fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

Imp

New member
'lo guys,

will replacing poly film caps in effect circuits with their metal film cousins (same value and everything) be good in general for the sound of the pedal?

i've looked at keeley and indyguitarist, and it seems to be a large part of their work, much like filter caps in amps...

cheers, tom
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

Imp said:
'lo guys,

will replacing poly film caps in effect circuits with their metal film cousins (same value and everything) be good in general for the sound of the pedal?

i've looked at keeley and indyguitarist, and it seems to be a large part of their work, much like filter caps in amps...

cheers, tom

You're going to be pretty limited overall on what you can use because of lack of space on the circuit boards...My favorites are Poly Film CDE Cornel Dublier caps I get from www.mouser.com They're rated for 250v(Overkill) and yet they're small and I Like the tone I get from them...I use these in every mod I do,with the exception of my wahs...I use different caps in the wahs..

John
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

aha! cheers guys :burnout:

small bear's site is misbehaving... but none of my local shops seem to stock silver mica or metal film *sigh*

cheers, tom
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

Rid said:
I use them in powersupply filters, and for the added bass on the output, most other places I use small orangedrops.

Everyone loves the Orange Drops....They're "HUGE" caps! :13:
I Like the ODs in my CryBaby mods and in amp and guitar circuits...Especially my BF Fender stuff,but I Like the Mallory 150s in both my Fender and old Marshall amps...

John
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

I doubt that you will hear much improvement replacing polypropylene caps with metal film mylar-polyester caps or vise-versa.

Replacing ceramic or electrolytic caps with poly / metal film will yield bigger improvements. Changing the values of coupling capacitors can also be beneficial.
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Tom....Have you tryed www.digikey.com

My dad brought me home a Digikey cataloge the other day from work (he works for Panasonic) and its the most confussing thing ever, lol. If i wanted to order anything I'd have to sit there with him and ask him what is what because I have no idea, lol.
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

i use orange drops and sprague atom caps in the pedals i build. I have liked the sounds i get using those and until i find something else that suits a design i will use those, even if they are huge. Maybe i shoud talk to john about some of these other caps, just to see what they are like.

I do like the sound over the metal film caps i have heard. I seem to get a little smoother and a nice balanced response from the orange drops
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

mrfjones said:
i use orange drops and sprague atom caps in the pedals i build. I have liked the sounds i get using those and until i find something else that suits a design i will use those, even if they are huge. Maybe i shoud talk to john about some of these other caps, just to see what they are like.

I do like the sound over the metal film caps i have heard. I seem to get a little smoother and a nice balanced response from the orange drops

There's just no room in any tube screamer or any of the boss pedals for orange drop caps...They take up way too much board space,but they'll work in wah pedals...

John
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

thanks for all the pointers and sites guys :D

mouser emailed back, they ship to the UK as well :burnout:

i just like poking around inside the pedals i have.. i changed a few bits in my crybaby, its a much thicker, middy 'wah' now..
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
There's just no room in any tube screamer or any of the boss pedals for orange drop caps...They take up way too much board space,but they'll work in wah pedals...

John


that is wh i haven't modded pedals, i just build from the ground up, and i can fit them on perf board. how is the sound of an ornage drop compared to a mallory in one of the amps you use, if you ever had od's in it.
 
Re: fao PEDAL MODDERS - metal film caps?

ok, lets get this straight. there are 2 types of film caps generally used in audio applications. film foil, and metallized film. film foil are exactly what they say. a film of dielectric and a foil of whatever metal (tin and copper are used quite a bit), then rolled together (or folded etc). metallized film caps, a layer of metal is sputtered/vacuum deposited on a dielectric film. generally, metallized caps dont sound as good as a film foil cap, but they are self healing for overvoltages. but, use your ear and decide which is best for you.

germ
 
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