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Solid State Amplifiers => Tubes and Hybrids => Topic started by: Hawk on May 04, 2018, 02:11:04 PM

Title: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 04, 2018, 02:11:04 PM
Looking to change caps but not 100% sure how to identify. See pic....the large black Sprague caps have a red ring on them but I don't think they are polarized. The smaller black caps--how to identify? One of the caps tells us it is .03 ohms. Under the resistors there are 4 caps that have been flattened... can't read them--coupling caps? Guess I'll have to remove resistors to get at these caps. Thanks!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180504/efd73546d6b0f91a34508226b4a1c177.jpg)http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5aeca230849eb/gibson-ga-1rvt-amplifier-schematic.pdf (http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5aeca230849eb/gibson-ga-1rvt-amplifier-schematic.pdf)

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Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Jazz P Bass on May 04, 2018, 09:46:57 PM
The 'flattened' caps are probably ceramic disc capacitors.
Probably for the trem circuit.

Hate to say it but you are going to have to draw a layout diagram.

Follow the schematic.
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 04, 2018, 09:57:56 PM
Looks like there are three ceramic caps in the tremolo circuit...as for the fourth one under the resistors  will need to follow the schematic as you suggest...still wondering about the black caps and the Sprague ones with the ring in the end...

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Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: DrGonz78 on May 05, 2018, 04:16:45 PM
The two black .022uf caps on the right side are coupling caps non-polarized and the stripe indicates foil side. The single black .03uf is coupling cap non-polarized stripe indicating foil side. The last two caps are polarized electrolytic caps, not sure value, but they might be cathode bypass capacitors. On those electrolytic caps what does each end connect to?
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 05, 2018, 05:00:55 PM
Thanks for the info and steering me on this Dr. G.... so the polarized electrolytic caps at the top and bottom of pic are both 20uf--I traced them to cathodes of respective tubes and they are, indeed, cathode bypass caps. the middle cap, .03uf, is a coupling cap belonging to tremolo circuit.
Now, when replacing these non-polarized caps I'm a little thrown off with "stripe indicates foil side down." With modern non-polarized caps we don't have to think this way? Correct? Either end will do? 
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Jazz P Bass on May 05, 2018, 07:13:07 PM
"Now, when replacing these non-polarized caps I'm a little thrown off with "stripe indicates foil side down." With modern non-polarized caps we don't have to think this way? Correct? Either "

Yes, you are correct.

There no longer is a marked 'foil side'.
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 05, 2018, 07:13:41 PM
Thanks!

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Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: galaxiex on May 05, 2018, 10:29:54 PM
Non polarized coupling caps should have the outer foil side connected to the low(est) impedance side of the circuit.

Modern caps are not usually marked "foil side".

http://www.aikenamps.com/index.php/where-to-connect-the-outside-foil-on-capacitors (http://www.aikenamps.com/index.php/where-to-connect-the-outside-foil-on-capacitors)

More...

https://hackaday.com/2015/05/20/how-to-tell-if-youre-installing-foil-capacitors-backwards/ (https://hackaday.com/2015/05/20/how-to-tell-if-youre-installing-foil-capacitors-backwards/)
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 06, 2018, 06:42:03 AM
Great articles. I had no idea. Learning a lot.Thank you! Under the resistors are 4 ceramic disc caps that have been flattened. I would have to remove the resistors to get at these caps to check them...do these have a history of failing? They are old...also anyone suggest a good pair of long skinny snips to snip these resistor leads?

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Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: g1 on May 06, 2018, 08:29:19 PM
Quote from: Hawk on May 06, 2018, 06:42:03 AM
Under the resistors are 4 ceramic disc caps that have been flattened. I would have to remove the resistors to get at these caps to check them...do these have a history of failing?
The opposite is probably true.  The ceramic disc type caps are highly reliable and maybe the least likely type of cap to fail.  I would leave them as is.
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on May 06, 2018, 08:37:21 PM
Thanks g1... I'm relieved hearing that.

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Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: J M Fahey on June 03, 2018, 05:02:55 PM
And they are not "flattened" , they are that shape from the beginning.
They are basically a thin ceramic disk with metallized faces.
Title: Re: Capacitor identification Gibson Maestro GA-1TVT
Post by: Hawk on June 03, 2018, 05:22:48 PM
 :tu: