De-Bunking Myths About Capacitors

[jonesy]

There seems to be a lot of Myths about Capacitors from many of the posts I have read here at MLPF and on other forums. I am going to try and set the record straight from what I know and from what I have experienced over the years...please feel free to correct me if you think I am wrong.

Myth #1 Will Lower value capacitors make my guitar brighter?

No, capacitors only filter highs off when you turn your Tone control. They do not make your guitar brighter when wired up to a Tone pot in standard fashion. (may be some slight bleed if you do not have a no load pot) If a capacitor is wired in series or in a treble bleed circuit (RC circuit) it can act differently and let highs come across, but this is not the case when wired to your Tone controls. With new good quality caps you may here less mud and more clarity once installed, but they are used to filter high frequencies when they are wired up in a Tone circuit.

Even though .022 has been the standard for Gibson .015 and .010 are the choice by many players seeking good Tone and more useful room on their Tone dials.


Myth #2 Do paper in oil capacitors dry out and need to be replaced frequently?

No, when used in a guitar circuit paper in oil capacitors will last a lifetime. There are plenty of 50-60+ year Old Bumble Bees caps that still sound excellent. If they have been used in high voltage applications like amps etc. that may cause them to drift away from the original specs, but when used in a guitar this is not the case.

Myth #3 Do all capacitors sound the same and there is no way that one type can make your guitar Tone sound better?

Many electronic experts will tell you that there is no scientific explanation of why paper in oil capacitors will give you better Tone when used in a guitar circuit. But it is a well known fact in the guitar community that paper in oil will be warmer, smoother and have more "Sparkle" than ceramic disc, mylar or polypropylene capacitors. The original Bumble Bees and Black Beauties were paper in oil and thought of by many to be the "Holy Grail" of Tone as far as capacitors go.

Myth #4 Does it matter which end of my capacitor I wire up to what, is there a polarity?

No, for the most part 99% of the capacitors I have come across are not polarized and it makes no difference in which direction they are wired up in your guitar. There are some caps that do have a + - side and they will usually be marked accordingly or the manufacture will tell you that it matters.


Myth #5 R9's Come with Real Bumble Bee Capacitors so there is no need for me to replace them, so why should I?

No, your R9 came with "Fake" Bumble Bee caps that contain a cheap little poly film capacitor buried on the inside of the pretty little plastic black case with stripes. Gibson does not use Real Bumble Bee caps in their reissues, and they are not even paper in oil capacitors. Luxe Bees are actually Russian K40y-9 paper in oil caps and have a very similar Tone to the Original Bees.

Myth #6 Jonesy's Tonemojo capacitors have some secret "MOJO" in them that is rumored to have been extracted from Robert Johsons sweat and mixed up with some crossroads dirt that will make you sound like Clapton, Hendrix and Jimmy Page all rolled into one.

No, not true. The only thing special about my paper in oil capacitors is that they are good quality paper in oil capacitotrs with metal cases, and glass sealed ends and are either New Old Stock USA or Russian caps or the 50's Bees that are good quality pulls that have been measured on my bench meter.


I hope's this clears up a few things and if anyone has any other Myths or questions I would really like to hear them?

Keep the music flowing...
thanks, jonesy

[specflec]

I think pots and caps are my next move for my R9. Thanks for the info!

Best
Michael

[Malikon]

Myth #7: Putting plutonium into capacitors and getting your car up to 88mph will initiate time travel.

False.



Nice post OP, I learned some things, thanks.

[coldsteal2]

Great job!!

[geochem1st]

Nice job Jonesy.

I have a pair of Sprague PIO caps in my SG that Jonesy supplied, which has greatly enhanced my tone. Arguably the least expensive way to noticably change your sound.

[blakem]

You are awesome! Great thread bro!

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Malikon

Myth #7: Putting plutonium into capacitors and getting your car up to 88mph will initiate time travel.

False.



Nice post OP, I learned some things, thanks.

Actually I recommend the "Flux' Capacitors for time travel

[Jason]

The only polarized caps I've seen are electrolytics, and I haven't heard of anybody using those in a guitar.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by blakem

You are awesome! Great thread bro!

Originally Posted by geochem1st

Nice job Jonesy.

I have a pair of Sprague PIO caps in my SG that Jonesy supplied, which has greatly enhanced my tone. Arguably the least expensive way to noticably change your sound.

Originally Posted by coldsteal2

Great job!!

Originally Posted by specflec

I think pots and caps are my next move for my R9. Thanks for the info!

Best
Michael

Thanks, Glad you are all finding this info somewhat useful

[ozone]

Thanks Jonesy for your time. Your info is always valuable.
Question, So the sprague vit q's are PIO, right. What are the luxe grey tigers?

[kmk108]

[Hemply]

Thanks Jonsey!

[MenaceMartin]

Originally Posted by Malikon

Myth #7: Putting plutonium into capacitors and getting your car up to 88mph will initiate time travel.
False.

i begs to differ

nice post! it was all too confusing until i read it

[FrankieOliver]

Interesting, Jonesy.

Many electronic experts will tell you that there is no scientific explanation of why paper in oil capacitors will give you better Tone when used in a guitar circuit. But it is a well known fact in the guitar community that paper in oil will be warmer, smoother and have more "Sparkle" than ceramic disc, mylar or polypropylene capacitors. The original Bumble Bees and Black Beauties were paper in oil and thought of by many to be the "Holy Grail" of Tone as far as capacitors go.

