Tone and capacitors

[cjsinla]

My real question is this: When the guitar volume and tone are both turned up to 10, do capacitors even come into play at that point? I'm also interested to know if the capacitors come into play as you start to turn the volume down.

[Tim Plains]

Good luck with this one.

 

Caps have an affect as you roll of the pots...but not always. Each guitar is different - meaning, you may not hear any difference in one guitar but a huge difference in another - and then there's the human ear factor. Some people just can't hear a difference while others think they do even where this is no difference.

[Kennis]

The volume knob is not affected by the capacitor.

And even with the tone knob at 10 the capacitor "bleeds" some high end frequencies. there are different types of caps that reduce this, but there will always be a little bit lost.

There are special pots available, and a fairly simple way to modify a normal tone pot to be "true bypass" which disconnects the cap from the circuit when the knob is at 10 so the signal doesn't touch it at all, giving you the full range of frequencies.

[cjsinla]

1367805133[/url]' post='1371126']

The volume knob is not affected by the capacitor.

And even with the tone knob at 10 the capacitor "bleeds" some high end frequencies. there are different types of caps that reduce this, but there will always be a little bit lost.

There are special pots available, and a fairly simple way to modify a normal tone pot to be "true bypass" which disconnects the cap from the circuit when the knob is at 10 so the signal doesn't touch it at all, giving you the full range of frequencies.

 

I noticed that on my Les Paul traditional the tone does not get dark as I turn down the volume. Is this a function of the 50's wiring scheme or the orange drop capacitors or both?

[slavestate]

I switched out the electronics in my SG standard and I heard night and day through the stock pickups with the new pots, switch and capacitors. Give it a shot and tinker.

[cjsinla]

Ok, we'll see what happens. Was thinking about pulling out the PCB in my SG Classic.

[pippy]

I was a dyed-in-the-wool sceptic on this issue but through a strange turn of events was given a set of genuine PIO 'Grey Tiger' repros and the difference it made to one of my Lesters was astonishing.

Had I not carried out the change myself I simply wouldn't have believed it to be true.

 

I don't say changing any cap with another will make much difference but in this one instance it did.

 

P.

[btoth76]

Hello!

 

Another question that pops-up time to time. I want to add only one thing: some fancy stuff sold as Bumblebees are fakes. They are dressed to be PIOs, but they are just ceramic capacitors. Also I would not use any new-old-stock ones, since paper-in-oils are not made to last until eternity, they will dry out after a while. I would suggest to use high-quality, new, PIO capacitors, like Jensens, Angelas (same), Ampohms, whatever.

 

Cheers... Bence

[badbluesplayer]

My real question is this: When the guitar volume and tone are both turned up to 10, do capacitors even come into play at that point? I'm also interested to know if the capacitors come into play as you start to turn the volume down.

Yes and yes. Most guitars are wired so the tone cap is between the volume and tone pots. The juice has to go thru the cap to get to the tone control. Whenever the tone control has current going through it, the caps are working.

[btoth76]

The volume knob is not affected by the capacitor.

And even with the tone knob at 10 the capacitor "bleeds" some high end frequencies. there are different types of caps that reduce this, but there will always be a little bit lost.

There are special pots available, and a fairly simple way to modify a normal tone pot to be "true bypass" which disconnects the cap from the circuit when the knob is at 10 so the signal doesn't touch it at all, giving you the full range of frequencies.

 

Hello!

 

I am with Kennis. Although not completely sure, I just assume that's the case.

 

Cheers... Bence

[Sgt.]

Hello!

 

Another question that pops-up time to time. I want to add only one thing: some fancy stuff sold as Bumblebees are fakes. They are dressed to be PIOs, but they are just ceramic capacitors. Also I would not use any new-old-stock ones, since paper-in-oils are not made to last until eternity, they will dry out after a while. I would suggest to use high-quality, new, PIO capacitors, like Jensens, Angelas (same), Ampohms, whatever.

 

Cheers... Bence

 

+ 1 for Luxe Bumblebees. I like them. How long do pio's last until they dry out?

[btoth76]

Hello Sgt!

 

It takes long years. However, my thinking is: why should I buy 40-50 years old capacitors (that might be dead already), if I can buy fresh and better-built ones cheaper? I understand the appeal of a Bumblebee, but if it's not the original cap of the guitar anyway, why would I buy them instead of a Jensen - which company has the reputation of producing the best high-end audio components.

 

Cheers... Bence

[Bender 4 Life]

I thought that part of the problem with polycarbonated biphenal "oil" (PCB) was that it never dried out. I live 10 miles from the Monsanto plant that's had so much controversy re: PCBs that an entire quarter of the city has been emptied of residents/businesses and turned into a ghost-town due to discarded PCB oil from as far back as 1929.

 

I've recently dropped the(re-labeled) Emerson NOS '61-'62 PIO Russian caps into several guitars with results from good to amazing.

 

ymmv though......