Sozo Blue Mold Caps... Anyone NOT like them in there Deluxe reverb build?

[Jdawgy]

I have had two handwired Deluxes, one with Mallory 150 in the Vibrato Channel Tone Stack (sold it) and one with Sozo Blue Molds in the Vibrato Channel Tone Stack (what I have now)...

I'm thinking about switching my Vibrato Channel Stack To to Mallory 150.

I don't think I like the sound/feel of the Blue Molds.... am I alone (I have played ~30hrs on it so I know they are somewhat burnt in)??


Thanks

 

[smolder]

first questions, was the orientation of the caps correct. There is a black marker on them (outer foil side) and typically that is oriented to the lower impedance side of that connection. I have a princeton rebuilt with the blue solos that is pretty nice. I also have a twin rebuilt with Sprague 225p orange drops and it sound really great. I'm told that they take 40 plus hours to break in, but I didn't notice a change over that time. I'm not sure the mallory 150's will get you to fender land - they do sound good though.

 

[DT7]

Depends what kind of tone you're looking for. The 150's are closer to a tweed Deluxe sound than the Sozos. The Sozos are closer to a Blackface sound, though are a little more hi-fi than the original Blue Molded caps you find in vintage Fenders of the mid/late 60s. The closest orange-drop is the 418p series.

 

[Marshamps]

first questions, was the orientation of the caps correct. There is a black marker on them (outer foil side) and typically that is oriented to the lower impedance side of that connection. I have a princeton rebuilt with the blue solos that is pretty nice. I also have a twin rebuilt with Sprague 225p orange drops and it sound really great. I'm told that they take 40 plus hours to break in, but I didn't notice a change over that time. I'm not sure the mallory 150's will get you to fender land - they do sound good though.

Do you really hear a difference when the outer Foil side is not oriented "Correctly"? I always assumed that was hype, but it could be too many hours in front of 100 watters...

 

['58Bassman]

Do you really hear a difference when the outer Foil side is not oriented "Correctly"? I always assumed that was hype, but it could be too many hours in front of 100 watters...

If the outer foil is on the + side, it can pick up noise and add it to the signal. If the outer foil is on the - side, it kind of acts as a shield, so noise will be lower. It's easy to make a tester for caps- a 1/4" plug with two wires soldered to it, each with an alligator clip. If you plug the cable into an input jack on a working amp, you'll hear hum when touching the outside of the cap when the foil is connected to + and nothing if the outer foil is connected to -.

 

[Mattbedrock]

I used the yellow Sozos in my JTM45 and blue Sozos in my Vibro Champ build. While they both sound great, the other amps I've built with Mallory's do as well. I do know that I paid 5x as much for the Sozos, and had to wait for weeks to get them delivered. I'm just not sure the time and money trades for me. YMMV.

 

[neteraser]

I like them in any application. Even installed as a death cap, they sound brilliant just like any SoZo. This is the best brand in the world. That's it.
They're worth both time and money. This is the only truth I know.

 

[Marshamps]

Thanks 58Bassman, that makes sense!

 

[big mike]

Never tried the blue ones. In my JTM45 build I've used mallory, Sozo, old mustards all.
They're all pretty damn close once they break in IMO.

ONce a drummer kicks in , all bets are off.

 

[cryptozoo]

If the outer foil is on the + side, it can pick up noise and add it to the signal. If the outer foil is on the - side, it kind of acts as a shield, so noise will be lower. It's easy to make a tester for caps- a 1/4" plug with two wires soldered to it, each with an alligator clip. If you plug the cable into an input jack on a working amp, you'll hear hum when touching the outside of the cap when the foil is connected to + and nothing if the outer foil is connected to -.

Handy info, but I don't think this really has a bearing on the actual tone of the caps, which is what the OP is asking about.

