DoubleSixx Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Hi everybody, I was just curious about the legendary Bumble Bee capacitors. How do this compare with stock Gibson caps ? What's the difference ? Does anyone have sound clips of a comparison ? Any info will be greatly appreciated, thanx in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Hi, The stock caps that come in SOME Gibson guitars in "MY" opinion are crap! The VOS guitars come with the Bumble Bee capacitors, that along with the long neck tenon is what gives them there monster tone. I recently cut out my Caps from my LP Slash and changed them with decent Sprague Vitamin Q's. The change in the tone even through a little transister amp was AWSOME!! Thanks to the guys on this forum I chose the right caps to suit my pickups. I wanted to put the Bumble Bee caps in to begin with however I was told that would have a negative impact on the tone.... I had the standard .22f cap to begin with. Now that the capacitor (LP Slash only has one) has been changed I use my tone control so much more now.. Regards Simon Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleSixx Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Flight959, Thanx for the reply. After some googling I see that the Sprague Vitamin Q is 0.027 uf 600 Volts. Did that make your tone warmer or brighter ? I've seen some Bumble Bee replicas that were .022/400v, I don't know the voltage of the stock Gibson caps, but they are .022. Do you have the Alnico Pro IIs, or the Alnico Pro V or VI ? I know some version's of the Slash tobacco burst had differen't pickups earlier on but know I think the Pro IIs are stock. Again thanx for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinner 13 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I just upgraded my LPJ. scooped a lil of the really sharp highs, and pushed the mids up a touch. it sounds freaking awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleSixx Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 xsinner13x, What was your upgrade ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinner 13 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 the entire list? Sperzel locking tuners. Bigsby B-50 NOS pots bumble bee cap. Slotted compensated bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Doublesixx... It made my tone warmer... real bluesy sounding. The guitar tech that fitted them was really impressed by the difference it made. I bought the .22f 400V caps. I dont really think the voltage is a big issue. Increasing the number (eg. .033, .047, .068) will make it darker, decreasing will make it brighter The slash LP I have is fitted with the SD Pro II's. I have some spare .22f Vitamin Q's NOS laying around if you wanna try them. The Bumble bee caps (Original ones) can go for BIG BUCKS. There are so many diiferent variations and colour bands. Like the bumble bee caps the Vitamin Q's are also made from Oil and paper. Finding ones that havent dried out can sometimes be an issue. Drop me an email if you wanna try them clarkie715@yahoo.co.uk Regards Simon Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MI_Canuck Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 you can buy reproduction bumblebees from RS guitar works (they've had them now for only couple of months).... repros from Russia apparently (kind of cool if that's the case... cold war remnants, LOL).... they are .022uf/400v... only $42 for a pair! needless to say i have a pair on order (although i think they are currently backordered :D peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleSixx Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 What's the life expectancy for capacitors ? Is this the reason Gibson uses ceramic caps ? Thanx for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hi, I wouldnt think the life expectancy of caps was a real issue. The ceramic caps that Gibson put in are newer technology and unlike the paper and oil ones they dont dry out. There are also very cheap... But each to there own! Its almost like Ananlog v's Digital. Regards Simon Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil325 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 so what causes the bumblebee caps to dry out? would there be something to prolong its use rather than just buying new ones? i have a standard plus (2003) and i was looking into changing out my caps but i'm reading around on the forums for what to go for. i'm ging for a better blues tone if caps are the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayw09 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 You could probably dip the caps in wax before you hook them up... idk how much difference that would make, but i would think that would keep the oil from evaporating for a while... one thing I did to my $#!t guitar was to get some caps from radioshack for like 2 bucks a pair, and i got like three or four pairs of different capacitance ratings and wired them into a three position rotary switch. I ran all the circuits to one tone pot and replaced the second one with the rotary switch. I wired them in such a way that changing the switch position changes the amount of capacitance. I can't remember the exact number off the top of my head, but i think the positions are .022uf, .032uf, and .044uf. It works ok, but they're kinda crappy caps, so it only changes the tone when the tone pot is turned down below about 60%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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