18Watt.com

I hoping this isn't a silly question. I searched a few times and didn't find jack on here.

So the shiny blue BC caps that are used in the handwired 1974x. Anyone have a line on where to purchase said capacitors. I feel like i used to get smaller 10uF ones from Mouser for my super lead bias caps, but I looked around and couldn't find anything. I'm not sure if it's even a covering that they use anymore, and they just moved to the flat blue stuff.

I know that I can find other stuff that will work just fine, but this question can be filed into the vanity category of wanting a certain thing to look a certain way.

what capacitance and voltage do you need?

16uF 450v and the 500uF 50v bias cap

GlassTornado wrote:16uF 450v and the 500uF 50v bias cap

Are you talking about the Sprague Atom stuff? Overpriced, but they're still nice. They do still have them on Mouser. Keep in mind that some of Mouser's photos are generic stock photos, and not representative of the whole line. I think most of the larger caps are usually blue, and of the smaller ones are black from that series. If you want to try other brands, you can use a 20 or 22µF in the 16's position. JJ and F&T both make nice electrolytics at 500v...and they're all pretty big.

No I'm talking about the blue stripy BC caps like in the reissue 18 watt.

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1M.kEOpXX ... b-font.jpg

Like those but proper value/voltage

these philips are what you want,i got them on ebay new old stock.i don't know if anyone still makes them like this? sorry about picture quality there's some 470uf which are close to 5% tolerance of 500,here's the ebay item number 232004418556

Ah Phillips! I should have known there was other stuff that at least looked the same. haha.
That will work just find for the cathode bias cap I would assume.
Thanks for the help finding that one.

I don't recommend NOS electrolytics. You need to be very careful with them. For one thing, they have a shelf life. For another thing, they're moisture sensitive. It's not worth the risk for an aesthetic you'll never see again when the amp is done. There's likely no tonal benefit either, since the benefit of aged caps is being broken in, and then you're back to the shelf-life thing. Most good electrolytics are rated for 2000 hours of playtime. Do the math (30 minutes per day, 5 times per week, how many years is that?). You might be able to find them if they're still in production though. If not, there's tons of great alternatives.

That's no fun Josh. Common sense and logic have no place with me!! Haha just kidding. You're absolutely right. I need to drop my idealism there's plenty of good stuff out there that looks just fine
Thanks for talking sense.

You can always take a good picture and photoshop them in later.