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P90s and capacitors


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Posted

I was wondering...

 

A lot of people say if you are using a single coil pup that you should use a .047uf cap.....

 

Now we all know P90s aren't your usual single coil they are much fatter.. And indeed Gibson seems to use .022s on everything these days...

 

So what I was wondering is that I have seen quite a few decent .033uf PIO caps im thinking about getting.. Do you think that would be a good half way house for a P90?

Posted

I was wondering...

 

A lot of people say if you are using a single coil pup that you should use a .047uf cap.....

 

Now we all know P90s aren't your usual single coil they are much fatter.. And indeed Gibson seems to use .022s on everything these days...

 

So what I was wondering is that I have seen quite a few decent .033uf PIO caps im thinking about getting.. Do you think that would be a good half way house for a P90?

 

 

The .033 are what I used when I put PIO in my Custom with P90's and I'm very happy with the result.

 

Johnny

Posted

People love modding their guitars. They go nuts over pio caps so go ahead and try them but you may not hear any difference. I played around with cap types and values and I am not sure I could hear any differences so I went back to just going with factory values. You aren't going to break anything with 33mfd. Heck, maybe you will like it better. Pretty easy to put the origonals back in if you aren't pleased with the change.

Posted

The .033 are what I used when I put PIO in my Custom with P90's and I'm very happy with the result.

 

Johnny

Cheers man, I may well try them [thumbup]

Posted

People love modding their guitars. They go nuts over pio caps so go ahead and try them but you may not hear any difference. I played around with cap types and values and I am not sure I could hear any differences so I went back to just going with factory values. You aren't going to break anything with 33mfd. Heck, maybe you will like it better. Pretty easy to put the origonals back in if you aren't pleased with the change.

Lol... In this case, nothing to fix.. Its for one of my guitar builds :)

 

This one

DSC_1874_zpsljmuvnfl.jpg

Posted

People love modding their guitars. They go nuts over pio caps so go ahead and try them but you may not hear any difference. I played around with cap types and values and I am not sure I could hear any differences so I went back to just going with factory values. You aren't going to break anything with 33mfd. Heck, maybe you will like it better. Pretty easy to put the origonals back in if you aren't pleased with the change.

 

 

 

I have to admit I was pretty skeptical reading the numerous posts and arguments for lack of a better description over the years on this and other forums. But one day when ordering some other parts I decided WTH and added a couple to my cart to find out for myself.

I put the .033 in my P90 LPC (these are changed values for that LP) and a .015 in the neck (again a changed value) and a .022 in the bridge of my bucker equipped LPC.

Sure the value changes made a big difference in what I heard but the difference in the bridge of the HB LPC I attributed to the PIO. Sure it could just a better tolerance of the cap, but I do really like what I hear.

 

Now have I run out and bought a box of of POI to swap out all my other guitars? Nope, but if and when I make orders for other parts as the need arises I just might add a couple more to the cart.

 

As with everything guitar related YMMV.

 

Johnny

Posted

Yeah I think there is a difference between PIO and say an Orange Drop type...

 

From what I have heard in my guitars.. and I must stress there is no better or worse, its just what you like and what you don't.... I find PIOs just to be a bit warmer....

 

I have never once changed any of my Gibsons.. And probably wont.. I like the way they sound already so whats the point :) Plus I just generally like to keep them as stock as possible. THAT certainly is a case of if its not broken, don't try to fix it.

 

The reason I ask is as I say.. It seems to me that P90s are between Hummers and traditional single coils... So if that's the case and everyone generally agrees that 0.022 is perfect for humbuckers and 0.047 for single coils.. It seems to make sense that 0.033 would be a good match for a P90 as its in the middle (almost)

Posted

Lol... In this case, nothing to fix.. Its for one of my guitar builds :)

 

This one

DSC_1874_zpsljmuvnfl.jpg

 

They just keep getting better and better Rabs. Been watching your other thread on this one, can't wait to see it finished.

 

Johnny

Posted

Yeah I think there is a difference between PIO and say an Orange Drop type...

 

From what I have heard in my guitars.. and I must stress there is no better or worse, its just what you like and what you don't.... I find PIOs just to be a bit warmer....

 

I have never once changed any of my Gibsons.. And probably wont.. I like the way they sound already so whats the point :) Plus I just generally like to keep them as stock as possible. THAT certainly is a case of if its not broken, don't try to fix it.

 

The reason I ask is as I say.. It seems to me that P90s are between Hummers and traditional single coils... So if that's the case and everyone generally agrees that 0.022 is perfect for humbuckers and 0.047 for single coils.. It seems to make sense that 0.033 would be a good match for a P90 as its in the middle (almost)

 

 

My P90 LPC had .022 in it when I got it, liked it but it could be a tad harsh at times, the .033 tamed it and made out more usable through out the sweep to my ears.

Posted

They just keep getting better and better Rabs. Been watching your other thread on this one, can't wait to see it finished.

 

Johnny

Cheers... Yeah im really happy with this build so far... The day that all the hardware is on and I can play it, that's when I will really know if its a success or not.. heres hoping :)

Posted

Lol... In this case, nothing to fix.. Its for one of my guitar builds :)

 

This one

DSC_1874_zpsljmuvnfl.jpg

 

I love the finish and flame on that! Nicely done.

Posted

I love the finish and flame on that! Nicely done.

Thank you sir...

 

Hopefully it wont be too long now and I will have it finished (cant wait :))

Guest Farnsbarns
Posted

People love modding their guitars. They go nuts over pio caps so go ahead and try them but you may not hear any difference. I played around with cap types and values and I am not sure I could hear any differences so I went back to just going with factory values. You aren't going to break anything with 33mfd. Heck, maybe you will like it better. Pretty easy to put the origonals back in if you aren't pleased with the change.

 

My guess is there are no originals. Rabs is our resident luthier. I would guess this is for one of his builds.

 

I would think that 0.033uF would be about right. Probably a case of suck it and see.

 

There is absolutely no doubt that different values will sound different. The higher the value the more high end it'll take out.

Posted

One time I increased cap value by %500 and yes I could hear the high frequencies were being filtered out. I never could hear a difference with minor value changes. Caps definitely do perform an electronic function whether you think you hear it or not.

Guest Farnsbarns
Posted

One time I increased cap value by %500 and yes I could hear the high frequencies were being filtered out. I never could hear a difference with minor value changes. Caps definitely do perform an electronic function whether you think you hear it or not.

 

I guarantee that a swap from 0.022uF to 0.047uF makes a huge difference. Definitely audible, most certainly demonstrable with a spectrum analyser and even more so with a scope.

 

 

Even an old 50s 0.022uF pio cap which has seen some high voltage/heat would have drifted enough to hear the difference. Many have drifted without high voltage or heat simply by leaking.

 

Cap values definitely make a difference. The old chemistry debate rolls on but value. Not in question, not even slightly.

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