'Cap' modification

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:26 pm

My 360V64 has had the 'cap' modification done:

I'd appreciate some comment on the benefits or otherwise of retaining the modification. The toasters have been wound to 7.4k and the sound is somewhat 'thin' compared to my 330 with the 'stock' toasters.

Is the capacitor contributing to the sound, or is it the reduced resistance of the pickups? Or indeed, perhaps a combination of both!

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. At this stage I'm planning on removing the modification, thinking it may put back some of the depth and warmth it seems to be lacking.

Cheers and thanks in anticipation.

Aitch

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:25 pm

I've never played a guitar with the capacitor ... but in a bass the capacitor eliminates everything below a certain frequency ... it truncates the low end response from a pickup ... whether or not you like the capacitor in or out is a matter of taste ... I prefer it out on basses ... it is very easy to remove or install ... you just need basic soldering skills ...

wim · Post by **wim** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:13 am

I tried to install that capacitor too whilst unwinding the coils of the toasters on my 360v64.
I didn't like that sound at all. It cuts all the bass (and there's already not much bass).
If I read the info on this great forum correct, it was initially done to get more highs (relatively, because it only cuts bass) from the flatwound strings used in the sixties.
I use flatwounds on mine without the capacitor and it sounds just great. Maybe some day I'll try a capacitor on the neck pickup, just to see what that does, might be interesting sound.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:47 am

A cap wired in series with the output will pass a certain frequency on up (cutting lows) depending on its value. The input impedance of the amp has a factor in the calculation.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:59 am

There was a cap in my '80 330, so I replaced the loom with a new capless one (keeping the old one just in case I decide to go back).

You know Aitch....7.4's have loads of fans, but there are some (like ME) who find the sound way to thin & toneless (with the exception of the neck/mid combination on 21 fret models). You just MIGHT be one of those people. My advice would be to swap the 7.4's for some of the older hot toasters & I think you'll find that all will be well. My 1990 360V64-12 has some really hot toasters in it & it sings...the atypical Ric 12 string sound IMO.

I am not decrying the 7.4's, as I have heard some great sounds from them, but they are not to my taste, particularly in the bridge position.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:22 am

Tony, I'm with you on this one, I just can't seem to find a set of them. It seems many are having them unwound.

wim · Post by **wim** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:50 am

Tony, I had 13+ K.Ohm toasters in my 360v64.
And that's not what I bought a V64 for, you see?
If I wanted it to sound like a '94 Ric I wouldn't have bought a reissue.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:04 am

Thanks for the comments, chaps. I'll start by removing the cap and see how that sounds. I hadn't even though of the amp input impedence, Ken. Very interesting!!

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:16 am

I would have to do some digging to find the formula. I surely don't remember it off the top of my head. I was using it in building a passive filter for biamping a stereo.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:43 pm

Wim...do you want to swap that toaster?

wim · Post by **wim** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:42 am

Sorry, Tony, I already unwound them...

I tried a lot with those pickups to get that specific 'Ric' sound (before I was aware they were not up to vintage specs) and there was NO WAY I got that 'jangly' sound, whatever I tried.
I was very dissapointed at that time with that guitar.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:12 am

OK Wim, shame. You have to be happy with your sound though & I am considering winding mine to be hotter, so it's odd that some are unwinding & some are adding winds. As long as you get the sound you're happy with, then I suppose it doesn't matter either way.

I am not convinced that the hotter toasters are NOT vintage spec! See my '7.4 toaster' thread in 'Guitars'.

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:51 am

Where could I find the wiring schematics or drawings that depict this cap mod and one for the stock wiring? Talking about for a 1992 360/12v64.

Just asking because I'd like to compare them both to my guitar. When I bought this thing, it was advertised as the pickups being unwound (I believe it said to 7.8 though) and having the cap mod done so it supposedly sounds "just like the '60's."

Well, I've never taken it apart to look or measure anything yet so if someone could direct me to some schematics for comparison I'd really appreciate it.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:02 am

Howard: If it was my guitar, I would remove this cap.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:15 am

Hi Peter. It's coming out tonight (sounds like a gall bladder operation!!).