cap question?

[kulddy]

Are the botique caps worth the money? I have noticed a difference between the orange drops and new $1.98 models, but is there a ten to thirty dollar difference?
wayne (kooldaddy)

[greco]

Welcome to the forum.

In my opinion, no. However, some will say that there is a big difference. Maybe my hearing loss contributes to my opinion ..LOL

I have seen a pair "vintage" NOS caps for guitar priced at over $200.00 US...my guitar isn't worth much more than that !!

In the building of an amp (especially a tube ampp.), I would say yes (within reason). Totally different ball game IMHO.

Should be interesting to see what variety of responses you get.

Enjoy the forum.

BTW ......What gear do you use and what styles/music do you like to play. Nothing to do with caps...just curious

Dave

[Fresh_Start]

Big, audible difference between ceramic turdlettes that come stock on Fenders and Orange Drops - at least to my ears. O.D.'s don't cost much from Mouser, but some dealers mark them up a ton.

Beyond the ceramic to polyester/polypropelene caps, your neighbor's bat may be able to hear a difference but not me. (That's just inside a guitar; inside an amp is different.)

Chip

[kulddy]

I have a 2004 epi SG=400 CUSTOM, (yes it is a wanna be gibson, but other than the original body its all GIBSON FACTORY CUSTOM). I has a 500T Zebra bridge, burstbucker Zebra pro 2 middle and a burstbucker 3 neck. I have switched it out to all black chrome (except the PAF Burstbucker neck). I have added a 10 switch box to split and tap the coils so I can use three separate cap values, .022,.033,.047, all separately and cut out the pots and the caps completely.
I play an eclectic mix of most everything. BLUES, JAZZ, ALTERNATIVE, SOUL, '50'S (HEY LITTLE SUZY) AND LOTS OF ORIGINALS. I play about 3 hours daily on an average (I just turned 56).
Love
Wayne

[greco]

I have a 2004 epi SG=400 CUSTOM, (yes it is a wanna be gibson, but other than the original body its all GIBSON FACTORY CUSTOM). I has a 500T Zebra bridge, burstbucker Zebra pro 2 middle and a burstbucker 3 neck. I have switched it out to all black chrome (except the PAF Burstbucker neck). I have added a 10 switch box to split and tap the coils so I can use three separate cap values, .022,.033,.047, all separately and cut out the pots and the caps completely.
I play an eclectic mix of most everything. BLUES, JAZZ, ALTERNATIVE, SOUL, '50'S (HEY LITTLE SUZY) AND LOTS OF ORIGINALS. I play about 3 hours daily on an average (I just turned 56).
Love
Wayne

Hi Wayne:

Thanks for telling us about your gear, the music you like to play, etc.

Have you decided on what caps you intend to buy (i.e., how much you are going to spend)?

I'm impressed that you can find 3 hours daily to play. Are you retired? I'm usually so tired after working long hours and have so many other "household" type jobs that need to be done that I often end up reading this forum and maybe play some guitar, if I'm lucky. I'm certainly doing something wrong...never enough time.

Enjoy the forum.

Dave

[ES350]

I hear some difference between the old BB's/Black Cats/Grey Tigers and new stuff, but that is probably just out of spec values and some other wackiness...in general, I use old amp and chassis pulls (Astrons, blue Mallorys, etc) for guitar tone caps.

[ErikH]

IMO, they're feeding off mojo from the early days when the caps from the amp builder's parts bin were being used in the guitars. They did so simply because they were there and available. Why spend extra $$$ on caps when you got a bunch right here already, right? Well, then they started using smaller and smaller caps because, well, they could afford to now.

So, IMO, save your money and use film caps rated anywhere from 16-50 volts. There should be no problem finding .022uf, .033uf or .047uf values in those voltage ranges. And those caps are small too.

To my ears, I hear no difference. I think some say they hear a difference because they want to but at the same time, they also changed the pots, pickups and everything else at the same time.

[Johnny Q]

This debate reminds me of the balanced phase inverter tube debate - some swear by it, others say its snake oil. Personally speaking, I would rather err on the side of caution and have better quality parts in the circuit. I dont know about paying 15 bucks for an RS Hoveland Cap, but a few bucks for some Mallory 150's - why not/what the heck??

JQ

[Time Stood Still]

This was a cool read through. I was thinking the same thing when I saw an auction for a "tonal upgrade" like Via's. Other than that I don't know how to explaign it. What tonal differences will a "Sprague 0.022uf 400v ORANGE DROP 225P" and "330pf Silver Mica Capacitor for your Volume Pot" do to my sound? What's is each cap doing and the difference between these values, .022uf, .033uf or .047uf, with regards to tone? Sorry, I've been asking around for a while and this is where I should have come in the first place.

" " taken from the auction.

[greco]

Time Stood Still: This topic has been discussed many times in the forum. You might want to do a search within the SD forum, or start a new thread if you want to get specific answers to your questions:

QUOTE "What's is each cap doing and the difference between these values, .022uf, .033uf or .047uf, with regards to tone? Sorry, I've been asking around for a while and this is where I should have come in the first place."

I would try to write an answer, but I'm at work and have no time.

Dave

[Time Stood Still]

Thanks, I'll do a search. There's no reason to start a new thread.

I Just found the threads and learned alot. In addition, I think I'm fried at the moment too. I'll give it a shot after the busy holidays are over. Thanks!

[noth]

Remember this: in anything, the law of diminishing returns applies!

As you go up in price, the differences (notice I said difference, not necessarily improvement) will become smaller and smaller.

When I mod stuff, when I stop hearing definitive improvements, and the next jump up is a signicant cost, I stop there.

Noth