
I recently ran across a nifty tip in a PG Mag comment thread about tone caps.
The commenter suggested adding a small IC socket in place of the tone cap to easily facilitate switching caps when testing various ones to find the best capacitor for your tone.
For example, with a small 8 pin socket like the one pictured, you could simply trim off the 6 unsoldered legs you won't use and insulate the unused socket & trimmed metal surfaces with nail polish.
Then just "plug in" your test caps to find your favorite one.
This spares your pots from repeated re-solders-- the heat from which can sometimes harm the tone pot. The socket also provides a more accurate impedance characteristic than testing alternate caps with clip leads. Now isn't this a fun & relaxing way to chase tone!
Radio Shack sells IC sockets for cheaper than Skittles-- especially those at the cineplex.
Check the links below for popular caps in guitar applications, i.e. Orange Drops, Vitamin Q's, Cornel-D's, Paper in oil, Ceramic Disks, etc. Vintage and NOS style caps are available. So before committing to yet another set of pickups, why not booty call a sampler assortment of caps and make a party out of it. A tone party! Oh my, we're livin' on the edge now.
Billy Penn at 300Guitars.com wrote a most informative post about tone caps which will help you decide what to include in your sampler assortment. Read it!
Suppliers for GROOVY CAPS:
Redtail Guitar Accessories
Angela Instruments
Axegrinderz-Guitar-Tone-Products
NewOldSounds-Superstore
(more links to more upgrade stuff)
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Pin It Now!
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