5f6-a bassman cap choice

[ronman]

If you where going to build a 5f6-a bassman amp what caps would you use orange drops or mallory ?


Thanks

[echuta13]

A Sprague 225P cap might be a good choice if you could find them, ditto on Cornell Dubilier's WMF line (the Cornells are closer to the look or the Astron if that is important).

[Firestorm]

I assume the old Astrons (like in the 5F6A) were film and foil. Anybody know for sure?

[Cliff Schecht]

I think so, similar to the Sprague types that I used in my 5F6A (Sprague Black Beauties IIRC).

[selloutrr]

new SOZO blues / astron reproductions. They are awesome for all things Fender.

[rp]

I never cracked an Astron open but other 50s-60s molded caps I did open were all film and foil.

My 2 cents is avoid 715 in vintage circuits, they have an '80s buzziness to the distortion, not so organic. I kept thinking it was the speaker choice but it really was the caps. They sound clear and big at first they wear out their welcome. I think they are just too transparent or something to that effect. I had them in my 5f6a till I swapped out for 150s. Clear A/B difference to me, may not be the same to everyone. I don't love the 150s but better than the 715s. I love old caps, but they are getting really old now and most leak or are way off spec or both.

PS6 Orange ones are probably ok, I used them in my Lightning and I'm still loving it and I hear no negatives yet.

[Big Jim]

I just finished a 5E3 with the Sozo blue molded caps and the amp sounds beautiful. They look nice too.
Jim

[Firestorm]

I've been using the 6PS to replace leaky Astrons lately and they seem to sound just fine. Was using the 150s, but the fact that they're metalized polyester instead of film and foil didn't seem right in a vintage restoration. I have to try the Sozos; a lot of good word of mouth on the blues.

[Structo]

I think what we hear is that Mylar or polyester is the better choice in most cases for guitar amps.

When I research dielectrics the polyester wasn't the greatest when high temperatures above 80C were present but polyester seemed to have the flattest response across the frequency range of the other dielectrics like polypropylene.

Now as far as metalized and self healing and all that goes, I'm not sure.
But when I switched out Mallory 150's for SBE 6PS caps there was just a bit improvement to my ears. Not a lot but it was there.

Caps as with a lot of things in the audio and music world are very subjective and no two people hear the same thing.
But there are enough generalities that we can draw certain conclusions from observations by the masses.
How's that for PC?

[echuta13]

That's about as PC as it gets (and true). I'm collecting up a bunch of caps to do some listening tests with on a Champ'ish build (on a 12-pole switch). Up to my eyeballs in work, so it'll be a long time before I get off my arse to do it.