Sozo's in a guitar

BrianH · Post by **BrianH** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:57 pm

The voltage won't really make a difference (though I've heard a few people say it does, I don't really believe it)... just plain ol mylar sound perfectly fine in a guitar. Lots of people like paper in oil, but I find they rob low end and make the guitar way too trebly-sounding.

sub · Post by **sub** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:39 pm

rockstah wrote:

..........

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:21 pm

Bumblebees The only way to Fly !!!!!

Scott

joshwilson3 · Post by **joshwilson3** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:46 am

sub wrote:i read: (subject: tone cap)
SOZO: The only one alternative capacitor for Bumble Bee
I don't know.......i haven't Sozos
I tried Mallorys 150 then Orange Drops 716 (everybody said OD better)
........Hmmmmmm OD not bad, but i like better Mallory caps
and if Mallory better (like OD)....... I WANT SOZO caps

Sub

So, are you saying I should go with a Sozo cap or a Bumble Bee cap for the tone pot? I didn't really understand your post. ??

joshwilson3 · Post by **joshwilson3** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:47 am

saborthw wrote:Bumblebees The only way to Fly !!!!!

Scott

Can you explain what this Bumblebee is? What value is that in your guitar? It looks kinda big.

If it matters, my guitar will be a maple neck-thru, mahogany sides, ebony fingerboard with a dimarzio megadrive.

How would you compare the following caps for a tone pot in a guitar:

Sprague "Black Beauties"

"Bumblebee" caps

Oil-Paper caps (Jensen)

Silver Mica caps

Can you guys suggest a good place to get these caps from? I did a little Google, and it seems some of these were from around the 50's. I only play metal and would like a really good tone pot cap, so point me in a direction.

thanks

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:58 am

Those large cylinders are the tone capacitors or Bumble bee capacitors .22 400V.(Bumblebee I guess for the stripes & kind of looks like a bumble bee), that are used in vintage Les Pauls.

I posted before Allparts has a Bumblebee Cap for $ 60.00 each

Antique Electric Supply has both Hovland & Auricap high resolution caps
for alot less money than Bumblebees or Sprague Black Beauties.
Hoveland $12.60, Auricap $8.50. I think someone said they were using these in a previous post

Check EBay under Sprague Black Beauties if you are interested in finding some vintage caps.

Let your ears be your guide there are no right answers, its what sounds best for the style of music you like to play.

Regards

Scott

joshwilson3 · Post by **joshwilson3** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:03 am

saborthw wrote:Those large cylinders are the tone capacitors or Bumble bee capacitors .22 400V.(Bumblebee I guess for the stripes & kind of looks like a bumble bee), that are used in vintage Les Pauls.

I posted before Allparts has a Bumblebee Cap for $ 60.00 each

Antique Electric Supply has both Hovland & Auricap high resolution caps
for alot less money than Bumblebees or Sprague Black Beauties.
Hoveland $12.60, Auricap $8.50. I think someone said they were using these in a previous post

Check EBay under Sprague Black Beauties if you are interested in finding some vintage caps.

Let your ears be your guide there are no right answers, its what sounds best for the style of music you like to play.

Regards

Scott

Ok, thanks. I've found some Sprague Black Beauties. How do you like them compared to the Bumblebee?

I'm gonna go with .022uf as I believe that is the value Gibson used.

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:08 pm

Basically they are the same thing except some of the visual vintage vibe is lost, since they are black and red but they sound the same as Bumblebees.

If you can get NOS !!!!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Scott

joshwilson3 · Post by **joshwilson3** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:37 pm

saborthw wrote:Basically they are the same thing except some of the visual vintage vibe is lost, since they are black and red but they sound the same as Bumblebees.

If you can get NOS !!!!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Scott

Some of those black beauties have yellow writing. I think the difference between the red ad yellow writing is the voltage they are rated at.

What do you think of the Sprague Vitamin Q's?

thanks

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:11 pm

I have a Sprague vitamin Q cap in a USA Wolfgang, I think they are OK but they cut too much bass for my taste, my wolfgang has a pair of Seymour Duncan EVH pups, it sounds great on leads but too trebly on every thing else I am going to change that cap out as soon as I can find a Bumblebee or Black beauty .22 400V.

sub · Post by **sub** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:08 pm

joshwilson3 wrote:
sub wrote:i read: (subject: tone cap)
SOZO: The only one alternative capacitor for Bumble Bee
I don't know.......i haven't Sozos
I tried Mallorys 150 then Orange Drops 716 (everybody said OD better)
........Hmmmmmm OD not bad, but i like better Mallory caps
and if Mallory better (like OD)....... I WANT SOZO caps

Sub
So, are you saying I should go with a Sozo cap or a Bumble Bee cap for the tone pot? I didn't really understand your post. ??

Sorry my english is poor

I had only original ceramic caps, Mallorys ,Orange Drops in my Gibson.
I don't know nothing about other caps..........
I think -> if i like better Mallorys

maybe i will to like lots better Sozo.... but who knows.......
I never tried Bumble Bee
"SOZO: The only one alternative capacitor for Bumble Bee" <- this is a quotation (i read this here--> proguitar.de)

...and please post me when my post is balderdash or something

Sub

gnugear · Post by **gnugear** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:13 am

I've only tried Auracaps and Jensen Paper and Oil. Haven't really listened too critically but I tend to like the Jensen's best.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:12 am

gnugear wrote:I've only tried Auracaps and Jensen Paper and Oil. Haven't really listened too critically but I tend to like the Jensen's best.

I thought the Auricaps sounded mighty fine....what am I missing by not tracking down paper and oil caps man?

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:26 am

Yeah really.. What?

gnugear · Post by **gnugear** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:51 am

Not really sure. They just look cool and I'm too lazy to do more swapping LOL!

If I had to guess ... I'd say that the Jensens had a slightly smoother sound. A little less sterile than the Auracaps.