Where to get Germanium diodes?

Jazz Rock

Jazz Rock

New member
Right, I've done a bit of thinking further to my threads on fuzz pedal and Big Muff moding.

I think I would be interested to by a Little Big Muff if I can find some germanium diodes to the modes implying germanium diodes from the following webpage http://www.student.ru.nl/r.kerkhof/Taas/Mods/Big%20Muff.htm
Thanks for the link PFdarkside.

Also I might play a bit with the tone stack mods.

So where could I find some germanium diodes that would be adequate for the job? I have seen there are different types, so which one should I get?
 
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Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Pardon my French but, what is the difference between a germanium transistor and a germanium diode?
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Forget about my previous question!

http://www.banzaieffects.com/search.php?mode=search

There are many diodes on this page, which one should I go for?

As far as transistors are concerned, I guess I could try to change the original as well with the medium gain germanium.

What I like would to get is a Big muff compressing a bit less and throwing more mids with some octave overtone.

PS: They are even selling the Little Big Muff for a price defying the British competition!
 
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Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Another +1 for Small Bear. Sorry, I have no more input than the page I linked for you. :)

BTW - Have you opened up the LBM yet to see how easy/hard it will be mod?
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

PFDarkside said:
Another +1 for Small Bear. Sorry, I have no more input than the page I linked for you. :)

BTW - Have you opened up the LBM yet to see how easy/hard it will be mod?
Click to expand...

The LBM I got just now is Pierre's. So I won't mess with this one. Basically, I wanted to know what my options were before getting one. Because, I like the tone of the Big Muff, but I prefer the fuzz from my amp, sounds more lively. So I wouldn't buy one if it was to leave it stock. But since the Big Muff is the only fuzz pedal for this kind of money, I thought I could turn this into a little "find my fuzz" quest by modding the hell out of one.

The link you gave me plus the few ideas it gave me tend to make me think that I will go for it.
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Transistors aren't as 'lively' as valves usually. Or else all amps would be solid state ;)

A germanium transistor in a Muff would basically make it even more fuzzy and less like a distortion. You'd get further away from your amp's tone I think. More fuzzy and loose bass, possibly a bit muddy.
Also didn't you say you liked the tone stack?

A diode is an electronic component that only lets current one way. A LED is also a diode. A transistor is like...a mini valve ;) With a built in diode.
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Thanks for wee explanation Pierre.

What would make more of a difference in a Big Muff circuit? Changing the diodes to germanium, or the transistors? I might start with subtle alterations instead of changing radically the sound at once. But the idea of the octave overtones is appealing, hence why I want to try the germanium stuff.

Also, the low gain mode still seems like a nice thing, Anyone has any idea how to do it?

And as far as tone stack are concerned, I said I'd quite like to experiment with different components as well.
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Would the reduced size of a little big muff make it harder to mod? Or was the original BM oversize?
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

Jazz Rock said:
Would the reduced size of a little big muff make it harder to mod? Or was the original BM oversize?
Click to expand...
That's why I keep asking you if you've looked at it. The Big Muff is all discrete, very easy to mod. I'm wondering if they went to surface mount for the LBM to make it smaller. I guess technically even the diodes and transistors could be surface mount components too... Not impossible to mod but you definately need a deft hand.

In the Big Muff circuit, the diodes are doing the majority of the clipping, but you get some clipping from the latter transistors due to gain stacking, and I think the transistors affect the response more. You should get some sockets (they make both transistor and psb sockets), solder those in place of the components, then you can replace anything you want easily. It's very possible by changing a couple of diodes or half the transistors you'll find the sound you're looking for.

Regarding the tone stack, have you seen this site?
http://www.duncanamps.com/tsc/index.html
It's freeware that lets you plug your own values in and see the response of the tone stack. On my Muff I'm building I'm using a 6 way rotary switch to select from six different tone stacks.
 
Re: Where to get Germanium diodes?

PFDarkside said:
That's why I keep asking you if you've looked at it. The Big Muff is all discrete, very easy to mod. I'm wondering if they went to surface mount for the LBM to make it smaller. I guess technically even the diodes and transistors could be surface mount components too... Not impossible to mod but you definately need a deft hand.

In the Big Muff circuit, the diodes are doing the majority of the clipping, but you get some clipping from the latter transistors due to gain stacking, and I think the transistors affect the response more. You should get some sockets (they make both transistor and psb sockets), solder those in place of the components, then you can replace anything you want easily. It's very possible by changing a couple of diodes or half the transistors you'll find the sound you're looking for.

Regarding the tone stack, have you seen this site?
http://www.duncanamps.com/tsc/index.html
It's freeware that lets you plug your own values in and see the response of the tone stack. On my Muff I'm building I'm using a 6 way rotary switch to select from six different tone stacks.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply PFD, I guess I should go on the safe side and get the big model.

I am kind of getting used to mod axes now but I can't say I am very delicate when manipulating wee components. And this would be my first pedal mod work, so let's keep it easy.

Yes I actually found the duncan software the night before you posted your reply. Played a bit with it and got to understand the way the tone stack of the big muff works. Between the tone stack mods and the changes of diodes and transistor, it might just as well be the end of the world if I can't find what I am looking for.

The socket idea seems really sensible.

I checked on the Banzai website, they got everything I need, germanium transistor for different level of gain, pletor of germanium diodes, sockets and the Big Muff itself. I might pull the trigger soon.
 
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