What type of capacitor gives the best sound?

[duck_arse]

capacitors need breaking in now as well?

I knew the polarised, oxygen free copper mains leads needed breaking in, but any fool knew that.

and is that 14$ cap a "tone cap" or a "string ground cap"? you wouldn't want to get those two confused.

[amptramp]

Yep, audio capacitor -threads never fail to deliver.

How about breaking them in?

Yeah, with oil filled caps, how often do you change the oil?  I year or 5000 songs?  Do you need to replace the filter as well?  Does 5W-30 work all year round?  Where is the sunp plug?

[gritz]

Yep, audio capacitor -threads never fail to deliver.

How about breaking them in?

Yeah, with oil filled caps, how often do you change the oil?  I year or 5000 songs?  Do you need to replace the filter as well?  Does 5W-30 work all year round?  Where is the sunp plug?

Heh, anyone who has a niche / sporty / classic car or motorcycle will possibly have experienced "what oil?" threads on auto forums. They're pretty much as messy as "what cap / speaker cable / etc" threads on audio sites. Messy.

[puretube]

What type of capacitor gives the best sound?
...

No  ...

[rousejeremy]

I replace my paper in oil caps every 7500 songs.

[alparent]

I switched to synthetic oil and I'm good for 15 000 songs.

[teemuk]

But you can't get the organic richness of crude oil with synthetic products. It's like playing a modeling amp against the real deal. 

[rousejeremy]

You guys are all wrong. It's a combination of how many times the tone knob is turned down AND the oil. The oil in teh capacitor breaks down the most while it is shunting highs to ground. That's why I turn the tone knobs up to ten when I'm not using the guitar. It extends the caps life by at least 5 years.

[duck_arse]

I always wondered what the tone knob on a guitar was for. now, it seems, it is there to preserve the life of the tone capacitor. my guit's cap isn't oil filled. where does that leave me, tone knob-wise?

(I might add that my guitar needs new controls and wiring ..... )

[teemuk]

If you doubt the validity of information in above posts, here's a random oscilloscope capture that proves everything correct.

[alparent]

You noticed that faded wave in the middle of the scop's screen! That's how you know your due for an oil change!

[Paul Marossy]

The best sounding caps to me are the ones that have sound going thru them. 

[chromesphere]

$150 for 2 capacitors...you have got to be kidding me...What are they made of? Unobtainium?

I love these threads by the way   I feel sorry for the new guy thats just starting out in pedal electronics and doesnt know any better though.

Paul

[rousejeremy]

You noticed that faded wave in the middle of the scop's screen! That's how you know your due for an oil change!

Yup, too much Mustang Sally.

[jk-fm]

Only the finest tropical wood housing

http://www.dhtrob.com/projecten/elna1_en.php

[duck_arse]

" .... A look at the actual capacitor, a piece of rolled up paper with the electrolyt in between. Remove carefully the filings by blowing or by brushing...."

I only got to page two, I get better ways to waste my download limit.

I wonder if these guys have thought of stone as a casing. nice bit of granite for each of your 10uF 35V electros.

.... now stop fileing, and carefully blow away the filings ....

[stallik]

Alternatively, you could create a vinyl sticker to go round your electrolitics. The following example has all the relevant words and just looking at the cap will make your pedal sound better - even before you fit it.....

[teemuk]

Here are some fancier wrapper alternatives.... a whole series of them.

Tropical Fish caps = TONE! 

[Perrow]

Here are some fancier wrapper alternatives.... a whole series of them.

Tropical Fish caps = TONE! 

LOL

No really I LOLed.

[Mike Burgundy]

How about breaking them in?

I like to toast mine before installing, about 23m in a popcornmaker. This only works when using fresh natural oils for filling the caps, and finishing with a triglyceride mixture commonly know as butterfat. This reduces break-in time by over 15%.