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Post by guitarman1 on Mar 28, 2006 11:00:35 GMT -7
Some of you regulars may have seen my post showing a parts Strat I recently made. After reading a "gaggle" of positive Internet reviews on Hovland MusicCap capacitors for guitar tone pots, I just had to have one for my new baby. I assembled this guitar from scratch, so I had know idea of the final tone. After completion, I plugged it into my Maz and immediately heard that it was a b-r-i-g-h-t guitar. Too bright actually. Well, I had lots of cash already tied up in it and it needed to have a fret job, so I sent it off to Phil Jacoby in Baltimore. He did the work, sent it back and called me to see how I liked the frets. In the discussion, I casually mentioned it was on the bright side. He immediately asked what cap I was using in the tone circuit. Once I said Hovland, he told me to get rid of it. He has put them in many guitars at customer's requests and most had him remove them shortly after the "upgrade". I pulled the Hovland & replaced it with a cheap $1.50 Mallory and it sounds like a different guitar. The over-brightness is gone. Theoretically, a cap shouldn't affect the tone with the tone control wide open, but it sure did in this guitar. Go figure?
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Post by billyguitar on Mar 28, 2006 11:52:26 GMT -7
Gerald Weber feels the Mallory 150 series caps sound the most like the vintage caps in old Fender amps etc. I don't know if they come in small enough values to work in a guitar. I think most old guitars just use the cheap ceramic cap.
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Post by zdogma on Mar 28, 2006 12:04:25 GMT -7
Yeah, that's strange. I would have thought it would have no effect with the tone off (open). Thanks for the heads up, I was thinking of buying some.
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Post by guitarman1 on Mar 28, 2006 14:33:59 GMT -7
Gerald Weber feels the Mallory 150 series caps sound the most like the vintage caps in old Fender amps etc. I don't know if they come in small enough values to work in a guitar. I think most old guitars just use the cheap ceramic cap. Billy, I replaced the Hovland with a Mallory Series 150 Metalized Polyester Capacitor. I know they are available in .001, .022, .047 & .1. I used a .022 uf. Here is a link to where I purchased mine. www.specialtyguitars.com/electronics/caps.html
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Post by dei305 on Apr 9, 2006 7:55:09 GMT -7
Hi Guys, I would highly recommend you check out sozo caps for your tone pot(s). I have been using .047's in my strats, tele, LP's, and all my fender amps. They do not color your tone at all. The range from full tone to full cut is amazing. Thanks! sozoamplification.com/
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dave
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by dave on Apr 10, 2006 4:39:49 GMT -7
Yeah, that's strange. I would have thought it would have no effect with the tone off (open). The value of the tone cap does affect tone even when the tone pot is wide open. I think the Fender 'no-load' pots were intended to eliminate this problem (albeit a slight one)
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Post by joekondziella on Apr 13, 2006 4:25:07 GMT -7
I got the Historic upgrade kit for my LP from RS with the Hovland musicaps. I replaced the the bumblebee caps in my '54 RI and I like. If your guitar is overly bright they have a different kit for that.
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