Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on October 1, 2012 at 9:26am

Most commonly used capacitors don't have a polarity. Use a 0.022uF  or 0.047uF.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Rush on October 3, 2012 at 6:27am

The larger the cap, the more highs are rolled off. Keep in mind, the 500k pot blocks the filter more, so it gives a generally brighter sound.

.022 if you want brighter. .047 if you want warmer.

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Permalink Reply by TwoShoes on October 3, 2012 at 7:03am

use both on a switchable circuit?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Rush on October 3, 2012 at 7:36am

OR! You can actually dial in the capacitance you want by putting two in parallel (adds values together) with a pot in front of the larger one.

So, you could put something like a .015 in parallel with a pot going to a .033 and dial in anywhere from .015 to .048

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on October 4, 2012 at 3:52am

I favor a warmer tone. Should I go for a 250K on the tone pots with a .047 cap?

I  just posted I pick of my wiring diagram on the wiring group board. would you mind taking a look?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Rush on October 4, 2012 at 4:29am

You want your cap going to ground, not to output. You also want lug 2 on the tone control going to the pickup switch (or to the volume lug that's going to the pickup switch) and not to ground.

Also, make sure you connect that empty volume lug to ground!!!

P90s are a bit tough to find the ideal tone control for, because they aren't as thin as a Fender pickup but aren't nearly as heavy as a PAF. This stuff STILL gets debated. There's always the compromise of using either the 250K/.022 or 500k/.047

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on October 4, 2012 at 7:40am

Is this better Sean?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Rush on October 4, 2012 at 8:11am

Yep!

Edit: Looking at your old one again, I guess would have worked, but meh... I like my tone control to be set before the volume.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on October 4, 2012 at 8:19am

I am far and away not an expert, but isn't the cap supposed to be on the center lug of the pot instead of the outside one?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Rush on October 4, 2012 at 8:22am

That's the usual way to do it, but it makes no difference. Regardless, the control makes the resistance between the outside lug and the center lug.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on October 4, 2012 at 8:15am

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Ted Crocker on October 4, 2012 at 8:33am

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