Guitar Amp Question!!!!! Adding Film Cap?

[zxx123]

Many hifi DIYErs like to add Film Cap in decoupling electrolyte cap of PSU in order to lower impedence. Yes, it gives faster response of sound and more detail

However, how about guitar amp? Do you think of any benefit from adding film cap?

Thanks..

 

[Giaime]

If you mean an old tube guitar amp, you'll get more improvement by replacing the electrolitics capacitors. But wait! You will lose a part of that "vintage" warm compression, because with new capacitors the pwr supply would sag less. Many people has reported that when replacing old electrolitycs in guitar amp, there was an added detail and complexity in sound (just because hum seems to masque some armonics of the guitar).

If the amp has got fresh capacitors, remember that in tube amps there is significanty less current that comes out of the pwr supply than ss amps, so bypassing electros with small caps would have less effect. But why don't you try and report the results?

 

[anatech]

Now here's a good question. How did that old guitar amp sound when new? Do we want the "defective" sound or the manufacturer's intended sound? Since we are creating music, the worn out stuff can be considered an effect. It's all personal choice.
Replacing the caps to reduce hum brings the amp back to the original design and performance. Possibly a little better electronically, but still closer to new performance.
-Chris

 

[zxx123]

thanks..

i am not a vintage worshiper.
i will try and report here.

 

[Enzo]

Paralleling the filter caps with film caps is not done to affect sag, it is there to bypass higher frequency noise around the electrolytic. If you add them, probably only makes much difference on the first node. If it does anything it will reduce sizzle from power line crap.

I find that in guitar amps the sag comes mainly from the rectifier and resistance in the B+ chain. Also, the size of the power transformer makes a difference as the Rectified voltage will sag from transformer sag. A 20uf cap renewed I don't think is going to remove much sag from an amp.

New filters will reduce hum, but they can't do much about the voltage coming out of the xfmr.

 

[Enzo]

Oh goodness, the language police objected to my word for power line noise and garbage. I thought it was mild enough, sounds like the word "trap," but starts with a C. Sorry.

 

[Giaime]

Excuse me Enzo, I didn't explain it well. Caps affect the general dynamics and harmonics of the amp, not the "sag". Anyway for the sag you can change the rectifier type...

 

[anatech]

Hi Enzo,
Now that got me laughing! Thanks! Holy c**p!

-Chris

 

[Giaime]

sounds like the word "trap," but starts with a C.

Oh, we don't care. Same thing for me in another topic... and Chris remembers that.

 

[pinkmouse]

And that's quite enough of that sort of language! 😉

 

[bluesamps]

Enzo, whay is power line signal

Enzo,

What is power line sizzle and is it audible when an amp is being over driven?

Bluesamps

BTW, enjoy your comments on ampage, as well.

 

[Enzo]

Oh certainly it is not a technical term, just a descriptive choice of words here. If there is impulse noise on the powerline, it has high frequency components. The large filter caps are good at low frequencies like 60Hz, but at higher freqs they can be even inductive. SO noises like sizzles can get through. A film cap can help squash that.

Motors, poorly filtered digital gear, flourescent lighting, etc all can add higher freq noise to the power lines. (Taking a chance here) Just general poop you'd rather not have in your audio.