Cap upgrade question

[MBD115]

Hi guys

Just to have something to do - lets say I wanted to upgrade 2 coupling caps on v1 in a factory built amp from the very small square (mini-style) caps to say large Orange Drop caps of the same value - what could I expect from this swap-out ... Tone wise and maybe even gain wise? Also - is this even worth considering? I mean would there be any noticeable benefits?

Thanks

[bigsmitty]

IMHO you probably wont notice the difference but then it wont hurt to try it.

[soma_hero]

Shouldn't effect gain at all. You might notice the difference if the stock caps are real crappy. But yeah, you won't have any black and white revelations. Might be a nice little addition though

[MBD115]

Thanks guys for the replies. Maybe I'll do the upgrade!!! Might help it after all.

[Structo]

What amp is it?

[MBD115]

super champ xd

Actually theres 5 caps I'm thinking about upgrading. 1 between DSP and V1a. 1 between V1a and PI stage. Cathode cap on V1a. And the 2 caps just after the PI.

V1 coupling cap now is .022 and I'm thinking about trying a .1 instead. The cathode cap now is 22/25 and I might try a 25/25 there. The PI caps are .1 but are small size caps. The one between the DSP and V1a is a very very very tiny .1 cap. The value there looks ok but that tiny cap doesn't look like much.

[Structo]

You can't really go by the physical size of a cap to determine whether or not it is a "good" cap or "bad" cap.

You will not hear the difference between a .22uf and a .25uf cap.

Generally, depends where the cap is and what the purpose is, you have to go almost 100% in either way with the value before you hear a difference.

Cathode bypass will yield the biggest perceived change in tone, coupling caps second.

I personally think you would hear a bigger difference just by trying different tubes than changing a few caps.

[MBD115]

Well guys I took the plunge today. I tore into her!!!!

I replaced all the caps with Mallary and Dijons and the values of the old style Champ schematic I had on hand and boy what a difference it has made. I can't explain in words.

I did only do 1 at a time and test out the amp then did another and tested again so I could keep on top of what it was doing. I now have some TONE man!!!!! I couldn't be happier.

Man, caps do make a difference in an amp. I just wish I had bought some different ones to try out. I love it.

A cap upgrade is the berries man. I had no idea it would be like this. It is real what I've read. Good caps makes a HUGE difference is the amp and the tone and output. The caps are important to the max and good caps are the thing to do. These stock caps must of been real junk because they just didn't have the tone in them. These Mallary and Dijons do for sure.

Later guys. Going to go crank her up!!!!

[briane]

glad you did your own testing...

I cant believe people said:

IMHO you probably wont notice the difference but then it wont hurt to try it

Which implies they never tried this. Why do you think we spend so much time tweaking an amp? A huge portion of this tweaking is tryiing out different brands of caps... And if you cant tell the difference, then your in the wrong business.

Yes, two.022's are similar, but sound the same, never....not even for the same brand and make. Sometimes I will even go so far as to put a 6 way switch in there for a coupling cap, all same value, all different makes...Lets me find the best match for a given tone.

Glad you kept with it despite the naysays.

[MBD115]

Sometimes I will even go so far as to put a 6 way switch in there for a coupling cap, all same value, all different makes...Lets me find the best match for a given tone.

I'd love to do that

I got me a taste of cap-mania and I love it man. Those stock caps in that little amp must of been pure junk because there is so comparison to these good caps. I think I even got some gain with these new caps.

Thanks for the reply Briane!!!!

[briane]

Probably also worth mentioning that what you describe as square caps are likely the sought after 'Domino caps'. If they are brown, with indentations, similar to a domino, then yes

If so a number of people consider those highly coveted parts. I got a boxload of old pulls lieing around, but never tried them in a build.

[MBD115]

Well there weren't Domino caps. I think they were more like Cracker Box caps. haha

This amp is less than a year old so it had the newest junk they make in it.

[Cygnus X1]

I have a lot of those dominoes.
I only use them when I can't find a similar value in the mica or other new caps.

Yes, I agree-the caps do make a huge difference!

My first SEL build-I used Sprague orange drops-apparently the wrong thing to do in a Marshall style amp. Then I replaced those with Mallory 150's, and after that put in some mica instead of the poo-drop caps I had.
The whole amp changed tone- in a very good way.
It increased the touch responsiveness, took away the "snot" flavor, and the tone controls came alive.

[Structo]

Well I don't mind being proved wrong about something when there are good results from trying it.
That's great you got the improvements you mentioned.

Sometimes psychoacoustics play a part in it but if it truly improved the tone of your amp that's the only thing that matters.

[MBD115]

You know that brings up something I regret. I wish I had did some before/after recordings along the way, but you know how that goes.

I also wish I would of had a 6 way rotary and a lot of different caps to test out. Now that would of been cool!!!!