77 Deluxe Reverb Electro. Caps.... Recommendation?

[Pastortom]

Guys.......   I have a very nice 77 Deluxe in my little arsenal, and want to change the electrolytic caps.......They're originals........'Tis the season, me thinks.

Some of this stuff makes me dizzy........I'd appreciate a recommendation from those with the knowledge.....namely, you'se guys on this forum.

What caps should I use, in your humble opinions?.......and where to buy without getting skinned?

[sluckey]

Buy from Doug.

[phsyconoodler]

Yup.

[Platefire]

Sprangue Atoms has kind of been the standard when you have room for them because they are a large cap but check the dimensions on your existing caps= diameter and length and compare with the Sprangue dimensions. The Illinois caps are a smaller less expensive cap and are good where space is limited. Don't know what your DIY level of experiance is but these caps are positive(+) and negative(-) leads, so be sure the positive is in the voltage stream and negaive goes to ground. Also your old caps store a high voltage charge(that can hurt you) and need to be discharged before removal. So if the Sprangue are not too large, just replace with the same values and your good to go. Platefire

[stratman_el84]

Current Sprague Atom caps are normal modern-tech caps placed inside a container the same size as the old Sprague Atom caps. They are meant as replacements in vintage equipment where the mounting or other factors demand a replacement component of the same dimensions. Electrically they are no different than other modern caps. Illinois caps are either Chinese or Indonesian (?) and although I've not personally had any issues using them, many consider the Illinois caps low-grade. I've had excellent results with F&T electrolytics, and are what I typically build my amps with. You should have no problems replacing the stock caps in your SF-DR with F&T caps either size- or quality-wise.

Hope that helps!

Strat

[Pastortom]

 .....Sorry Doug........I didn't look to see if you sold caps.......I've bought a lot of stuff here too.......Brain freeze........

Continuing the question, should I just match the amp's existing values, or is there a 'tweaked' value I should use instead?   I've had some local back yard mechanics give advice, but don't ever trust 'em........

Not sure what to say about it........

..........and yes, I do a fair amount of wiring.......shouldn't be a problem to replace the caps.......

[phsyconoodler]

Use the original values.Don't listen to hot-rodders when it comes to a Deluxe Reverb.Leo did it right.

[Pastortom]

I figured as much, but always good to ask.........

Thanks Psych.  (and the rest of you'se guys).     (that's me going up in flames when I DON'T ask......)

[stratman_el84]

Use the original values.Don't listen to hot-rodders when it comes to a Deluxe Reverb.Leo did it right.

+1 On this. Small-ish amps in particular have a large part of their sound, feel, and compression determined by the behavior of the power supply, which in turn is greatly affected in most guitar amps by changes to the PS filter caps. Since those characteristics make up so much of what makes a DR sound/play/feel like a DR, sticking with original values (or closest capacitance-wise in a pinch) is essential to it continuing to sound/play like a DR.

Strat

[Baguette]

IIRC the original DR had 450V caps. I would change that up to 500V since some DR can go north of 430V on the plates.
Change the 16uF with F&T 22uF 500V and be done with it.

[stratele52]

Use high quality capacitors like Sprague Atom or F &T . Nothing else.

[HotBluePlates]

I'd say use closest to stock values, with the same or higher voltage rating (consider climbing wall voltages).

For brand, use whatever makes you feel good. Buying from Doug is a good idea, because no one will get it to your door faster.

As for the issue described with Sprague Atoms, see below...

[Ed_Chambley]

Recently I have had 1 like new Spraque Atom go south and another suspected.  I just received some F&T for replacements in a Super Reverb suspected of a bad filter cap.  The cap is 3 months old and they keep getting more costly.  F&T's are a third as much, but Doug does not sell them.  The Tube Depot.  Took 2 days to get them.  BTW, the caps did not go bad from tinkering.  They are in my main amps that I not done any modifications in years.  May be just bad luck as until now I have not used anything but the Atoms.  If the F&T work out well, I will never pay $15 when I can get a good cap for $6.  It doesn't make sense IMO.