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Post subject: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:12 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Oregon, USA
I keep hearing about switching out my MIM standard capacitor for a 716P Orange Drop capacitor rated at .022 and 400 volts. What differences should I expect after doing this change?


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:33 pm
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You may notice a difference in the way the tone pot responds as you turn it up or down. It may adopt a smoother sweep.
I use a couple of .047uf Sprague orange drops. I didn't notice any difference between those and the capacitor in my Mexican Baja Tele. You'll only ever hear a difference if you work the tone pot. It won't make a scrap of difference if, like most of us, you just play with the tone control 10.

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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:20 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I am a bit confused by the tone capacitor because of all the value ratings, types, voltages, etc... Then there's oil caps, oil in my Tele?


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:05 pm
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Doesn't make any difference unless you use the tone control. Do you? Most don't.

Changing the capacitor won't affect the sound of your guitar. It won't add more bass or more treble. It won't make it sound any different to how it does now. Whether it's mica, polyester or paper in oil. Whether it is 1uf or .01pf. Whether it's rated for 6000v or 60v.

All micro/pico farad rating will do is change how quickly treble is rolled off. A higher rating doesn't add extra bass. A lower rating doesn't allow extra treble. It's part of a passive circuit. It can't add anything to the guitar.
It will simply change how much treble is lost at what point and how turning the tone control a little bit affects how much treble is lost.

Aside from that the tone on 10 and tone on 0 sounds will be exactly the same as they were before the change.

In short, the current trend for changing capacitors is nothing more than hype designed to take your money from you in exchange for a lie.

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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:30 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Oregon, USA
It's one of those upgrading the electrics project. CTS pots, Fender 3 way switch, cloth wire, etc... I picked up an Orange Drop .022 @400 volts and just wanted to be sure I was doing the right thing.

One more electrical question, what is Grease Bucket wiring and how is it different?


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:59 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Oregon, USA
Well, I installed the Orange Drop and I can tell the difference on the tone adjustment. Much better range from 0 to 10 with a better transition. Will it make a difference to how I play? No, but it's cool knowing if I needed it, it's there!


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:27 am
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BrittB wrote:
One more electrical question, what is Grease Bucket wiring and how is it different?


Greasebucket Circuit


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:04 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Oregon, USA
Thanks for the link!


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:12 am
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Composition of the capacitor will make absolutely no audible difference in this application.

Capacitor composition can make an audible difference in high voltage audio circuits, like in your vintage tube amp. With a bleeder cap in a passive guitar tone circuit in makes ZERO (0) audible difference between other capacitors of the identical measured capacitance.

"Magic" tone capacitors in guitars and basses is one of the most persistent delusions on gear forums, but it has no basis in fact.

A .047mFd tone cap will sound like any other .047mFd tone cap, assuming they really are of the identical measured capacitance. End of story. Ask any EE. If anyone tells you differently, he's wrong.

An Orange Drop or bumblebee or whatever is not going to sound any different than the ceramic Fender uses, if they are of the same capacitance.

A capacitor of another value definitely does make some audible difference.

Because these capacitors have a +/-10% tolerance, this means that a new cap you swap in could have as much as 20% higher or lower capacitance than the one you replaced. When there is some audible difference between caps on the same nominal value, this is the reason -- NOT because the replacement was "better."


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Post subject: Re: Switching to a different capacitor
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:22 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Oregon, USA
Here's what I noticed. Before, the tone would have two noticeable spikes while going from 0 to 100%. After, nice and smooth transitioning tone from 0 to 100%. That's it. I like it but I don't know that it makes any difference to my playing style as I don't tone around much.


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