Obviously using silicon versus germanium versus LED clipping diodes in a distortion means different forward voltage, different headroom, different overall sound. Shottky diodes are way easier to find …

Feb 12, 2010 · I was asked to make a post about using Schottky diodes to make passive clipping circuits. These diodes have very low ‘forward’ voltages, so they are able to achieve some tone …

As per the instructions, I purchased some 1N5818 Schottky diodes and a little shrink tubing from a local electronics parts supply and promptly made the easiest guitar electronics modification ever ...

Jul 23, 2020 · Transistors can similarly be deployed as Clipping Diodes in certain circumstances - and these generally give you an unprecedented degree of harmonic texture - Distortion and Compression …

Jan 20, 2024 · Diodes are generally used in guitar pedals to clip the signal coming through and add overdrive or distortion. Depending on the type of diode used, and its placement, hard or soft clipping …

Aug 29, 2025 · There are four primary categories of diodes used to produce distortion in solid-state guitar-pedal circuits; Schottky, Germanium, Silicon, and LEDs. Other kinds of diodes can be used …

Mar 7, 2019 · A Different Kind of Dirt – Passive Distortion Mod Fancy giving your guitar a little extra attitude without splashing out on pedals or fancy gear? One of the simplest ways to do it is with a …

The variable resistance allows a blend of direct signal with the crossover signal which lessens the harshness inherent in this type of distortion. I would suggest Germanium or Schottky diodes for this …

Dec 6, 2022 · Crossover distortion creates a "wall" that the signal has to cross over before it passes. I'll note that crossover distortion is crucial to the sound of the Boss HM-2 and all its imitators. To …

Schottky diodes have a much lower forward voltage drop compared to silicon diodes, typically around 0.3V. This makes them suitable for use in high-gain distortion circuits, as they can provide tighter and …