The Algal Bloom comes with a standard silicon diode selection and can be modded for other diodes to give different flavors of fuzz beyond the standard silicon. It seems fairly common to add the germanium choke mod, which gives the option of switching to germanium diodes to give a very different texture compared to the standard silicon. I have a modded Algal Bloom that has eight different diode selections to choose from, each of which has its own unique feel. The diode selections I have are:
1. standard silicon
2. germanium choke
3. asymmetrical silicon + germanium
4. symmetrical silicon (double silicon?)
5. LED + germanium
6. red LED
7. blue LED
8. white LED + silicon
Each has its own unique feel and qualities but I find myself using a few more than the others. Numbers 1, 4, 5, and 8 are my most used diode selections although they all have their own very usable feel. The standard (#1) is great for crunchy rhythms. Symmetrical silicon (#4) gives the most aggressive fuzz and is great for singing lead lines too. LED + germaium (#5) is close to the germanium choke (#2) but to my ears is a little more crunchy/crumbly in character and is my go to choice for dying amp sputter sounds. The white LED + silicon gives a smooth tone with a papery edge (the other LEDs, #6 AND #7, are smooth too but no paper) great for blues and mellow playing and is perhaps my favorite of all. It depends on what I am trying to play and will switch up selections for different songs.
My question is what other diode options are out there and what are your opinions/favorites? I know there are many types of LEDs (green, purple, bright, dim) out there for example and many other different diodes of different types and values. I am quite pleased with my diode choices but am curious to hear what other people like and why. What has been tested and what works "best" ??