Help w/ Cap Values for Mod-able Wah (General Guitar Gadgets Project)

[rplovanich]

The project lists the following cap values,
   5n6
   8n2
   10n
   15n
   22n
   33n
... am I correct with these conversions?

   5n6   = .006uf  =  5600pf
   8n2   = .008uf  =  8200pf
   10n   = .01uf    =10000pf
   15n   = .015uf  =15000pf
   22n   = .022uf  =22000pf
   33n   = .033uf  =30000pf

I am waning to use WiMA MKP-2 caps. But they are not available in all the above values. I have found the following,
               WIMA values
   10n   =     .01uf
   15n   =     .015uf
   22n   =     .022uf
   33n   =     .033uf
... any suggestions for 5n6 and 8n2 ? What values added in series ?

Thanks for your help

[lacto]

I assume all these choices are for the sweep cap?  Your conversions seem correct. To be honest with you I seriously doubt you will use the values on each extreme. You could reduce it to (3) choices the .01uf, .015uf, .022uf with possible values in between those. The best material for the sweep cap is polystyrene, but you can also use polyester film which is readily available. I've tried all the WIMA caps including the MKP-2's and they are not good for this application, muddy sounding and they are pricey too.

[jonathan perez]

... any suggestions for 5n6 and 8n2 ? What values added in series ?

no. i dont suggest you use those values, either. unusable.

agreed with lacto. mouser has alot of caps to choose from, but i suggest you stick with drop caps or polystyrene.

[alderbody]

I assume all these choices are for the sweep cap?  Your conversions seem correct. To be honest with you I seriously doubt you will use the values on each extreme. You could reduce it to (3) choices the .01uf, .015uf, .022uf with possible values in between those. The best material for the sweep cap is polystyrene, but you can also use polyester film which is readily available. I've tried all the WIMA caps including the MKP-2's and they are not good for this application, muddy sounding and they are pricey too.

+1

The WIMA caps are not the best i found for signal chain placement.
Too harsh, too flat and too stiff sounding to my ears. (the WIMA Polypropylene)
I initially put them everywhere in my Wah (mostly out of curiocity because Fulltone used them),
then left the sweep cap only (.01uF 1% polypro), but soon realized that they had no place in that pedal.

Polystyrene is a great choice, although i currently use a Nichiden Audio .01uF (Metalized Polyester) for sweep cap.
The rest of the film caps in there are Mallory 150. (the .22uF are 100V because the 630V that are more easily available are HUGE)

All the caps mentioned above can be found in Mouser and Banzai.

[rplovanich]

Hey everyone. Thanks for the reply's. I guess I will ditch the WIMA's. Which is the sweep cap?

[Paul Marossy]

Which is the sweep cap?

The 0.01uF cap in the feedback loop from the emitter of the second transistor to the base of the first transistor.

[jbo]

Has anyone successfully gotten the General Guitar Gadgets multi inductor wah to work?  I've built it twice and have the same issue...  I get volume, but no wah...  My etched circuit board is clean, I've checked and double checked all the values are correct.  The inductors (arteffect SOD and Gagan trash can) are both brand new.  I'm using a 100k whipple pot.  Everything is correct and soldered good.  I'm about pulling my hair out what could be the issue...  The rotary switch for the caps work (when I switch it, you can hear a tonal change), but when I switch either of the toggles (2pdt and 3pdt - both on-on) I get no wah effect, just a volume pedal.  Has anyone else who has built this, run into the same issue?

[ElectricDruid]

I haven't tried them in this circuit, but I don't agree at all about the Wima caps. I've used them in plenty of filters, and they sound great. I'd describe the sound as accurate, smooth, and modern. Definitely not "muddy" or "harsh" (how could they be both of those things anyway?). If you're looking for old school mojo, they're not your thing. But if you're looking for old school mojo, you shouldn't be buying high quality modern parts!

The sheet I have of Wima caps lists the following series: 1, 1.5, 2.2, 3.3, 4.7, 6.8, 10 (repeat for next decade up). This is the E6 series.
So 5n6 and 8n2 are not values they manufacture as standard, since they're both E12 values.

[PRR]

.....I don't agree at all about the Wima caps. ...

Tom, you are reacting to a 15+ year old discussion.

jbo, remind me where to find this "General Guitar Gadgets multi inductor wah".

[Big Monk]

Has anyone successfully gotten the General Guitar Gadgets multi inductor wah to work?  I've built it twice and have the same issue...  I get volume, but no wah...  My etched circuit board is clean, I've checked and double checked all the values are correct.  The inductors (arteffect SOD and Gagan trash can) are both brand new.  I'm using a 100k whipple pot.  Everything is correct and soldered good.  I'm about pulling my hair out what could be the issue...  The rotary switch for the caps work (when I switch it, you can hear a tonal change), but when I switch either of the toggles (2pdt and 3pdt - both on-on) I get no wah effect, just a volume pedal.  Has anyone else who has built this, run into the same issue?

Post some pictures. And check the connections of the nominal 4.7 uf cap to ground (C3).

[ElectricDruid]

Tom, you are reacting to a 15+ year old discussion.

Ah, thanks! Well spotted! That'll teach me not to pay attention...maybe

In a way, it doesn't really matter. In another 15 years, someone else will come by, see this thread, and my reply will seem almost contemperaneous!

[bluebunny]

[zen]

Wisdom doesn't have a use-by date, Tom.

[/zen]