'GLOBAL CAPACITOR SHOOTOUT'

Frequently asked questions on capacitor types, ratings, brands, use and abuse.
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CRBMoA
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Post by CRBMoA »

Greg_G wrote:Do different capacitors types really sound different at the frequencies seen in guitar pedals, amps, speakers ?

What do you think ?

If you do think there's a difference, what type do you prefer ?

Some interesting and questionable claims in this article:

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... rt_II.aspx

I especially like this: " If you want to use the vintage caps, make sure that you use vintage cloth wire inside your guitar and the Gibson fifties vintage wiring, otherwise you will not fully experience the tones from these caps."
So you don't get the proper effect from the cap unless you connect it with old wire ?
:mrgreen:

When people start making claims like this "tends to pronounce the mid frequencies a bit", I really have to question it.
Frequency response is easily checked and I bet no cap will show a difference.
Greg_G started a thread 10 days ago, which can be viewed in it's entirety HERE.

This is the development thread for the actual test.

If you would like to participate in the procurement of the parts, or if you would like to help fund the project, or if you would like an opportunity to actually play the test pedal, this is the thread to sign up!!

I have volunteered to assemble the pedal.

The basic outline of the test was agreed upon in the original thread, however, your input is always welcome.

Who wants to play??
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Greg
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Post by Greg »

I wanna play !!

.. and I'd happily contribute anything you need, but would have to ship from Australia.

BTW CRBMoA, where are you ?
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Post by IvIark »

Say Manchester and I'll drop the bits off at your house :D
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Post by CRBMoA »

IvIark wrote:Say Manchester and I'll drop the bits off at your house :D
"Manchester" :mrgreen:

Well, more like Oregon, in the United States.
:lol:
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Post by mictester »

IvIark wrote:Say Manchester and I'll drop the bits off at your house :D
Manchester UK? I'm up there for a few days in April!
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Post by IvIark »

mictester wrote:Manchester UK? I'm up there for a few days in April!
It'll be raining :mrgreen:
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Post by MoonWatcher »

CRBMoA wrote:"Manchester" :mrgreen:

Well, more like Oregon, in the United States.
:lol:
I'm over here on the east coast, so that may help.

I've got a pair of old ceramic disk 100nF caps, but they are big - about the diameter of a dime. Skreddy would probably like to get his hands on them. They spec out at:

-103nF
-112nF

I've also got some 1uF monolithics, spendy little buggers. I've actually got 4 - didn't realize I had that many. The leads on 3 have been trimmed down, but s/b sufficient to work with. They spec out at:

-.90uF
-.91uF
-.93uF
-.94uF

IDK what (if any) circuit we've decided on. Is it the Overdriver? Or are we still hammering that part out?

So I guess that makes me "in," potentially.

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Post by CRBMoA »

Moon Watcher,

Being 'In' merely means you want to participate.

You can contribute bits, $$, but that is not the only way to play.

At some point, one or several of you will be posting shootout clips online for all to review. I will set up some kind of a poll, and all we be free to participate.

The caveat would be, if you actually want to have the pedal in your hands, $$ for postage seems like a reasonable requirement.

I am all about being inclusive, not exclusive.
:mrgreen:
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Post by umutgokcen »

I'd love to participate in the tests, count me in. I can record and post clips as you wish and more than happy to pay the postage charges.

Thank you CRBMoA,

Cheers,

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Post by CRBMoA »

Is everyone cool with the OD mentioned in the original thread?
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Post by mictester »

IvIark wrote:
mictester wrote:Manchester UK? I'm up there for a few days in April!
It'll be raining :mrgreen:
As ever! Staying at the Lowry, eating at "Stock" and the "Living Room".....
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Post by RnFR »

CRBMoA wrote:Is everyone cool with the OD mentioned in the original thread?

FYI- the Colorsound Overdriver.
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Post by mcaviel »

I Would like to participate in the test,
I can do high res demos along with dynamic and condenser microphone into 1974x head to a 4X12 cab.

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Post by IvIark »

Just been looking at the Colorsound Overdriver schematic and these are the caps in or around the signal path:

220nF x 2
4.7µF x 2

And around the tone controls:

10nF x 2
100nF x 1

So in those values I can do the following types:

220nF:
Ceramic
Ceramic Multilayer Radial
Greenies
Panasonic Polyester
PET Axial
PIO Axial
Polyester Axial
Polyester Box
Tantalum Radial

4.7µF:
Electrolytic Axial
Electrolytic Radial
Polyester Axial
Tantalum Axial
Tantalum Radial

10nF:
Ceramic
Ceramic Multilayer Axial
Ceramic Multilayer Radial
Orange Drop
Panasonic Polyester
Panasonic Stacked Metallized Film
PET Axial
PIO Axial
Polyester Axial
Polyester Box

100nF:
Ceramic
Ceramic Multilayer Axial
Ceramic Multilayer Radial
Electrolytic Radial
Greenies
Panasonic Polyester
PET Axial
PIO Axial
Polyester Axial
Polyester Box
Tantalum Radial
Tropical Fish

I think the 4.7µF polyester and electros have to be definites, but the only issue is the size of the build. The polyester axials are rated at 250V and are quite big (31.5 x 14.5mm) so this would need a perf or vero build to accommodate them (or a specially laid out PCB with component dimensions in mind).

What would everyone else like to see used for the values listed?
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Post by CRBMoA »

I am cool with either perf or vero, and I have stock of both.

I also have some roomy enclosures that are really too big for my pedal board, but I think would work for this project.
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Post by RnFR »

well, in the overdriver, we will be switching out all of the coupling caps in the circuit for .1uF. the tone control will probably be switched from .01 to .02 so that we can use electros as well.
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Post by IvIark »

I've got 0.1µF electros
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Post by Greg »

If the circuit is chosen then, next you probably need to decide how many caps can be switched and which ones.
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Post by RnFR »

we should also decide on bypass caps. 10uF would probably be the easiest as it is very common.
IvIark wrote:I've got 0.1µF electros


i've got some .1uF mil spec tantalums that we could use as well.
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Post by IvIark »

We could do it with 3 rotary switches. If two are 4 pole 3 position we can switch between 3 different sets of caps for the 0.22µF and 3 for the 4.7µF, and then use a 2 position 6 pole to switch between 2 sets of tone caps. I've also got the switches unless people would prefer 3 sets for the tone as well, but we'd need to get hold of a 6 pole 3 position if anyone knows a supplier?
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