Parallel different cap types for better tone?

[SILVERGUN]

SG, I can remove if wanted

No way.....there will be no editing.....your touches are always appreciated
And yes,,,some of the kids that were born after 1980 will want to be able to keep up with Ed's material 

Out of all the discussion and effort here I want to capitalize on the moment to find out if you, Ed, or anyone else has also tested & used the outside foil in the proper manner while conducting these tests?

No,I haven't....I've just been clipping and listening....with reckless abandon
But the thought did cross my mind as to whether that might play a role....

[Ed_Chambley]

Ed, I think you mean "coupling cap"? It's the cap that goes between the plate to the next stages grid.


             Brad     

Yes, I have heard this as well.  On the image I posted there is a reference to coupling caps as well.  I am not sure why they call them plate bypass, but it is common terminology that is used on the Metro Forum.  There are some pretty sharp guys hanging out there as well.  I think I will make a post over there and ask why they call them bypass as opposed as coupling caps.

[Ed_Chambley]

Joe, yes, the cap orientation was correct every time.  I could never really determine the outer foil for the Orange Drops every time where I felt confident using an amp and my fingers.  A while back I simply tested all with a scope and marked them.

The vast majority of caps I use are marked during manufacturing.

Give it a try Jojokeo.  It is actually pretty cool to get qualities of both.  A simple idea.  I doubted it at the start and was not going to do it, but after a little critical thinking I was left with the question of why wouldn't you get a shared quality to the caps?

[jojokeo]

Give it a try Jojokeo.  It is actually pretty cool to get qualities of both.  A simple idea.  I doubted it at the start and was not going to do it, but after a little critical thinking I was left with the question of why wouldn't you get a shared quality to the caps?

I plan on it at some point but I've got a few pedals to build as the holiday season approaches plus my new amp build that's been waiting for a very long time has me chomping at the bit. This cap idea of SGs makes perfect sense as there has to be various properties associated to different types of dielectric and insulator materials used in manufacturing and we've all heard a bit of difference btwn the Mallories & ODs before. What if along with a "shared quality" they also had a type of canceling quality too like a touch of negative feedback? When you guys spoke of a "tightening up" of the sound, this is what occurred to me. Stranger things have happened, lol.

[jojokeo]

SG, I can remove if wanted

No way.....there will be no editing.....your touches are always appreciated
And yes,,,some of the kids that were born after 1980 will want to be able to keep up with Ed's material 

Out of all the discussion and effort here I want to capitalize on the moment to find out if you, Ed, or anyone else has also tested & used the outside foil in the proper manner while conducting these tests?

No,I haven't....I've just been clipping and listening....with reckless abandon
But the thought did cross my mind as to whether that might play a role....

SG, even though I was being serious I also was being a little silly throwing in a couple puns - after all it is Friday. :) IS it beer-30 yet??? 

[SILVERGUN]

You know what I said about typed words on a page......
If there's ever 2 or more ways to take something I write please follow these guidelines:
1) Take it the way that will make me seem more intelligent
OR
2) Take it the way that will make you laugh more
OR
3) Take it the way that makes me seem like less of an idiot
OR
4) Call my wife and ask which way she would take it ,,,and then just take it the other way!

This way I will always win.
 

[HotBluePlates]

... I ran across some general purpose caps (see attachment) that I like very much.  ...

If the yellow caps have "150" on them, as in the data sheet you attached, then they are Mallory 150's (or Vishay or CD or whoever is stamping their name on them now).

If no "150" then they're what the radio guys just call "yellow caps": good generic polyester caps (no idea if film & foil, or metallized).

I used the generic kind in my 25L15, with no ill effects.

[SILVERGUN]

OK, I've got some more results and then I'm done for the weekend....
I moved over to the Sovtek/Bogner hi gain manchine that I thought was ready to go back to it's rightful owner....it wasn't

I had already put  a .01  Mal150 accross the existing .022 OD mid cap(to get to .033) and it helped, and I left it......so I went right for the post PI caps.

I had 2- .047  Mal.150s in there and had tweaked it down to a point where I was very happy with it.

Tonight I tried going over the top and adding parallel .1 OD's ,,,and it was too much of a good thing....the added brightness just brought too much ice-picky sparkle.
So I worked my way down to .01 OD's and it definitely sounds better with them IMO,,, and I got an overall more defined tone.
So that was about a 5/1 ratio
This IS fun,,,,,,,and I truly appreciate everyone's input 

[jojokeo]

SG, sorry but w/ all the values flying around I don't know exactly what's working and what's not. When you speak of adding .01 across .02's I know it's .03 but when you say "worked my way down to .01's" from .1's (remembering original's are already .047's) and you then say about 5:1 ratio now this can be a bit confusing between two different things.
.1 to .01 is 10:1 and if I guess am I to think that you have upped your original .047's to .057uF now? If so then .047uF//.01uF= 0.057uF which is appx 22% increase. So this new value being used actually is about 5:1 from the original value you began with. Is the latter part correct w/ your original statement?

[SILVERGUN]

So this new value being used actually is about 5:1 from the original value you began with. Is the latter part correct w/ your original statement?

Yes Sir...that is correct:
 5 parts Mallory 150 (.047 rounded to .05)
to
 1 part 6PS OD (.01)

Sometimes I read my own stuff back and think  "oh yeah, someone's gonna be scratchin their head"

Also,,, this all seems to make more of a difference at higher volume....
i.e.....I tried it with the Master on 2 and couldn't hear much effect.....but with it on 5, there was no mistaking the change
So if your gonna give it a go,,,,don't give up until you crank it

It seems to work great on a higher gain channel that might be a little muddy without it

[jojokeo]

5 parts Mallory 150 (.047 rounded to .05)
to
 1 part 6PS OD (.01)

Nice! Now it's starting to sound like a recipe! Bake and play at 350º or until done  

[Ed_Chambley]

... I ran across some general purpose caps (see attachment) that I like very much.  ...

If the yellow caps have "150" on them, as in the data sheet you attached, then they are Mallory 150's (or Vishay or CD or whoever is stamping their name on them now).

If no "150" then they're what the radio guys just call "yellow caps": good generic polyester caps (no idea if film & foil, or metallized).

I used the generic kind in my 25L15, with no ill effects.

Thanks HBP, did not know that.  They have the 150 on them, but they are packaged in those antistatic foil bags.  So really they are yellow mallory's. 
I know you used those in the 25l15 and I am sure it is as clean as amp as they come.  Least ones I have heard are.  Like you mentioned, it has a hifi sound and you really like the treble cut.  I have a box of those, some say Mojo and some just have a value.  I like them just fine.