The capacitor thread.

[dwagar]

Originally Posted by jonesy

You might want to try a .015 Cap the neck if you like to play with the controls, it won't get to dark to quick that way. Dwagar seems to prefer those and a .022 in bridge.

I actually prefer just a tad lighter, about a .012/.018 is what I'm running right now.

I know Greg has mentioned he runs with straight .010s

With tone everything matters. The guitar itself, every little mod, strings, pick, how hard you play, what amp you use, how loud you play it, etc. The tone I'm chasing may not be the tone you are chasing. With LPs at least it's really easy to test.

I'm interested to test Jonesy's Qs, but I still think nothing sounds like a real bee.

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by jonesy

The .015 will give you as lot more room before that happens..You might want to try using a volume bleed kit? .0022 cap in parallel with 100-200K resistor. Keeps your tone from getting muddy as you roll off volume and may give you a more even taper on volume pots. Won't have any effect on tone controls though per say. IMO Caps and Pots can sound different from guitar to guitar and with other pickups, you need to find what is right for your "Tonal Palette"....

Thanks, I don't have any problems with volume or muddy'ness. I thought my problem was the caps, but replacing the pots and caps did not change it. It's just the neck pup. I am happy with my bridge tone through the whole range(0-10). The neck pup just sounds bad unless the tone know is all the way back.

Is it normal for the smooth tone to break up and sound harsh if you roll the tone knob from 0 to anything higher. I like the way it sounds on 0 but would like to be able to use the knob and have it sound good. I might switch the cap anyway. I have a .022 right now. I think I want to to have more treble at 0 so I might go for a .013



Thanks again for the help.

[dwagar]

have you tried dropping the neck pup down a bit?

[-Ninja-]

It's flush with the plastic cover. About 4mm away from the string when fretted at the last fret.





**EDIT** Thats alright guys, I don't want to ruin this thread with a problem that I don't know if its normal or not. I will switch to a better cap that will bleed off less treble like a .010 or something and see what happens.


Thanks for the advice.

[Paul]

make your own vintage capacitors

"FREE" Replica Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Capacitors for Vintage Guitars

[kissfanps]

can anyone suggest a make of current production vitamin q's?

[jonesy]

Sprague is the only maker of the Vitamin Q's(trademark), Allparts does sells them with their fancy plastic wrapper on the outside as well but it's a Sprague PIO Cap underneath.

[hbucker]

For the spec on guitar capacitors, the voltage doesn't matter at all does it???

[martin6string]

Originally Posted by hbucker

For the spec on guitar capacitors, the voltage doesn't matter at all does it???

No, at least in my humble opinion.

[-Ninja-]

Well I figured I would chime back in on this topic. I changed out the brand new orange drop caps(.022) I just put in, for 2 vintage Bumblebee's (.018).
HOLY what a difference. The problem I was having (earlier in this thread) is now gone.

I can use both of my tone knobs anywhere from 0-10 and it is smooooth. No more OFF and ON, HARSH and MUDDY with the tone knob.

One of them tested out at .017, that one is in the bridge. The other was .015, I put that in the neck. That is where I mostly play at. It is brighter at 0 then before.

I don't think the orange drops are bad, but they are no vintage cap. Since I changed my pots at the same time I installed the orange drops. I don't know what made the difference. I got a better brighter tone. I just don't know from what. The orange drop caps (.022) or the CTS pots (500k).

[jonesy]

Glad those are working out for you Bro...

[-Ninja-]

Thank you.

I shot you an e mail about the volume bleed kits. Don't know if you got it.

[jonesy]

Your Welcome...
Yes I did, and I already emailed you back in regards to that...

[-Ninja-]

Nothing came through, can you resend?


Thanks.

[jonesy]

Just did bro, check it now...

p.s. nice flame on that LP

[whytheflyband]

I think it's Interesting that no one has really made a reference to the Angela/Jensen Oil/paper caps in aluminum or copper.

I changed out the pickups in my ES135 to Fralin P90's, CTS pots and the Angela aluminum caps ( the copper ones are much bigger and I wasnt sure if they would fit through the hole inside ) I find that now the sound is HUGE, the volume rolls off actually rather quickly and its very sensitive. I am amazed at how CLear and clean the sound is as you start rolling off..I dont get the treble bleed off as much and the tone is never really muddy all the way to nearly the end.

Before with the stock hardware I felt like I was working hard to play it and get a good tone from it.

I may try the copper ones in my Les Paul when it arrives, but I am sure happy with the aluminums too.

Angela Instruments: Online Catalog is where I got them

[eddie_bowers]

Hey Jonesy. I didn't know this:
>Sprague is the only maker of the Vitamin Q's(trademark), Allparts does
>sells them with their fancy plastic wrapper on the outside as well but it's a
>Sprague PIO Cap underneath.

I thought it was just a licensing deal (i'm guessing the same goes for the Tone Factory Vitamin Q).
So are these made by Spraque just for them, or can you get a NEW Sprague/Vishay Vitamin Q without the repackaging?

The disappointing thing about the AP and TF Vitamin Qs is that they don’t come in any lower values (like a .015 or .012)

The one sample of the AP version I tried DID sound a tad different than my vintange ones. This could be just a tolorance thing or who knows "aged" may really sound better.

-Eddie

[FLICKOFLASH]

Electronics:Capacitors

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by eddie_bowers

Hey Jonesy. I didn't know this:
>Sprague is the only maker of the Vitamin Q's(trademark), Allparts does
>sells them with their fancy plastic wrapper on the outside as well but it's a
>Sprague PIO Cap underneath.

I thought it was just a licensing deal (i'm guessing the same goes for the Tone Factory Vitamin Q).
So are these made by Spraque just for them, or can you get a NEW Sprague/Vishay Vitamin Q without the repackaging?

