Vintage Fender Blue Molded Caps - Source?

[devbro]

Anyone know where I might find a couple of old Fender blue molded tone caps? I found an old Basssman that's been hacked (2 were replaced with Orange drops) and if I could find a couple, I might buy it..

[Trout]

Anyone know where I might find a couple of old Fender blue molded tone caps? I found an old Basssman that's been hacked (2 were replaced with Orange drops) and if I could find a couple, I might buy it..


Well,, you can hunt down originals, Nos, or Used,, ORRRrrrrrr

There is a guy on the web & ebay that makes visually perfect replicas out of new production caps as well as custom replicas.

He makes these just for guy that want everything to look original without the worry of the old stock failing.

http://www.crazyparts.de/assets/s2dmain.html?http://www.crazyparts.de/00000098e9083ff04/index.html

http://www.crazyparts.de/images/298c1.jpg

http://stores.ebay.com/Luxe-Guitars_Capacitors_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ4825479Q QftidZ2QQtZkm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Late-60s-Early-70s-Blue-Jazz-Bass-REPRO-Capacitor_W0QQitemZ300106906066QQihZ020QQcategoryZ 47076QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Trout

[HipKitty]

I am assuming that you are trying to return the Bassman back to original manufacturing(?) If no other reason than that, I can only ask..why? Those blue molded "turds" can leave a lot to be desired.

[Pearly Gator]

Devbro, What values are you looking for? I may have a few. PM me.
(I'm only 35 miles north of you.)

Gary

[sundaypunch]

Those blue molded caps play a big part in the BF Fender sound. To me they are just as important as mustard caps in a Marshall or the gold Wima's in a Vox.

When I see a BF Fender that has been "improved" by a tech. with orange drops I hit the back button as fast as possible. I think it is great that you are trying to put it back to stock.

[HipKitty]

Those blue molded caps play a big part in the BF Fender sound. To me they are just as important as mustard caps in a Marshall or the gold Wima's in a Vox.

When I see a BF Fender that has been "improved" by a tech. with orange drops I hit the back button as fast as possible. I think it is great that you are trying to put it back to stock.

Good point and very true..for that time. 30 - 40 year old components can (most do) have their values drift and caps become leaky. Dependant as to where they are in the circuit, this can and will have a cause and effect that will put that bf out of spec, or original design, therefore, you will no longer have that bf sound. Sure , it may be a sound that you personally like, but it's not the true bf sound.

Our shop gets in all types of Fender amps from all types of clients. And to support your preference, there are quite a few customers that, like you, like the sound of the molded caps. Of course, the customer is correct in wanting to keep those in their amps, at least until they fail altogether.

[Geetarpicker]

Watch Ebay. I found two piles of them, used pulls. So far I've used about 6 of them for restorations with no problems. I have had 7 blackface Fender Deluxe amps (currently have two '64s that I use all the time) and not one of those caps has ever gone bad on me. I bet most get pulled for no better reason than the tech just shot gunning it, when it was probably a bad tube, solder joint, or resistor.

[sundaypunch]

I have had 7 blackface Fender Deluxe amps (currently have two '64s that I use all the time) and not one of those caps has ever gone bad on me. I bet most get pulled for no better reason than the tech just shot gunning it, when it was probably a bad tube, solder joint, or resistor.

Exactly. And I would guess the tech's are throwing them away.....

:)

[jetlag]

Yeah, the blue molded caps have an entirely different reliability/durability track record than those yellow astrons. The astrons leak like crazy, but the blue molded caps rarely leak. At least from my experience. Very reliable and very solid. Often, people don't use the normal channel. If missing blue molded caps I would try and rob them from the normal channel, or maybe the death cap and/or standby snubber.

[r8burst]

Those blue molded "turds" can leave a lot to be desired.

I always thought the blue molded caps found in the blackface amps are the very desirable Fender caps, and the ones always referred to as "turds" were the later (more recent) brown caps that actually resemble turds, and are found more in 70's silverfaces. Never heard anyone say the blue molded ones were turds, or that they are less than coveted.

Just wondering.

Tony

[HipKitty]

r8burst, there are the brown "turds", the caps most commonly looked down upon caps. I first heard of the blue molded caps being referred to as "turds" back in the mid 80's, and have heard plenty techs refer to them as that since.

In comparison, the brown caps are the least desirable of the two as the blue molded caps are less likely to leak (in comparison).

Not speaking for every tech out there...just myself and the ones that I personally know across the continental US...we just don't "throw away" caps in a shotgun approach to troubleshooting/repair. We troubleshoot down to a specific cap or components and replace the bad items.

If a client wants a "total" cap job, they are requesting that all of the caps in the amp be replaced (sometimes just the filter caps are requested to be replaced, sometimes all of the electrolytic caps). Why? for the reason that I had stated above....30 to 40 year old caps can and do become leaky...electrolytic caps do dry up (but then again, we aren't specifically talking about the electrolytic caps in this thread). Replacement with good quality caps like the Mallory 150's or Orange Drops (or whatever type the client chooses) can and do bring the amp back within spec.

Like all things musical....there are interpretations and opinions of all things...right down to caps, resistors, tubes, trannys, cabinets, etc.