How about we post some pics and layouts?

[gnugear]

GuitarPicker said he has OrangeDrop 715s in his Express. I got some 716s to use whenever I get around to building mine.

[Moose]

I see that most of you guys are using Mallory 150 type coupling caps instead of Orange Drops ... any reason for this? A lot of Ken's amps seem to be built with Orange Drops.

I've used ODs (716s) and they sounded like ass compared to the yellow polyesther replacements I used. They had a top end that was harsh and the bright clean sound hurt me. I don't get those painful top end problems with my yellow polyesthers like 150s and, especially, with Sozos. So, I stay away from ODs.

However, like all things amp related, I advise folks to try things. You just have to see for yourself. I may not like a tone, but maybe I've got dog ears or am sloppy with a soldering iron and screwed my amp up some other way or something. You have to try things to see if they suit your own building technique and supply the tone you are chasing.

-Moose

[gnugear]

I agree. I've tried Orange Drops several times in my Marshalls and they sound grainy, harsh, and bright. I like Solens and soZos best so I'll probably go that route ... but I guess I'll have to try the Orange Drops again just to satisfy my own curiosity.

[RossH]

I ended up preferring M150's or similar but I wouldn't go so far as to say OD's blow. Just my view. I have a UL EF86 amp...say, Route 66-like and that thing sounds great with OD's. Actually, I used them because it was what I had. But it sounds wonderful. Maybe it all depends on the nature of the circuit or the spectrum of tone one is searching for.

Ross

[Funkalicousgroove]

Polyester OD's sound very similar to M150's, I like to use different types throughout the amp for different things, Like I always use Solens For the coupling caps just before the output because of their low ESR, But I like 225p OD's, or M150's earlier in the amp and in the tone stack.

[dms]

Hmm turns out the label "Orange Drop" really referes to at least 4 very different types of capacitor. I checked the SBE site and only then realized that the 715s and 716s are polypropylene, but 225s and 418s are polyester - and they all count as "Orange Drops." The odd thing, is that the SBE literature doesn't mention audio as an application for 715/716, but rather list them for high frequency, high pulse current applications... By contrast, the 418s and similar 225s mention audio, and yet when people talk about Orange Drop capacitors for amps, I've never found it to mean those latter two...

By the way, like the 225s and 418s, the 150 Mallories are polyester, as are the Sozos and the much-lauded Mullard Mustard caps.

That's the end of the science, now here's all the flimsy, heresay (voodoo) stuff:

When I purchased my Ruby kit, the K&M Two-Rock guys point blank steered me away from the polypropylenes 715/716 and specifically toward 418s, but those are very difficult to come by (someone mentioned Torres has them). 225s can be ordered with a bit of effort, and are the closest Orange Drop style to 418s.

A local acquaintance, who builds the "S*****" amp line uses 715s, but commented to me that they've been experimenting with Sozos, and are liking them alot.

After reading other forums, the general impression I've gotten is that: >polyester=almost always good comments, >715-polypropylene ODs=more good comments than bad, and most common cap for amps that aren't Marshall plexi clones, and finally >716 polypropylene ODs=more bad comments than good.

[doctord02]

This is in keeping with what I have heard as well... The 715 and 716 OD's being less desireable and the desireable ones being the 418's... Glad to hear there is yet another variation... Anyone have a good source?

[PeteRH]

I "thought" (yes somebody told me that somebody told them) that the 6PS caps are the closest to the 418's. Antique electronics stocks the 6PS ....but it may be worthwhile doing a bit more checking before you order a hundred.
Cheers
PeteRH

[dobbhill]

Datasheets from 1988....

[dobbhill]

a couple more...

[dobbhill]

Apparently the 225P and 418P are the same thing. I guess what we are discussing is the difference between film/foil and metalized film, and also the difference between polyester and polypropylene (f/f and mf). The PS line seems to be polyester up to the 1000v + range. Are the Mallory 150's metalized polyester or polyester film/foil?
Dobb

[markd]

Are the Mallory 150's metalized polyester or polyester film/foil?
Dobb

polyester film/foil.
http://mhuss.com/php/pix.php?p=MalloryYellow
markd

[PeteRH]

The attached links have IMO some interesting and learned opinions on cap choices relating to OD's (418, PS, 225, 715, 716) and Mallorys.

http://xoomer.virgilio.it/augiuliv/amps/caps.html

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~mic/info/amps ... Drop-Diffs

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~mic/info/amps ... ange-Drops

Enjoy
Pete

[gnugear]

Damn, maybe I'll just use the soZos and not even bother with my 716 Orange Drops.

[RossH]

Damn, maybe I'll just use the soZos and not even bother with my 716 Orange Drops.

Well I think that, or M150's, would be your option if this is the case. I have scoured google and all I can find regarding 418 availability is a limited selection at mouser that are not in stock or the ones available at http://www.torresengineering.com/topqualcapre.html

I am a bit tempted to take out my 715's in the one amp that has them and replace them with 418's but it really sounds good as it is. Time will tell...

~ Ross