Searching for caps

[Bernardduur]

He all!

I am looking for some replacement caps for a LP Triumph bass; it needs a NP 4.7 uF cap that is dropshaped and has the colors yellow, purple, pink and grey (if I am correct)

[Seljer]

for capacitor color codes: http://www.pmel.org/HandBook/HBpage26.htm

though I'm pretty sure you could just use any 4.7uF nonpolarized cap, no idea about finesses in tone but it should work...

[Barcode80]

you can use two 2.2 uF electros in parallel with the opposite poles attached (+ to - and vice versa). this will make a non polarized cap of 4.4uF, which will be a very suitable replacement.

[Ardric]

Are you sure that isn't supposed to be 47nF?  That would be a common tone control cap on a passive bass.  If that's what you need, I'd suggest a film cap.

[R.G.]

you can use two 2.2 uF electros in parallel with the opposite poles attached (+ to - and vice versa). this will make a non polarized cap of 4.4uF, which will be a very suitable replacement.

Actually, that won't work. Two 2.2's hooked up like that makes a composite cap that is reversed-polarized both ways. And AC signal would damage both of them

The way to make a 4.7uF NP cap from polarized caps is to use two 4.7uF polarized caps and hook them in series + to +. A polarized aluminum cap conducts when reverse polarized, so the two caps are not really in series - one cap conducts, the other is a cap on alternate half cycles. The series connection does not make this special case into a 2.35uF cap.

[Barcode80]

once again i am humbled. i don't know where my mind was! yes, r.g. is absolutely right. i also agree that a smaller cap might actually be what you are looking for.

[Bernardduur]

Yes, I also thought the value to be quite big...... but when I checked the schematics (given by Gibson) they stated it was a NP 4.7 uF cap; I also checked the version in an old one and it was the same.........

So 4.7 uF it is; I will try the two 4.7!

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If someone actually specifies "non-polarised" it *usually* means electrolytic, because otherwise they wouldn't have bothered mentioning polarity.
Being drop shaped means tantalum (in my experience).