• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Want that vintage hollow tone

honduras

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
81
I have the chance to buy a pair of NOS Sprague 0.22 600v 160p's for $50. Would these be the ultimate way to get that great woody/hollow 60's/70's tone or could I get the same results from the Luxe Bumblebees or NOS Vitamin Q's which are a cheaper alternative?
 

Mark Kane

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
I have the chance to buy a pair of NOS Sprague 0.22 600v 160p's for $50. Would these be the ultimate way to get that great woody/hollow 60's/70's tone or could I get the same results from the Luxe Bumblebees or NOS Vitamin Q's which are a cheaper alternative?

You want .02 or .022 not 0.22 but these are a very small part of your overall tone and probably won't do what you're wanting to have happen.
 
Last edited:

The Stumble

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
716
these are a very small part of your overall tone and won't probably won't do what you're wanting to have happen

I have to say the same..................... capacitors dont do alot to change the overall tone in my experience just alter how that existing tone changes as the tone is rolled off
 

Cream Fan

Active member
Joined
May 1, 2003
Messages
2,695
In my opinion even when the pots are on 10, you're still getting an effect from the caps. Real bumblbees sound the best to my ears. But everything else on the guitar is also contributing: wood, hardware, pickups, strings, etc. If you can get them for $50, grab them. I have a set of 600v oil-filled in my Historic Makeovers and I'll never take them out. Be sure to measure them on a meter that will measure capacitors to make sure they haven't drifted too high in value. Anything above .025 will start to sound too dark, at least for me.
 

csteward

New member
Joined
Feb 3, 2007
Messages
1,739
I still have those stupid ceramic caps in my 57 and SG and I can get the woman tone. Although, as soon as I get the money together I'm going to buy the Luxe Bumblebees repros for the 57.
 

plaintop60

New member
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
2,210
That hollow tone your after is in the wood. If the guitar exhibits that tone before you plug it in, it will still exhibit that tone after you plug it in. It's the sound of the mahogany. I currently have only one guitar that has that sound, an '07 R-8 with a one piece top. The only other one I've had over the years that gets that hollow sound as well as my R-8 was a '58 Les Paul Custom that was given to me by my good friend Cesar Diaz.
 

Fretty

New member
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
45
That hollow tone your after is in the wood. If the guitar exhibits that tone before you plug it in, it will still exhibit that tone after you plug it in. It's the sound of the mahogany. I currently have only one guitar that has that sound, an '07 R-8 with a one piece top. The only other one I've had over the years that gets that hollow sound as well as my R-8 was a '58 Les Paul Custom that was given to me by my good friend Cesar Diaz.

Plaintop, funny you should mention your R8 for such a woody tone. That is exactly the reason that I purchased my R8. I have owned 10 Lesters (only one R8) and this guitar is the only one that has this tonal chaacteristic.
 

demundo

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2001
Messages
712
those are good caps, i bought a box of 50 on ebay for $29 a few years ago.
 
Top