Notakliche Diode Option Question

[greypilgrim76]

Hi All,

So I'm getting ready to start work on my Notakliche, and as I was going through my germanium diodes, I found a couple of options:

1. Two 1N34A diodes with forward voltage of .377 and .388 respectively.
2. Two D9E diodes with exact matching forward voltage of .280.

A little internet research suggests that either of these would be fine for the pedal, but as someone who doesn't know that much about the effect of forward voltage on clipping, I'm curious if there would be any difference between these two choices as they relate to the overall sound/feel of the pedal, and if so, what would the difference be? Or would the two options be basically identical for practical purposes?

Any thoughts from those of you with more knowledge/experience would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[drew.spriggs]

You will not hear one iota of difference whatsoever.

Use whatever looks coolest

 

[greypilgrim76]

You will not hear one iota of difference whatsoever.

Use whatever looks coolest

I had a strong suspicion this would be the answer, but I figured better to ask than assume.

A sort of follow-up question, I guess: even if the forward voltage for these two sets won't make a difference, what would the general difference between lower and higher forward voltage be in a hard clipping situation? I'll ask Google, too, but again, I trust all of you more than Google, and certainly more than AI.

 

[drew.spriggs]

I had a strong suspicion this would be the answer, but I figured better to ask than assume.

A sort of follow-up question, I guess: even if the forward voltage for these two sets won't make a difference, what would the general difference between lower and higher forward voltage be in a hard clipping situation? I'll ask Google, too, but again, I trust all of you more than Google, and certainly more than AI.

More signal out, which can change harmonics slightly as well as interact with any additional drive stages differently.

We're talking like 0.2-0.3v of difference minimum needed before you'll notice anything, and even then having diodes with a different Fv knee is likely to make more of a difference than a little bit of voltage will.

 

[greypilgrim76]

More signal out, which can change harmonics slightly as well as interact with any additional drive stages differently.

We're talking like 0.2-0.3v of difference minimum needed before you'll notice anything, and even then having diodes with a different Fv knee is likely to make more of a difference than a little bit of voltage will.

Thanks for the info! I think I might go with the 1N34A diodes since 1) they're magical, and 2) they've got the cool blue stripe.