big muff diode mod. which clipping stage makes the most difference?

[Bandwagonesque]

sorry folks for beating a dead horse but a bit confused on this one. I modded my big muff awhile back to switch the first set of diodes in the circuit (avoiding using 'first or second stage' terminology here as i think thats where my confusion lies). If i recollect, my ears must've told me to mod the first set of diodes and left the last set (D3/D4). In reading up on this again, I have some experienced folks saying it should be the last pair. Can the lot here tell me once and for all which series matters the most sonically. So if I were to only modify one set or the other for switchable diodes and not both, which one would be the correct set of diodes? thanks folks and take care 

[Mark Hammer]

The Sola Supa Tonebender was essentially a Big MUff Pi with no clipping diodes in the "first" clipping stage (Q2).  Since those diodes would normally set a ceiling on the signal level being fed to Q3, that hits Q3 with a hotter signal.  I've installed a mod to lift those diodes on a BMP build, and I find I prefer the tone of double-clipping.  Both arrangements are valid, and I would imagine that there are many players who prefer their Supa over the EHX version.  To each their own.  But, to answer your question, if you want to go with only one clipping stage, omit diodes from the first one.

[marcelomd]

Hi,
You can use each side of an on-off-on DPDT to bypass the diodes in each of the clipping stages. Only Q2, both, only Q3.