Mod for transistor stage in boss DS-1

[Steben]

Hi

I want to mod the input stage around transistor Q2.
This in order to make the pedal less tight, easy cleanish and more natural.
I thought about replacing it with a FET, perhaps jFET (j201) with a triode bias (style fetzer or triodizer).
This would give it more shine and balance in odd and even harmonics.
I modded a pedal like this once with a common source jfet stage (no fetzer) and found it pleasant.
But maybe the simple Jack Orman style is pretty enough? (simply lowering gain)

(To compensate I want to lower the 4700 ohms resistor (4k7) around IC1 to 2200 ohms. This widens the control from clean to driven.
Classic mods - otherwise the others would be pointless - will be softening the diode clipping (perhaps adding germanium in series) and replacing the first 47n (0.047) caps by 0.1 caps.)

[Mark Hammer]

Try sticking a slightly higher emitter resistance on Q2, like 33R or 47R.

[Steben]

Try sticking a slightly higher emitter resistance on Q2, like 33R or 47R.

wow that seems a subtle change!  
According to the AMZ mod, raising it to 1k is an option (with 150k bias R). That's a rise to 90k input impedance!

How linear is such a feedback bias stage actually?
I guess the feedback eliminates some distortion?

Thinking of adding feedback diodes (yellow/green LED's fe) in the opamp stage as well to smooth out the inherent IC clipping a bit, since it is there allright.

Than adding a germanium to one clipping diode and 100 ohms resistor in series with the clippers.

[Earthscum]

from my experience I'd start with Mr Ormaan's fat mod. I was happy with that and a germ+led and a larger cap across the clippers.

I think the BA728(?) is the best sounding chip for this. This summer I'm getting another DS-1 to  test on and do my TA mod on so I can compare side to side.