Ηey everyone, what's the capacitor μf in this diagram? .022 or .047? https://www.seymourduncan.com/resources/pickup/wiring-diagrams
Capacitor value
- Thread starter gdboss
- Start date
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I don't see a diagram. If it's for single coils, those are typically .047. If it's for humbuckers, those are typically .022. But other values are also known to work to solve specific situations and combinations of pickups.
Sorry, this was the diagram, https://www.seymourduncan.com/images/wiring-diagrams/2H_2TS_3G_2V_1T.jpg
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Imagine that, because that's exactly what value I use for humbuckers.
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Whatever floats your boat. Capacitors are like 5 cents each and 5 seconds soldering time. Every guitarist should play around with a bunch of different values to see what they like. For me though, anything higher that .033 tends to be a little too dark when I roll back the tone knob with humbuckers. Usually .022 is a good place to start.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Pretty sure that I'm using an 500k audio pot and I usually only roll it off 1/8th a turn at most. And from what I recall from old wiring diagrams 0.047 was what was recommended by SD for it's pickups.
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
I believe where that originally came from was the Tele Gib, which was an early-mid 1950's Telecaster with stock wiring, 250k pots with .050 cap, but a JB and Jazz thrown in there. But note that a 1950's Tele is an ash body with maple neck and long scale, which is bright and snappy, so that blend really works well together.
ThreeChordWonder
New member
Starting point is 0.047 for single coils (4+7=11 or two ones) and 0.022 for huumbuckers (two twos).
Generally speaking a lower value cap will sound brighter / more treble-ey and a larger value darker / more bass-ey.
One last point. Those cheap $5 for 20 (or more) mylar film caps work just as well as $10 for one orange drops, or indeed $50 for one paper in oil ones. They're easier to fit inside a control cavity and won't leak either.
Generally speaking a lower value cap will sound brighter / more treble-ey and a larger value darker / more bass-ey.
One last point. Those cheap $5 for 20 (or more) mylar film caps work just as well as $10 for one orange drops, or indeed $50 for one paper in oil ones. They're easier to fit inside a control cavity and won't leak either.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Also, there's very little difference between capacitor values with the tone knob up full and 500k pots. They should be pretty evident once you roll the tone knob back to half though.
ThreeChordWonder
New member
beaubrummels
Well-known member
The capacitor value sets the corner frequency that is being rolled off. So a small cap value rolls off at a higher frequency, a large cap value rolls off at a lower frequency.
The resistor controls the amount being rolled off. The resistor value also interacts with the pickup resistance/inductance, etc. To the ears, a smaller resistor value seems to be a bit darker vs a high resistor value being brighter, generally.
Others can describe it in more technically accurate terms that the average player will not really follow. ;-)
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Yeah but 500k pots have to be turned twice as far as 250k pots
Not if they're log pots!
That makes sense. If you're using a .047 mf cap, you'll only be able to roll it off 1/8th turn and it will become very dark. If you use a .022mf cap you will be able to roll off your pot 1/2 - 3/4 turn before it gets too dark. That gives you much more control of your tone.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Given what I usually play, I rarely see the need to roll it off at all. But I understand the concept and if I found the need to use the tone knob more often, I would consider changing the cap value.
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