Capacitors.

[Soliloquy]

Following on from my earlier thread - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132709"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132709[/url]

I bought a couple of these here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=102699&hl=capacitors"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=capacitors[/url]

I went for the green ones.

I've kind of fitted them as instructed by the very helpful Silent Fly, I've soldered one each between the two wires from the pickups.
I will get them properly soldered next week by someone who knows what they're doing, I'm really rubbish at soldering.

The result is quite pleasing, and has removed a lot of the harsh brightness that I disliked. It's certainly 'warmed' up the sound.

I was wondering what difference fitting other capacitors would make ?

There are these here

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220547693533&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2802wt_759"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...T#ht_2802wt_759[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-047uF-400v-SPRAGUE-ORANGE-DROP-CAPACITORS-Pair-/350310462554?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item519021745a#ht_2802wt_759"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-047uF-400v-SPRAG...a#ht_2802wt_759[/url]

Edited April 23, 2011 by Soliloquy

[dan670844]

[quote name='Soliloquy' post='1209251' date='Apr 23 2011, 03:52 PM']Following on from my earlier thread - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132709"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132709[/url]

I bought a couple of these here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=102699&hl=capacitors"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=capacitors[/url]

I went for the green ones.

I've kind of fitted them as instructed by the very helpful Silent Fly, I've soldered one each between the two wires from the pickups.
I will get them properly soldered next week by someone who knows what they're doing, I'm really rubbish at soldering.

The result is quite pleasing, and has removed a lot of the harsh brightness that I disliked. It's certainly 'warmed' up the sound.

I was wondering what difference fitting other capacitors would make ?

There are these here

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220547693533&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2802wt_759"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...T#ht_2802wt_759[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-047uF-400v-SPRAGUE-ORANGE-DROP-CAPACITORS-Pair-/350310462554?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item519021745a#ht_2802wt_759"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-047uF-400v-SPRAG...a#ht_2802wt_759[/url][/quote]

The paper in oils that you have are like the originals that where fitted to early precisions jazz bases etc. They are very good prob the best for the money, the orange drops are what they fit to modern P's they are good but not as smooth as paper in oils. Caps used to be made as paper in oils, the oil is the insulator inside them. Good but when they were used in valve circuits and they dry out (200-400volts electroytics) they tend to explode haha. The best caps for audio tend to me plastic type e.g polystyrene. The value on the caps basically affects the tone, depending on the circuit. Those paper in oils are a good deal, if you don't believe me, have a look at audiocap. But if you are running everything wide open, it doesn't really matter what you use. Thats why some guys just roll off the tone a little to bring the caps into play.

To answer you question, changing caps will affect the sound, as to them being an improvement that really up to your ears, the answer is experiment, try different values, different types. with soldering dont forget to tin the wires. Basically put solder on all the leads before you join up, you find they go together rather easy that way

[Soliloquy]

That's really interesting, thanks .

I'm going to have a bit of fun experimenting, they're pretty cheap so I'll get a couple of each type.

I'm really rubbish at soldering though, thanks for the tips ! I got it all over the place yesterday, and burned the floor in two places too.