Bianchi capacitors?

[AcornHouse]

Well, I know they weren't made by Bianchi, but can anyone identify who made the light blue green caps in this '66 Guild Thunderbass? No markings, other than the cap value.

(Any cycling fans, they are the color of traditional Bianchi bikes, a Celeste blue green.)

[img768]http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b59 ... 8c20cd.jpg[/img]

[roberto]

Searching "turquoise capacitors" on google you can find some infos in a rickenbecker forum, but you need to be registered to see the results.

http://www.rickresource.com/forum/viewt ... 2&t=360520

[Leo_Gnardo]

No answer I'm afraid on the turquoise cap'a maker. They were around a lot in the late 60s - early 70's. FWIW they were included in SS amp kits and other kits from SouthWest Tech. (Anybody remember the "Flaming" Tiger?)

Film cap of some sort.

I see the insides of a familiar Guild ThunderBass. Does it have working 8417 outputs, or are you going to run it on something more available?

[AcornHouse]

I'm going to try to go with the 8417s for the extra gain. I'm picking up a bass cab this weekend, so I haven't fired it up yet, but it's supposed to be working; at least the bass channel is. I'm working through trying to match up to the two schematics available, neither of which is this exact version.

[rp]

They showed up in Dynaco Hifi kits and those NJ Sano amps and I think I recall seeing them in Ampegs, anyone correct me? These were always flat pressed not perfectly round, like 225s. Really cheap looking things. Dynaco was Philly I think, Ampeg and Sano NJ - East Coast cap maker?

Maybe ask on DIYAudio site? I'm guessing they are like the dark green chicklets that still around today like in pedals, some form of really cheap polyester film cap.

If there was joy there someone would already be all over it, but who knows, it could be your new vein of gold tone discovery.

Now those 8417s really are a special find!

[rp]

Guild was NJ too. Hmmm...?

[ToneMerc]

These were always flat pressed not perfectly round, like 225s. Really cheap looking things. !

I have some robins eye blue Mallory's marked like that. I have wondered if they were rebranded because the lead diameter is thinner than the traditional Mallory's or the CDE rebranded Mallory caps.

TM

[HeeBGB]

So it's a Joisey thing now?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFXmOI2 ... X50xMYXam9

[Leo_Gnardo]

Guild was NJ too. Hmmm...?

Guild, Sano, Ampeg and to some extent Dyna, those guys knew each other. Some of the build styles and component choices, especially the first 3, make me think they certainly shared ideas and sources. Dan Electro wasn't far away in Neptune NJ and I'll bet was another member of the Jersey amp brain trust. Jesse Oliver too - with his own amps as well as his flip top design for Ampeg.

[rp]

I'm wondering if those turquoise caps were cheap Japanese? All those companies mentioned were making econo products on very tight margins. Guild amps too probably sold for a lot less than Fender.

[rp]

Dan Electro wasn't far away in Neptune NJ

I always wished I lived in Neptune NJ. When people ask where you're from you can answer - Neptune.

Wasn't Sun Ra from Neptune - the planet?

[HeeBGB]

Dan Electro wasn't far away in Neptune NJ

I always wished I lived in Neptune NJ. When people ask where you're from you can answer - Neptune.

Wasn't Sun Ra from Neptune - the planet?

I live in NJ not far from Neptune. Maybe 30 minutes away. AND.....no you don't wish you lived there LOL!

[Leo_Gnardo]

I'm wondering if those turquoise caps were cheap Japanese? All those companies mentioned were making econo products on very tight margins. Guild amps too probably sold for a lot less than Fender.

All sorts of things went on. I'm actually surprised to sometimes find (at least what I think are) upscale parts in old Ampegs. But then the founders were hi fi aficionados who also happened to play bass. Very old ones used EL37 output tubes, a premium 6L6 variant. Got a couple and inside they're not folded or spotwelded, the plates are actually bolted together, extra hand made. I'd like to see a competent reissue of that tube.

Sano had those big accordion combos, 1x15 plus maybe an 8" tweeter, super duper model had an extra 8" carrying only reverb. Ones that haven't been monkeyed with come in bearing GE 8417 outputs on a separate power amp chassis, Mullard 12AX7's & 12AU7's. All PTP wired very neatly. Can't call that cheaply made. Sano also had a couple smaller combos, some had kool "bauhaus" design cabs, grill-around-the-corner, neat stuff like that.

From one era, early mid-60's I've had some Guilds come in with chassis that looked like Lafayette, definitely made in Japan. I guess they boxed 'em up to match US style, sling in a Jensen and off you go. Good sounding amps BTW, of course once you've debugged 'em. They saved money, offshore the hi-skill labor.

Neptune was sort of one of those schlocky shore resort towns I got to see as a little kid when the family went to the beach for a swim & sunburn, now way down-at-the-heel like Asbury Park & other nearby towns. Even worse, beat upon by Hurricane Sandy a couple years back. The whole area a dry husk of what inspired about 29 dozen Springsteen songs. The Magic Rat long since moved away, nothin' left worth a look.