Info and opinions on capacitors and their application please

[donzoid]

I have a couple of practical capacitance questions. I have pored over a TON of available information both here on this forum and ... well, all over the net. There is so much out there, for me it's "too much" I can't really get a good sense for a couple of real simple questions on one of my amps...and the amp I plan to build from scratch after I am done with this one.

So, based on the pictures...1st pic, the PCB caps that came on the amp:
1. Are they any good, or cheap crap?
2. Tone wise, or reliability wise would it be in my best interests to replace them? Or just "leave 'em be".
3. What type are they? Film? AL Electrolytic?
4. Does the line on the top of it at one end (see the red boxes) indicate the "+" side of a polarized cap?

And on the second picture, since I had to make an order for LarMar parts, I ordered a few of these. Second verse of course, similar to the first:
1. Are they a better grade replacement for tone, or reliability?
2. Are they non-polarized (I don't see an indication, or am not experienced enough to know "what" to look at.
3. These are film, and I've seen several instances where people put Mica caps in their place. What's the reason? I'm guessing tonal difference?

Finally, Since I am returning the amp (78 JMP 1959) to stock (with no Master vol) first, I am yanking out the PPIMV in there for testing my new PT. The last pic is of two Nicholson .022 caps in there (and coming out) are they any good is there an appropriate re-use for them?

Now, I have read the "Russian Caps" thread (and was quite humored) so I don't want to create a huge flame debate on the tone questions...just want to know if these "will" make a difference, and whether its worth it for this amp in the long run because this one is probably going to go in my casket along with my 50watt...no plans to get rid of it and I use them, almost every weekend. At least until I build my own. Thanks in advance!

[xtian]

First 1: Marshall used good stuff.
2: Leave them!
3. Film
4. these are non-poiarized. But the line MAY indicate outer foil connection, which can be oriented for RF noise rejection

Second 1: Mallory 150s are good but not better than those originals.
2. Yes, NP.
3. Mica are often used in tone stacks and as snubber caps, but you don't get values much over 1000p (0.001uF), so film are more suited as coupling caps, etc.

Don't know about Nicholson caps.

[donzoid]

Thanks X! Certainly makes the job easier, since I can simply re-solder the original caps back down to the PCB. Original MV left them there, just tilted up and there is enough lead left to put them back.

I've eyeballed a lot of caps both radial and axial, but had no knowledge of these PCB ones, so I appreciate the clarifications.

Thanks again,
Don

[vibratoking]

nicholson or nichicon?

[menger66]

If your gonna replace the stock caps im not sure mallory150 would be a huge tone upgrade over stock, sozo would be seen as a upgrade by most, but then again they might not sound any better thats something you would have to figure out, upgrading to sozo may add a little value as well, and most of those box caps would be coupling caps, electrolytic are use for the power supply filters and are larger with +and- on them there also used as by-pass with resistors mark[/quote]

[xtian]

I've eyeballed a lot of caps both radial and axial, but had no knowledge of these PCB ones

Check this out:

https://www.google.com/search?q=wima+caps

[John_P_WI]

About 5 years ago it seemed that the Xicon MKT polyester box caps were the reage of the Marshall boutique builders secrets. Wima box caps are good too.

[donzoid]

Vibrato,
I had to get out my grandpa's magnifier (yes really) you are right they say Nichicon not Nicholson...sorry!

[donzoid]

Thanks all...for future reference are the Wima caps on par or as good as the Sozo? Curious about that as I see so many Mallory "yellow" colored caps in builds on here. I am guessing they are older stock than the white ones. Or perhaps they are Sozo. seems like some of them said CDE or Mallory though.

[rp]

2: Leave them!

You say you want to restore it, so why change the caps? You hear few complaints about stock vintage Marshalls (or Fenders etc for that matter) and people pay good money for these for good reason, IOW contain your urge to tweak, get into scratch amp building if you got idle hands. I destroyed many a fine amp before I figured that out.

Put your energies into a tune up, likely new filter caps (and be prepared for a much harder punchier sound for a good while) and good tubes (NOS/ANOS). Personally, I'd leave the MV, it's already there, it's useful in 2013. Was a hole drilled for it? More reason to leave it. I't out of the circuit when cranked.

BTW as you got a PCB there, it's a PITA to swap caps, and you could do some damage, an other reason not to bother. Wimas would likely drop in but you'd need to check the lead spacing. You might have trouble getting most other axials in there especially old green PIO ruskies, which are the ones people hype. Vintage guitar amps never sported PIOs that I know of.

[xtian]

+1, rp!

I have a 100w Bugera chassis/transformers/head cabinet for you if you want to start from scratch!

[donzoid]

You confuse my unmedicated ADD with tweaking...that's fair.

Yes, that was the intent to going back to stock 1st, then if THAT all works, go to the LarMar (instead of the one that's in there...some strange variant...the Wima question was for a future build, not as replacements for this since you folks have confirmed the stock ones are good quality (my others have the older mustard caps all over in them, so I wondered how these stacked up to them....compared to the older boards, even older PCB they looked "cheap" to me probably only because they are different).

Way back when, I had the MV put into the vol. 2 hole so no extra holes were drilled. In fact I was planning to put vol. 2 "back in" and move the LarMar to the back...In 30+ years of using 100w Marshalls I have "never" used all four speaker outs all at once. My feeling has always been that if I could justify two cabs (or three or four) I use one head per cab...Stereo chorus and delay is a very nice effect but I digress...

In the interests of not "tweaking for the sake of it"...I will leave the MV in there for now, tracking # says the PT will be here today, I got my TAG light bulb limiter built yesterday for the powerup, and maybe just maybe if it comes early enough I can get it put in before tonight's gig (my birthday party no doubt).

Now X, about that chassis and transformer set....

[donzoid]

Oh and the tubes in it are tested perfectly good Siemens Germans, some feel those are very close to the original Mullards...preamp tubes I use are old stock RCA, and Mullard Blackburns so I'm well set there.

You guys crack me up.

[martin manning]

The MV that is in this amp is not the best. A Lar-Mar would be an upgrade, IMO.

[donzoid]

Martin...I agree. But as Firestorm said in another post on this amp, just want to get the thing running first! Then, I'll start tweaking with it.

I have all the parts here....it won't take long once its running.