The disappointing thing about the AP and TF Vitamin Qs is that they don’t come in any lower values (like a .015 or .012)

The one sample of the AP version I tried DID sound a tad different than my vintange ones. This could be just a tolerance thing or who knows "aged" may really sound better.

-Eddie

Sorry I am a bit slow on the reply here Eddie...as far as the Q's go yeah its some type of a trademark thingy? Sprague makes other Oil caps that are made like the Q's I just got in some Sprague HYREL Oil Caps .022 200 DC 195P22302S4 K 4014 my supplier in said at one time some of these came marked Vitamin Q some did not..mine are not marked Q but same part#? I also have some Sprague Vitamin Q in .015 100v, and Bees in .01, .012,.015,.018 I don't sell the Bees on ebay, I save those for my wiring harnesses and the guys who contact me direct. If you would like to try some of these caps let me know ok? Happy Fathers Day!
Thanks, jonesy

[martin6string]

My understanding is that the Sprague HYREL's are the military version of the Vitamin Q.

[Bloozcat]

Well, this looks like a good place for me to wade in for a first post, since I seem to spend more time modding and building guitars than playing them lately...

Anyone have an opinion on the Goodall Vitamin Q type PIO NOS caps? How do they compare with the actual Spragues from the same era? Construction seems similar if not identical, but how are the specs and more importantly, the tone?

[johnbeloe]

i have to say i was skeptical about how much tonal difference there would be between caps of the same value. I changed out some hovland .022 musicaps for some vintage sprague black beauties that still test .022. Wide open I don't notice a difference in tone, but when you roll the tone down the black beauties add a real hollowness to the tone....if you know the tone I mean you can hear it on many 50's LP recordings - the tone doesn't become dark and muddy when the tone is rolled down...the high end is tamed and the tone becomes hollow and sweet...I think a great example is 'First Train Home (Mono)' played by peter green on the Fleetwood Mac Complete Blue Horizon Sessions disc...the black beauties give me that exact same hollowness and sweetness. well worth the £££ in my opinion!!!

[jonesy]

IMO If you were blindfolded, even guys with "good ears" could not tell the difference between a GOODALL Paper in Oil vs Sprague Paper in Oil of same size and value say .022/.022 or .047/.047 I sell a lot of both, and once you get into the premium Oil caps, small characteristics vary, but most Goodall, Cornell Dublier & Sprague PIO caps will all produce excellent TneMojo

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by johnbeloe

i have to say i was skeptical about how much tonal difference there would be between caps of the same value. I changed out some hovland .022 musicaps for some vintage sprague black beauties that still test .022. Wide open I don't notice a difference in tone, but when you roll the tone down the black beauties add a real hollowness to the tone....if you know the tone I mean you can hear it on many 50's LP recordings - the tone doesn't become dark and muddy when the tone is rolled down...the high end is tamed and the tone becomes hollow and sweet...I think a great example is 'First Train Home (Mono)' played by peter green on the Fleetwood Mac Complete Blue Horizon Sessions disc...the black beauties give me that exact same hollowness and sweetness. well worth the £££ in my opinion!!!

IMO Repros can't beat the real thing, they may come close, but can't really deliver the goods like a Vintage cap can! I use a lot of Bumble Bees and Black beauties in my harnesses and know what they can do for guitar Tone.
Also the more open Tone may come from the 50's wiring in those guitars as well as the caps they used. From what I hear from LP Players is that the 50's wiring is a bit brighter with less mud, toss in some black beauties and someone who knows how to "Dial-in" a tube amp and Presto....That Mythical LP Tone comes alive!

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by jonesy

From what I hear from LP Players is that the 50's wiring is a bit brighter with less mud, toss in some black beauties and someone who knows how to "Dial-in" a tube amp and Presto....That Mythical LP Tone comes alive!

Right on brother.

[jonesy]

Thanks Man, I take it you are diggin' your new TneMojo
I just picked up 26 Sprague 1950's Bumble Bee Caps, .047 400VDC a Tele-pickers Mother Load...Lol Now thats a lot of MOJO, almost afraid to keep them all in the same jar..hehe Also have 4 pairs of 1960's .022 200VDC Sprague Tan Beauties on the way, they are made very much like the Bees...
Hope you are having a good summer?
Peace, jonesy

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Thanks Man, I take it you are diggin' your new TneMojo

Ya man, I can't thank you enough. Those Bee's were the best upgrade I have done to any of my guitars. I don't know if it was the change in value or the quality of the caps but I couldn't be happier.

You are a great person to deal with, and I hope to be picking up some more caps soon.

Enjoy your summer as well.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by -Ninja-

Ya man, I can't thank you enough. Those Bee's were the best upgrade I have done to any of my guitars. I don't know if it was the change in value or the quality of the caps but I couldn't be happier.

You are a great person to deal with, and I hope to be picking up some more caps soon.

Enjoy your summer as well.

No Problemo, It's all good Bro ...Now you know what the "Good-stuff" sounds like you will never settle for a pair of Orange drop caps again..lol
ROCK ON!!
Peace, jonesy

[Masa]

Originally Posted by jonesy

I have some smaller Sprague Vitamin Q .015's that would sound sweet in neck tone also some other Oil caps & Q's .033. Goodall .047

What do you think of Goodall .047 for strats? Did you compare it to other .047 PIO caps?

Thanks

[Masa]

Originally Posted by whytheflyband

I think it's Interesting that no one has really made a reference to the Angela/Jensen Oil/paper caps in aluminum or copper.

I think the problem with those Jensens from Angela and RS are the prices. The real NOS Vitamin Q are a lot cheaper.