Tone cap toggle switch?? Help

mrn1989

I want to wire a Capacitor toggle switch but only want to switch between 2 caps, the link is for a 3 cap toggle, what do I need to do to change it for 2?

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/multi-capacitor-tone-control-737912/

I have 2 types of switches:

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y382/mikeoranage/705009_RB_00_FBEPS_1000_zps0a55913f.jpg

&

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y382/mikeoranage/20-pcs-mini-dpdt-guitar-car-amp-toggle-switch_zps1dd7a3f2.jpg

Which one do I need to use?

Any help is greatly appreciated, especially diagrams

frankus

The top one will do it. (AKA as an SPDT single pole double throw).

Wire both capacitors to the lug and to the throws of the switch... then take an earth wire to the common lug of the switch..

mrn1989

frankus said:

The top one will do it. (AKA as an SPDT single pole double throw).

Wire both capacitors to the lug and to the throws of the switch... then take an earth wire to the common lug of the switch..

Like this?

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y382/mikeoranage/Wiring1_zpsc1ca1c72.jpg

frankus

yep

that'd do exactly the same as I described

ICBM

frankus said:

yep

that'd do exactly the same as I described

But is better :P , because it doesn't leave the unused cap hanging on the signal path where it can act as an aerial and pick up noise.

For what it's worth, this is exactly the method I used to prove conclusively that cap type/brand/construction/etc makes no difference in an electric guitar, if you're interested in trying it for yourself.

Cirrus

ICBM said:

For what it's worth, this is exactly the method I used to prove conclusively that cap type/brand/construction/etc makes no difference in an electric guitar, if you're interested in trying it for yourself.

Out of interest, where do you think it makes a difference? I switched a silver mica coupling cap for a ceramic and heard a difference a couple of nights ago, but this is with the best part of 200v sitting across it. Do you think it makes a difference on amp bright cap positions?

ICBM

Cirrus said:

Out of interest, where do you think it makes a difference? I switched a silver mica coupling cap for a ceramic and heard a difference a couple of nights ago, but this is with the best part of 200v sitting across it. Do you think it makes a difference on amp bright cap positions?

It makes a difference for coupling caps where there is a high signal voltage applied to the cap, especially when it's a large proportion of the voltage rating of the cap. The reason is simple - self-distortion, caused by the dielectric properties being modified by the voltage. If the voltage changes, the value of the cap is effectively changed, which affects the signal passing through the cap, so the result is harmonic distortion.

If the bright cap is across a resistor or volume control with no large voltage on it, it shouldn't - but it might if it's in a place where there is enough voltage.

And it won't at all in a guitar, since the voltages are tiny even compared to the lowest-rated caps (usually 50V for non-polar types), and the cap is to ground anyway - rather than the signal passing through it - so the part of the signal with is affected (harmonics) are exactly those which the cap is removing from the signal.

mrn1989

Im going to use a 0.015uF and a 0.1uF to get the total opposite in tones.

This is the diagram Ive just drawn to follow, is this correct?

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y382/mikeoranage/Wiring_zps6ada0c0e.jpg

ICBM

Yes, that's right.

mrn1989

Cheers guys

frankus

ICBM said:

frankus said:

yep

that'd do exactly the same as I described

But is better :P , because it doesn't leave the unused cap hanging on the signal path where it can act as an aerial and pick up noise.

Always so rewarding have a wisdom, Sir.