Vintage Synth Repair

I've been so far done recapping of mainly power supply, in analog
synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a full recap for a few
synths, and need to pick up the best make of caps for that purpose.

Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a bad experience recapping
an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of caps, and noticed some
change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded thinner once I recapped).

Any suggestions ?

Hi, i must say I haven't heard a difference but then
all of the syths i've re-capped just had standard
cheap electrolytics in them to start with.

Phil.

--- gil_we <gil_we@...> wrote:

> I've been so far done recapping of mainly power
> supply, in analog
> synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a full
> recap for a few
> synths, and need to pick up the best make of caps
> for that purpose.
> 
> Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a bad
> experience recapping
> an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of caps,
> and noticed some
> change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded thinner
> once I recapped).
> 
> Any suggestions ?
> 
> 



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In power supplies, I'd recommend Nichicon HE/UHE caps, their MTBF is
much longer than most capacitors. In the signal path, people recommend
poly#### film capacitors to replace electrolytics, since they're
non-polarized and have always good characteristics for audio. You
simply eliminate the need to look through tons of different types of
capactiors, there are no bad sounding film caps. There are two common
types, polypropylene and polyester. Polypropylenes are said to sound
better, but they start failing after 20-25 years. Polyesters don't
have this problem.

2008/4/13, gil_we <gil_we@...m>:
> I've been so far done recapping of mainly power supply, in analog
>  synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a full recap for a few
>  synths, and need to pick up the best make of caps for that purpose.
>
>  Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a bad experience recapping
>  an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of caps, and noticed some
>  change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded thinner once I recapped).
>
>  Any suggestions ?
>
>
>  ------------------------------------
>
>  Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


-- 
Antoine Deschênes

Thanks,

I'm referring to electrolytics only.


--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "Antoine Deschênes"
<antdes45@...> wrote:
>
> In power supplies, I'd recommend Nichicon HE/UHE caps, their MTBF is
> much longer than most capacitors. In the signal path, people recommend
> poly#### film capacitors to replace electrolytics, since they're
> non-polarized and have always good characteristics for audio. You
> simply eliminate the need to look through tons of different types of
> capactiors, there are no bad sounding film caps. There are two common
> types, polypropylene and polyester. Polypropylenes are said to sound
> better, but they start failing after 20-25 years. Polyesters don't
> have this problem.
> 
> 2008/4/13, gil_we <gil_we@...>:
> > I've been so far done recapping of mainly power supply, in analog
> >  synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a full recap for a few
> >  synths, and need to pick up the best make of caps for that purpose.
> >
> >  Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a bad experience
recapping

> >  an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of caps, and noticed some
> >  change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded thinner once I recapped).
> >
> >  Any suggestions ?
> >
> >
> >  ------------------------------------
> >
> >  Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Antoine Deschênes
>

Do these caps wear out if the synth is not used? I have a synth that 
hasn't been played for 20+ years, just wondering if that would 
benefit from replacements. (It has a new power supply).--- In 
vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we" <gil_we@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks,
> 
> I'm referring to electrolytics only.
> 
> 
> --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "Antoine Deschênes"
> <antdes45@> wrote:
> >
> > In power supplies, I'd recommend Nichicon HE/UHE caps, their MTBF 
is
> > much longer than most capacitors. In the signal path, people 
recommend
> > poly#### film capacitors to replace electrolytics, since they're
> > non-polarized and have always good characteristics for audio. You
> > simply eliminate the need to look through tons of different types 
of
> > capactiors, there are no bad sounding film caps. There are two 
common
> > types, polypropylene and polyester. Polypropylenes are said to 
sound
> > better, but they start failing after 20-25 years. Polyesters don't
> > have this problem.
> > 
> > 2008/4/13, gil_we <gil_we@>:
> > > I've been so far done recapping of mainly power supply, in 
analog
> > >  synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a full recap for a 
few
> > >  synths, and need to pick up the best make of caps for that 
purpose.
> > >
> > >  Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a bad experience
> recapping
> > >  an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of caps, and noticed 
some
> > >  change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded thinner once I 
recapped).

> > >
> > >  Any suggestions ?
> > >
> > >
> > >  ------------------------------------
> > >
> > >  Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > Antoine Deschênes
> >
>

Hi..yep they still can go bad over time even with no
use. I've bought NOS 20 year old stuff that has had
bad caps. If the supply in new then I wouldn't worry.

Phil.



--- nik_a777 <nik_a777@...> wrote:

> Do these caps wear out if the synth is not used? I
> have a synth that 
> hasn't been played for 20+ years, just wondering if
> that would 
> benefit from replacements. (It has a new power
> supply).--- In 
> vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "gil_we"
> <gil_we@...> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > I'm referring to electrolytics only.
> > 
> > 
> > --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com,
> "Antoine Desch\ufffdnes"
> > <antdes45@> wrote:
> > >
> > > In power supplies, I'd recommend Nichicon HE/UHE
> caps, their MTBF 
> is
> > > much longer than most capacitors. In the signal
> path, people 
> recommend
> > > poly#### film capacitors to replace
> electrolytics, since they're
> > > non-polarized and have always good
> characteristics for audio. You
> > > simply eliminate the need to look through tons
> of different types 
> of
> > > capactiors, there are no bad sounding film caps.
> There are two 
> common
> > > types, polypropylene and polyester.
> Polypropylenes are said to 
> sound
> > > better, but they start failing after 20-25
> years. Polyesters don't
> > > have this problem.
> > > 
> > > 2008/4/13, gil_we <gil_we@>:
> > > > I've been so far done recapping of mainly
> power supply, in 
> analog
> > > >  synthesizers. I'm no willing to start doing a
> full recap for a 
> few
> > > >  synths, and need to pick up the best make of
> caps for that 
> purpose.
> > > >
> > > >  Most important is, of course, sound ! I had a
> bad experience
> > recapping
> > > >  an old stereo amplifier with modern makes of
> caps, and noticed 
> some
> > > >  change in sound, in a bad way (it sounded
> thinner once I 
> recapped).
> > > >
> > > >  Any suggestions ?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >  Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -- 
> > > Antoine Desch\ufffdnes
> > >
> >
> 
> 
> 



      ___________________________________________________________ 
Yahoo! For Good helps you make a difference  

http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/