Transistor choices for a Big Muff clone?

[skiraly017]

Currently using 2N5088's. I was wondering what you've used instead and what the results were? Thanks.

[powerplayj]

Just ordered 2n5089s and 2N5133's and currently have 2N5088.  I'll let you know the difference.

[Khas Evets]

I would be curious how lower gain transistors work in the BMP. I know this may sound like crazy talk, but I've always felt that the BMP gets a little mushy at high gain settings. Has anyone tried this?

[petemoore]

but I've always felt that the BMP gets a little mushy at high gain settings. Has anyone tried this?
  I was just cranking up the volume some on an OS Comp>BMP, mushing out real nice...lol.
  I tried using 2n3904's, was noisy and lower gain...
  BCxxx's [around 200-300 hfe]...pretty cool tone.
  Ge's, I don't think they were gainy enough, I still have on in there though as Q2.
  I ended up for the most part liking best with the HG/LN transistors, 2n5089, MPSA18, but couldn't tell much/any difference between the HG and the medium high gain 5088's...it ends up with 2x 2n5088, a 5089 and a Ge. still fairly noisy, but that mush is worth the stompoffs to eliminate the noise level with Comp>BMP set high gain.

[Dragonfly]

BC109's...   

[MartyMart]

Fairchild 5089's for me
High gain & mush ..... that's the BM !!

MM.

[Bernardduur]

I tried several but the lower the Hfe became the more useless the sound was............ (to my ears)

5088 for me; I have same 89 laying around and will pop em in today to see if I like em

[col]

I have built several and had good results with BC184C and BC549C. The 2N5088s I tried gave a strange 'after' sound.

Col

[powerplayj]

............tried the 2N5089 and 2N5133 in lieu of the current 2N5088.  I pretty much want this thing with gain maxed for that saturated Pumpkins tone.  With this much gain, I didn't notice a big difference and since the 2N5133's were a bit less noisy, I went with those.  My next curiosity is what diode type?  I think I have Si in there now but don't have any Ge's to try.

[Meanderthal]

 Were your 2n5133s the button or the can type? I've never got my hands on the cans, but I really like the button 5133s I've gotten ahold of and used. They seem to have more grit and snarl than 5088...

[powerplayj]

The button ones (from SmallBear).  Yeah, it did seem like they were a little less refined with me as well.

[Meanderthal]

 Oh, and you mentioned diodes. I've found that using one 1n4141 and one 1n34a in the first clipping stage and 2 4148 in the second make for a very rich and somewhat octavey flavor.