything seems like it should be fine there. Reflowed the joints just to be safe. The basic tone of the pedal is good but it should be much louder Im sure as the same pedal with silicon transistors would be blasting.

Here are the voltages I've got from the four germaniums. Audio probed the circuit and the big drop in volume comes at the collector of Q3 which also seems like a suspiciously high voltage compared to my silicon muffs (~8v on the germn vs. ~4v on the silicon) but usually more voltage means louder right? There should be loads of volume on that collector joint as thats the output to the tone stack but it just drops off. Before I yank out that germ and drop a new one in, any ideas whats up here. Could it be something other than a bad germanium or could a bad Q3 be loading DC onto the tone control and reducing the volume?

Voltages:

Q1 C: 3.83v, B: .612v, E: .51v
Q2 C: 4.21v, B: .64v, E: .53v
Q3 C: 8.27v, B: 1.53v, E 1.61v
Q4 C: 4.9v B: 1.76v, E: 1.65v

Thanks! I doubt many people have built a Ge muff but hopefully someone has some insight.

[Nitefly182]

Im an idiot. Q3 diode connected in reverse. Quick fix and blam it works

[SpencerPedals]

A germanium muff is defintiely in my future...how's that working for you?  Did you try any other clippers?  The Hoof Fuzz uses red led's...wondering how things stack up...