Monolithic caps in Fuzz pedals? Yeah or Nah?

[PurpleStrat]

Although I have never soldered in a monolithic I have used them on the bread board and don't like them. It's hard to explain but they sound dull. This bumed me out when I first discovered them because they are so small and cheap!

I recently bought a Fuzz pedal and it is loaded with them. It also sounds a bit dull compare to others of it's kind. I'm not going to point out the pedal but I just wanted others opinions. I know it's in the ears but I want YOUR OPINION.

[tiges_ tendres]

I've always preferred to use whatever was cheap.  As an experiment I built two different professor tweeds (ROG) one with all ceramic/monolithic and another with greenies.

The difference? not much, and the differences that I may have heard was more to do with the tolerance of the parts (how close they were to their specified value) rather than the actual materials from which the parts were made.

[frank_p]

What is the definition of "flat" in caps.
If you are able to tell, maybee I can help.
Flat: = linear ?
= no hights ?

I am not making a joke of you (it's not my intention, on the contrary): just try to "measure what you think it is sounding like".

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

There are really THREE questions here:
1. do some types of caps behave differently?
2. in what way are they different?
3. what will that do to a particular circuit?

Monos that are "small for their value" are intended as digital power rail bypassing caps. Often the specifications are pretty loose. And the capacitance varies slightly with applied voltage. AS to what effect - if any - they will have, it depends entirely on the circuit. (I certainly wouldn't use them in a preamp, for example.)
Personally, I think there is so much distortion already in a fuzz, the only noticeable difference it might make, would be by being a slightly different value from what it says.
It's lucky we have ears.

[frank_p]

What would be a definition of monolithic cap.
The one that I know is physical: succession of interlaced sandwiches.

The conductive plates could "most often be of metal deposition"
The dielectric could be about anything.
And the covering could be anything (even nothing...)

What dielectric are we talking about (?)
Even if I knew that, I would not know the influences...

The only means is : look at the data sheets,
Look at the typical applications of monolithic applications;
and also: monolithically: what does it mean: It's a block !

Ordinarily you'll have some choices:
- one layer (small caps) (ex: ceramic discs);
- spiral rolled (small - med. cap.);
- Monolithic (like spiral but in sandwiches) = dielectric is more thick compared to the metal layers;
- Electrolytic = more H - less predictable;

What is the dielectric:
-Paper in oil (ermhhh...);
-Ceramic (?) - or just coverage;
- different sorts of plastic: look on the site of WIMA, ERO-Vishay, Sprague, etc,
- Other monolithic: Acrylics, polycarbonate, polystyrene, copolymers...
  = for differents applications.
- Mica
- Chemicals (Electrolytic, tantalum) (Aluminium oxide deposits by the chemicals in contact of the metallic plates).

-  Etc.  ,  Etc  , Etc  .

You don't have to point the pedal...
But : DO SAY what cap are you talking about...
Monolithic category is "too" wide (but not so wide).
Plus: what is the relation to flat sounding.
What would be the reference to us to say that it is sounding "flat".

What does it look like ?

Sound is not about opinions: electricians, accousticians, engineers, psychologists, physiologists have already "some" experience about it

You can use the "search" function on this site.  You will see that it is not so obvious.

Stay us posted !

An ear is an ear ... !
No one will stay indifferent, but many will argue...


F.H.P.