The Truth about Tone Capacitors

[Leevi]

Just share this link:


http://zerocapcable.com/?page_id=224


/Leevi

[Joel]

No reference to using the correct instrument for measuring tone caps - the mojometer. 

Good read.  But don't expect common sense to alter the beliefs of the true believers.

[tubenit]

we have a tool that we created specifically for measuring the frequency responses of guitar pickups, and it has no such biases. Using that tool, we can measure the responses, plot them, and even create sound clips so that we can actually hear the effects of various tone capacitors.

I can easily hear a difference in tone between some types of capacitors.  I think their "study/experiment" is in error or is measuring something "different" then what I would refer to as tone. 

My experience is there are caps which are the same value that are brighter, or duller sounding or are smoother or have more high end harshness to them.

An oboe, viola, Tele, Les Paul, Strat and an accordion can all play the same note and each have a different tone. I find something similar in some of the caps I hear.

A great example is I changed out only two capacitors in a D'Mars that I built for an excellent guitarist.  I easily sold him on the idea that the two caps would give a clearer tone & he was very positive about the idea and biased in favor that this mod would improve his tone.  We tried it and he felt like it made the amp sound too "hi-fi-ish" and that it has lost some warmth and "vowel tone".   I heard the same thing and agreed with him and put the original caps back in. Both of us were anticipating something sounding "better" but we both heard something that did not sound as good.

Respectfully, Tubenit

[jjasilli]

I suggest that the article entirely misses the point by addressing only frequency response.  No one doubts that any cap will have a predictable frequency response, which will be the same as any other cap of that Farad rating.  Tonal quality will result from coloration - subtle affect to the Shape of the waveform.  By failing to consider this the article provides no useful info, but rather adds adds to confusion and hype.

[shooter]

addressing only frequency response

I check/install mostly as a "best practice" reason, then I can feel reasonably confident; "that probably ain't cap hiss", tone, real effect, those are up to the beholder

a single freq plot probably will not show the same as a spectral plot using complex frequencies generated by many strings interacting, is it the foil?

[Ed_Chambley]

It is known that everything in audio cannot me measured. Even Pete Millet agrees and I admit he has forgotten more than I will ever know.  For instance, if you use Solen Caps in a crossover of nice speakers the highs will be very tight and move towards to a sterile sound whereas Dayton Audio are more open and airy, but strings are not a clear.  I am speaking of 6 to 7 dollar caps.  The Jentzen caps used on the high pass on horns make an even more open airy sound and the strings all open up more and you can hear more of the wood from acoustic instruments.  $10.


If course, some drivers will react differently according to ceramic or alnico magnets.


It is not subtle either.


On Marshall plexi amps the OD 225 at the first coupling cap will provide a better overall clean tone the Marshall clean which is very nice to me, whereas a Sozo has more grit.  It is very obvious and can be heard in a recording.


Now I am not referring to silver or anything of that expense.  Also, most use Silver Mica in tone stacks, but I prefer the old Polystryene and some ceramics.  It is very easy to check.  Take a 5E3 and load it with OD715 and play it and record it.  Switch it to Sozo and you will have a slight amount hair on the notes even at the cleanest settings.


But I am sure I am probably just hearing things, just like some people say Output transformers are the same.  Jojokeo has a recording of the same amp with swapping transformers and it is easy to hear the difference.  I will admit that speakers and cabinets have the largest impact.

[tubenit]

I suggest that the article entirely misses the point by addressing only frequency response.  No one doubts that any cap will have a predictable frequency response, which will be the same as any other cap of that Farad rating.  Tonal quality will result from coloration - subtle affect to the Shape of the waveform.  By failing to consider this the article provides no useful info, but rather adds adds to confusion and hype.

I agree with this