Build Your Own Clone Message Board

just put this OD2 together, so don't have much time under my belt here, but I'm built with mosfet boost, clipping, and input buffer, stock output buffer and 3x1 diodes.

My question is: mosfet sounds very similar to the 3x1 diode setting. I'm considering a change. How different does the 3x1 sound verses just 2 diodes? or 2 LEDs. Im after the broadest spectrum of sounds from one pedal here. I love my DOD250 clone and I seldom use the LEDs on my Mouse build.

Opinions please.

Thanks,

CHuck

1x3 1N914's vs. 1x1 sounds quite different to me--a bit cleaner and less compressed, and certainly noticeably louder since the voltage threshold on the one side is about 2V vs. the ~0.7V of a single 1N914. But if you want something that sounds more noticeably different, I'd suggest looking into germanium diodes. You'll need to crank up the volume to get the same output due to the low (~0.3V) voltage threshold, but you'll definitely get more distortion and compression, since a lot more of the signal gets clipped. I wouldn't bother with a pair of LED's in that circuit--their voltage threshold is high enough that you end up getting very little signal clipping under normal conditions, so they end up sounding almost identical to the middle "diode lift" setting of the clipping toggle switch.

As in, Germanium 1N34a?

I should have put in sockets for the diode spots.....duh.

thanks,

Chuck

Sockets are a great idea if you want to be experimenting with clipping diode combos. You may not like the 1N34As at all and want to try something else.

I really like the way the Ge 1N34As sound in the Screamer, but like DVM says, there is a volume drop. IMO, it's worth it and with the boost on the other side you'll have no problem compensating. But YMMV, as they say, so use sockets!

Can I take the MOSFETs out and put some other clipper in the LED spot?

I played around with the OD 2 in to my POD with headphones this morning. I love the 1x3 1N914's !!. Actually like it better than the MOSFET sound. Now I'm looking at my DOD250 and considering giving asymmetrical clipping another try in the that pedal. I had a 1N4001 in D3 and didn't like it. Im thinking my taste has perhaps changed.

Sure.