1n34a sourcing for hm-2

[Vildhjuggah]

So apparently there are new production 1n34a's from new jersey semiconductor, and "pedalpartsandkits" is selling them. But stompboxparts seems to have old ones and apparently the batch is within a tighter spec. Do y'all have any advice on which I should get or any experience with the new productions ones? I'm guessing I should get the ones from the tighter batch.

1n34A Germanium Diodes (1-Piece)

Pedal Parts and Kits carries 1n34A Germanium Diodes, and a wide variety of other quality electronics parts, kits and supplies for boutique guitar effects pedal builders and other audio hobbyists.

pedalpartsandkits.com

1N34A - Germanium Diode

1n34a Diode New Jersey Semiconductor Fuzz Overdrive Distortion

stompboxparts.com

 

[owlexifry]

look for D9E or other D9x diodes

or 1N270

or any other Ge diode that measures around 0.33v

it doesn’t have to be 1N34A

 

[Vildhjuggah]

Fair enough well thank you. I took a peak at the forum first and saw some people recommend the D9E and some disagree about it. I'm probably gonna end up putting a bunch of diodes on a rotary switch to have different clipping options on it so I think I'll give those a shot too. I saw someone say the 1N4002 is surprisingly comparable for not being germanium as well, but I would like to have the "proper ones" as an option. So if anyone has tried the new production one's I'd still be interested in your thoughts as well.

I'm building the "Promethium" HM-2 board from here but trying to think of cool mods to do and such.

 

[owlexifry]

I'm probably gonna end up putting a bunch of diodes on a rotary switch to have different clipping options

note, these Ge diodes here aren’t necessarily clippers. ive been told here that they’re intended to serve as a crude noise gate.

 

[DDad]

I have bought '1N34A' from several sources, all tested high Vf (fake). BAT41's sound similar to Ge to my ear. Search on BAT41, lots of posts on it. Very cheap and still plentiful at DigiKey and others even though they are marked for End of Life.

 

[Vildhjuggah]

note, these Ge diodes here aren’t necessarily clippers. ive been told here that they’re intended to serve as a crude noise gate.

Oh good to know! I hadn't looked into the circuit on that level in a while and here I am focusing on those lol oops. That's what I get for staying up too late.
Thanks yall. I need to order some knobs anyway so I'll throw a couple of these in on an order so that I can experiment anyway I suppose. There will probably be some other pedal I make where the choice may be more important.