Differences between version 11 and previous revision of ToneGeneratorCapacitorReplacement.

Other diffs: Previous Major Revision, Previous Author

Newer page: version 11 Last edited on October 7, 2010 11:20 am. by
Older page: version 6 Last edited on December 28, 2009 9:48 am. by
@@ -42,6 +42,31 @@
 ---- 
  
 StefanVorkoetter has written a comprehensive article describing the why and how of tone generator capacitor replacement and subsequent recalibration: [Hammond Organ Tonewheel Generator Capacitor Replacement and Calibration|http://www.stefanv.com/electronics/hammond_tonewheel_capacitors.html]. 
 ---- 
+  
+  
+  
+!More on Replacement Capacitors for vibrato line and tone generator using vintage new old stock paper and oil  
+  
+It all depends on your ear. I have a 1963 Hammond M-102 that sounds so good with its original paper and wax capacitors on the tone generator and vibrato box that I wouldn't dream of changing them. Have they gained in capacitance over the years? Yes, I'm sure, but there is alot of definition in the drawbars and all vibrato and chorus settings. So, I will leave it alone for now.  
+  
+However, I purchased a 1957 Hammond C-3 a couple of years ago and it sounded absolutely terrible. Very little drawbar definition (very muddy with entirely too much bass). The vibrato and chorus settings were so dull and muddy sounding that you couldn't tell the differences between each setting (V1,2,3,C1,2,3 all sounded the same). It of course, had the original paper and wax capacitors and had degraded the true sound something fierce. (I can see why some people don't like the sound of these particular organs that do not have the later red mylar caps (polystyrene) (Mylar red capacitors were used starting around 1965, they should not be replaced because their values do not change over time).  
+  
+I first replaced the capacitors in both line box and generator with the ceramics from Goff professional. This improved the definition greatly but they did sound very harsh, especially higher up on the keyboard.  
+  
+After reading the article on capacitor linearity, I decided to purchase vintage new old stock paper and oil capacitors from Nebraska surplus sales and replace the ceramics from Goff professional. I replaced the vibrato line box with polystyrene (these sound very close to paper and oil) because I couldn't find the correct value in paper and oil. I used Gudeman paper and oil for the tone generator and the sound was improved immensely compared to ceramics or even the polypropylene capacitors they produce today. There is clear definition yet with smooth creamy sound throughout the entire range of tones. It is not muddy on the low end or harsh on the high end. I also replaced the paper and wax capacitors in the AO-28 with Sprague vitamin q's with the same value and voltages.  
+  
+There are articles on the internet where "experts" tell you not to use vintage capacitors stating they are unreliable, poor tolerance, etc. I have found that the capacitors I purchased are very high quality well made pieces made in a by gone era (many are unused military surplus). Their tolerances were within a few percent if not exactly the value printed on them (much closer than the ten percent they are rated).  
+  
+You do not need perfectly matching capacitors for the tone generator, you will not be able to hear the difference. However, because the organ was calibrated with the old paper and wax the tolerances will not be the same and some tones may be louder than others. I do not recommend recalibrating the entire tone generator (you could do more damage than its worth) only the few tones that may be significantly too loud/soft. If you decide to recalibrate the entire generator, at least, take voltage measurements before making adjustments, that way you can go back to them if your new settings are unsatisfactory. I found that the original calibration works perfectly fine with the replacement pio's (only one tone is a little louder than the rest and its not worth the bother of loosening the magnet and pulling it back). It is possible these capacitors will degrade in sound like the paper and wax sometime in the future, but I will probably be dead by then.  
+  
+ * Note** Newly manufactured paper and wax and paper and oil made for high end stereo such as Ampohm, Jensen, Jupiter, etc. should not be used in any of these circuits. I tried them in the AO-28 before and I could hear generator noise because these types of caps are very detailed and are not designed for filter circuits. When I realized the mistake I made I put in the vintage vitamin q's and solved the problem. The manufacturer's actually tell you this in their spec sheets but I ignored their warning and wasted $100 bucks on four capacitors.  
+  
+My Leslie 122A also received paper and oil caps replacing the polypropylene it came with (I did wait till the warranty expired, not that that really matters) and this improved the sound of the Leslie.  
+  
+You will never be able to rebuild a Hammond that have paper and wax capacitors to sound exactly like it did factory new (just because these capacitors are no longer available). The vintage paper and wax that are sometimes available on ebay will probably be way out of spec. I believe you will be closest to the original creamy tone that you hear on old Jimmy Smith albums using vintage paper and oil.  
+  
+Vintage paper and oil can not be beat for vintage type sound whether in a Hammond organ (pre mylar red capacitor)or Leslie.  
+!-- Jason St. James  
  
 PleaseAddToThisSection 

The content of this page is Copyright (C) 2000, 2001, 2002 Geoffrey T. Dairiki and the other authors of the content, whoever they may be.
This is free information and you are welcome redistribute it under certain conditions; see http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/opl.html for details.
Absolutely no warrantee is made as to the correctness of the information on this page.