0.02uF or 0.047uF?

[shaggydawg]

What's the deal with choosing caps? In getting ready to install the JP wiring with 500k pots, I see drawings showing either 0.02uF or 0.047uF caps.

The original Gibson harness uses 0.02uF. Could it have something to do with 250k vs. 500k? :?:

TIA for any inflammation!

 

[jeremy]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

0.47 will have more treble roll off when all the way down than the .02 will. i usually use .02 or even .015 or .01, .047 rolls off too much for my tastes

 

[cream123]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

.02 take out less highs. so if that's what you want, i'd choose that. .047 take out more highs

 

[cream123]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

0.47 Will Have More Treble Roll Off When All The Way Down Than The .02 Will. I Usually Use .02 Or Even .015 Or .01, .047 Rolls Off Too Much For My Tastes

+1

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

0.47 will have more treble roll off when all the way down than the .02 will. i usually use .02 or even .015 or .01, .047 rolls off too much for my tastes

+2. And rolling back a 0.047uf tone control a bit less isn't the same as having a 0.022uf tone control either. The 0.047 has a lower frequency that it rolls off treble at. So if you want stuffy sounding dull tones, 0.047uf and higher will do those quite well if you roll the knob back a bit.

I've often wondered about 0.015uf or even 0.01uf tone controls...

 

[scottish]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

i use .02uf for everything, single coil or bucker.

 

[ErikH]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

I use mostly .022uf caps but have .047uf in my HH frankenstrat. I like how the tone controls respond. I can get a nice creamy tone out of it just by rolling them back some. A .022uf cap had more of a heel down wah sound that I didn't like. It's much smoother with .047uf with the pickups in that guitar (Gibson '57 Classic/Classic Plus).

The Eric Johnson Strat uses a .1uf tone cap. It's pretty neat sounding actually. I'm curious if that cap is poly film, metal film or what. In the wiring diagram from Fender, it's a big round drawing which usually indicates ceramic. On the American Standard, it's a small rectangle which usually indicates poly or metal film.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

+3 or more. I like .020-.022 on the neck and .007 or so on the bridge.

 

[J Moose]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

I've often wondered about 0.015uf or even 0.01uf tone controls...

It almost turns into a filter... roll it back & it sounds like a wah pedal. Sorta...

I find that much more useful.

 

[uOpt]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

I use 22 nF even for Strat style pickups.

 

[Franluthier]

Re: 0.02uF or 0.047uF?

It's not only the value of the caps. It also counts the value of the pots.

Tone control is a passive low pass filter in a guitar, so it cuts treble. According to what I've studied the resistance plus the cap selection will set the cut frequency.

That means that a 250k with 0.022 will cut different from a 250k with 0.047, but if you change to 500k in all cases the frequency cut will change, and it will be very different.