18Watt.com

Hi Guys
As well as starting to build a 36 watt amp I am revisiting the first amp I built, a 5e3, I have a loud intermittent noise which I think is V1 socket, it is a ceramic thing and I think that coupled with my first efforts of soldering is the issue. I am also putting a smaller output transformer in it, the original is quite a bit bigger and the thing churns out about 28 watts and is really loud, I purchased it as a kit from a guy here in Aus.
Anyway I am thinking of making it into a tweedle dee amp, just because. My question is is there any problems using something like these Kemet caps as filter caps
https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KEM ... Fiww%3D%3D
They are rated at a far greater service life than similar offerings from F&T or Sprauge etc I am just wondering if there is a downside
Tim

Ask yourself if you really need to theoretically have this amp maintainance free for the rest of your life?

Those caps are fine. The amp still won't be maintenance free forever, but maybe those won't need to be replaced as soon.

JMPGuitars wrote: ↑

Sat 05/25/24 2:16 pm

Those caps are fine. The amp still won't be maintenance free forever, but maybe those won't need to be replaced as soon.

They probably are.. but mallory or even the Jb’s I generally use are fine as well. I wouldn’t bother paying more. But that’s me

Bieworm wrote: ↑

Sat 05/25/24 3:16 pm

JMPGuitars wrote: ↑

Sat 05/25/24 2:16 pm

Those caps are fine. The amp still won't be maintenance free forever, but maybe those won't need to be replaced as soon.

They probably are.. but mallory or even the Jb’s I generally use are fine as well. I wouldn’t bother paying more. But that’s me

He posted an electrolytic cap, not a coupling cap. I use any reputable brand for ecaps, and I also look at expected life. Older ecaps were 1000 to 2000, now you can get 5000 to 30000 no problem. That's not a big deciding factor for me though, just one thing to pay attention to.

Thanks guys, its more of an availability issue for me than anything, these have a comparable price to F&Ts here, so Im just looking at options

AussieTim wrote: ↑

Sat 05/25/24 11:22 pm

Thanks guys, its more of an availability issue for me than anything, these have a comparable price to F&Ts here, so Im just looking at options

All right! Out of laziness I didn’t click your link, and assumed they were just another expensive poly cap. That’s what most folks are throwing away their money on, just to get that holy grail tone everybody seems to hunt for

Orange drops are cheaper than many "Boutique" capacitors, but Alexander Dumble used them, and everyone wants a Dumble

AussieTim wrote: ↑

Mon 05/27/24 4:21 am

Orange drops are cheaper than many "Boutique" capacitors, but Alexander Dumble used them, and everyone wants a Dumble

I don’t think I need one

I dont need one but I want one