Links to more explanations on this, please? I'd like to read more on this. Thanks.

[LPGeoff]

Thanks Jonesy.

What about certain guitars need certain values, ie.

.047 - Strat - single coils

.022 - LP - Humbuckers

?? - Jrs - P-90's

Do you recommend the cap value based on pickup, guitar style, ?

[5F6-A]

never too much good info could be a bad thing!

[Drudeboy]

Originally Posted by Von Bek

Interesting, Jonesy.

Many electronic experts will tell you that there is no scientific explanation of why paper in oil capacitors will give you better Tone when used in a guitar circuit. But it is a well known fact in the guitar community that paper in oil will be warmer, smoother and have more "Sparkle" than ceramic disc, mylar or polypropylene capacitors. The original Bumble Bees and Black Beauties were paper in oil and thought of by many to be the "Holy Grail" of Tone as far as capacitors go.

Links to more explanations on this, please? I'd like to read more on this. Thanks.

Personally, I agree with the electronic experts. 'well known opinion' would have been a better choice of words. Perception is affected greatly by what the mind expects. In one famous experiment a group of wine experts gave a favourable review to what they thought was red wine. It was in fact white wine with a red dye. Think on sheeple.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by LP_Fan

Thanks Jonesy.

What about certain guitars need certain values, ie.

.047 - Strat - single coils

.022 - LP - Humbuckers

?? - Jrs - P-90's

Do you recommend the cap value based on pickup, guitar style, ?

That is a good rule of thumb but not always the best,

I have found that low value caps work great in single coil guitars, BCR Greg runs .010's in his P-90 guitars. A lot of it comes down to player preference.


Fender install .022's in all their Strats now from what I have seen, I have an .033 (actually reads .029) in my Tele and it sounds great.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Von Bek

Interesting, Jonesy.

Many electronic experts will tell you that there is no scientific explanation of why paper in oil capacitors will give you better Tone when used in a guitar circuit. But it is a well known fact in the guitar community that paper in oil will be warmer, smoother and have more "Sparkle" than ceramic disc, mylar or polypropylene capacitors. The original Bumble Bees and Black Beauties were paper in oil and thought of by many to be the "Holy Grail" of Tone as far as capacitors go.

Links to more explanations on this, please? I'd like to read more on this. Thanks.

There are a few posts over in Tonefreaks in regards to this subject.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Drudeboy

Personally, I agree with the electronic experts. 'well known opinion' would have been a better choice of words. Perception is affected greatly by what the mind expects. In one famous experiment a group of wine experts gave a favourable review to what they thought was red wine. It was in fact white wine with a red dye. Think on sheeple.

Most guitarists will use their ears as a guide, I have tested dozens of different kinds of capacitors in as many guitars with all kinds of Amps tube and solid state and paper in oil sounds best to me.

How much testing have you done with capacitors Sir?

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Hemply

Thanks Jonsey!

Originally Posted by ozone

Thanks Jonesy for your time. Your info is always valuable.
Question, So the sprague vit q's are PIO, right. What are the luxe grey tigers?

Your welcome Hemply


Ozone, Yes Sprague vitamin Q's are paper in oil caps. I would think the Luxe grey tigers are as well but can't say for sure.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by kmk108

[jonesy]

I posted this up in the backstage as well and it is getting a lot more views and comments over there

[Drudeboy]

Originally Posted by jonesy

How much testing have you done with capacitors Sir?

I have compared PIO to ceramic, and the difference does not exist. (unless of course you want it to) I would challenge anybody here to a blindfold A/B test.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Drudeboy

I have compared PIO to ceramic, and the difference does not exist. (unless of course you want it to) I would challenge anybody here to a blindfold A/B test.

To your ears it may not. Many other guitarists would disagree

[VDeuce]

Originally Posted by jonesy

To your ears it may not. Many other guitarists would disagree

+1. A lot of people can't tell the difference with top-wrapping a tailpiece, but many can. Same also goes for 50s or modern wiring.

Heck, even an Orange Drop cap will sound different than a ceramic of the same value.

And for that matter, theoretically, resistor material shouldn't make a difference. Go tell that to someone that builds amps and knows the difference between a metal oxide and carbon comp resistor. Very different tone.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by JGV

+1. A lot of people can't tell the difference with top-wrapping a tailpiece, but many can. Same also goes for 50s or modern wiring.

Heck, even an Orange Drop cap will sound different than a ceramic of the same value.

And for that matter, theoretically, resistor material shouldn't make a difference. Go tell that to someone that builds amps and knows the difference between a metal oxide and carbon comp resistor. Very different tone.

[Drudeboy]

Originally Posted by JGV

+1. A lot of people can't tell the difference with top-wrapping a tailpiece, but many can. Same also goes for 50s or modern wiring.

Heck, even an Orange Drop cap will sound different than a ceramic of the same value.

And for that matter, theoretically, resistor material shouldn't make a difference. Go tell that to someone that builds amps and knows the difference between a metal oxide and carbon comp resistor. Very different tone.

The use of capacitors and resistors in amplifiers is completely different. Here we're talking about a passive tone control, bleeding off higher frequencies to ground.

[SoloDallas]

Thanks very much Jonesy.
I had bought today real late 50s BumbleBees for two of my 50s LP conversions.
Had NO idea about many of things you explained. Grateful.

Thank you.

[dynabite]

Originally Posted by Jason

The only polarized caps I've seen are electrolytics, and I haven't heard of anybody using those in a guitar.

Now you have, non-polarized