Cap value for pearly gates ?

G

gimmieinfo

New member
I decided to give these a second chance in a different Epi LP standard and while i prefer the probuckers for some things, overall the PGs are much cleaner and more dynamic in a good way. However, i always disconnect tone controls because i just never liked what they do. But with the PGs i find on 10 they are useful to tame the highs. Problem is that the minimum i need to turn the tone down to get that slightly warmer rounded tone when on 10 is too much when i roll it down to 3-5 for cleans. The cleans just become too dull. Before i go to he PITA that it is to try a zillion cal types and values, has anyone had the same issue and found a value/type that doesn't ruin the rolled off clean tones too badly? On a side note, has anyone found a good height and polepiece setting that works best with the PG bridge pickup for best rounded highs and overall balance in a LP standard? It's a rather fat/dark LP.
 
Many users mount and promote 15nF caps + 50s wiring when it comes to favor clarity with P.A.F. clones.

That said and to evoke what happens in such a case...

With a bridge PG measuring 4.6H of inductance + 500k pots + a 10' cable measuring 370pF of stray capacitance, a 22nF cap would set the resonance @ 512hz approximatively. A 15nF cap should shift it up @ 633hz...

But that's only when the tone pot is @ 0/10. Once it's above 3.5/10, any passive tone control becomes mostly resistive and the cap value is no more important (IOW, the overall frequency response of a pickup with tone control @ 6/10 stays almost the same whatever is the cap value, even if this value keeps shaping the harmonics in a subtle way).

if one wants a tone control to alter harmonics rather than fundamental notes, the cap has to measure under 4.7nF (= 0.0047µ). Some pickups makers prefer cap values lower than this: a relatively well know artisan offers a "high fidelity" tone pot with a cap of 3.3nF (=0.0033µ). it would set the resonance around 1230hz once the tone control @ 0/10 with the PG bridge specs that I've mentioned.

FWIW - objective tech data that I've checked with my calculators before to post this. ;-)
 
Well, i suppose i'll try a .01 and go even lower from there and see what happens. I think its probably a matter of taking off only the highest treble so it doesn't utterly kill the cleaner tones. But in the past when i have tried real small cps they tend to make too little difference to matter but i wondered if the PGs might react differently given thier somewhat unique top end. Thats why i asked. Typically i have found there seems to be no middle ground as far as value. Type....well, i figured no one would address that since it's very controversial. And yes, i did try 50s and in fact thats how it's wired now but it also seems to accentuate mids when lowered with small values.

It's funny....as i said i almost never use tone controls (usually unhook them) because i don't like what they do to the tone, but thee ONLY guitar i have ever had where i found a tone to work perfectly is my 70s RI strat. Ash w/rosewood board. I have it on the bridge pickup and when i lower it it does exactly what tone should do. Don't even remember what value it is but it's a standard one like .022 if i recall. Somehow it's just perfect on that guitar but i have only had a handful of guitars that a tone worked perfectly on.
 
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