 

[smolder]

there is a story circulating that a couple of guys at two-rock wired an amp one way, then the other... and the difference in tone was significant. I wasn't there, so it's only hearsay from me. I haven't done an A/B test... just subscribing to wisdom passed on from those smarter and more experienced than I.

 

[smolder]

If the outer foil is on the + side, it can pick up noise and add it to the signal. If the outer foil is on the - side, it kind of acts as a shield, so noise will be lower. It's easy to make a tester for caps- a 1/4" plug with two wires soldered to it, each with an alligator clip. If you plug the cable into an input jack on a working amp, you'll hear hum when touching the outside of the cap when the foil is connected to + and nothing if the outer foil is connected to -.

Since I do not have an oscilloscope, this is how I determine the outer foil side as well. The difference in hum is pretty significant.

 

[guiltless]

Never tried the blue ones. In my JTM45 build I've used mallory, Sozo, old mustards all.
They're all pretty damn close once they break in IMO.

ONce a drummer kicks in , all bets are off.

^^^ +1

 

[mrface2112]

I used the yellow Sozos in my JTM45 and blue Sozos in my Vibro Champ build. While they both sound great, the other amps I've built with Mallory's do as well. I do know that I paid 5x as much for the Sozos, and had to wait for weeks to get them delivered. I'm just not sure the time and money trades for me. YMMV.

I find myself agreeing with Mattbedrock so often that it's scary. I can't +1 to this enough. I've got sozo blues in my modified DR and the amp sounds really great. But would it sound really great with Mallorys too? I suspect so--my other Mallory-loaded amps sound great.

I have enough blue sozos for another DR build, but due to the hassles commonly associated with obtaining them, I likely won't be using them beyond that next build.

ONce a drummer kicks in , all bets are off.

This is the biggest truth in the world.

cheers,
wade

 

[Jdawgy]

Well, I think I'm gonna leave them in for another 6 months of constant gigging in hopes that breaking them... hoping they start sounding better because I don't think they like my V30 now!!!!!????
My V30 sounds Horrible with a big muff now!!!
I'm gonna have my tech check out the orientation of the SZBM caps as mentioned above...

Thanks everyone for your input, keep it coming!!!

 

[big mike]

Honestly? Check the bias of the powertubes. It shouldnt be a drastic difference.

Maybe your ears just don't like V30's anymore? Happened to me.

 

[mrface2112]

hoping they start sounding better because I don't think they like my V30 now!!!!!????

Sounds like something might be going on with the amp. It could just need new tubes. Or maybe something's happened to the speaker. Or maybe the muff needs a new battery. Could be any number of things, although I kinda find it hard to imagine a cap is all of a sudden making a speaker sound bad (when it sounded good before)....unless it's failing, of course.

Maybe your ears just don't like V30's anymore? Happened to me.

Yep, always possible too. Also possible that you've just come to the realization that you don't like a V30 in a DR, too.

Smolder did bring up a point about the blue sozos needing some break-in time. I've got about 200 hours on mine now. It definitely did get "sweeter" over the first 6 months (60-75 hours or so) I used it and it's definitely settled in at this point. It always sounded good, it just sounds a little bit better now.

Whether that was the caps specifically or the whole amp breaking-in, though, i can't tell ya.

 

[Jdawgy]

mrface2112: Thanks for the heads up on the Sozo break in info... I'm taking my chassis to a tech for troubleshooting. The "cone cry" sound ONLY happens with my two big muffs (Classic VRH and SUF civil war classic)... Again I have never had this happen to me EVER with ANY V30 EVER... So i'm hoping that it is just a gremlin in my amp (hoping and praying)...

BigMike: I have my Winged "C" duet Biased at 30mA (on the cold side where I like them)... I have never had any problems with any V30... And all preamp tubes are brand new and tested perfectly.

As a matter of fact, last night I played for quite a while and it sounded SO AWESOME... Actually it is my "dream tone" even with the SUF muffs, no probs at all. But when I start to turn up the volume I can hear the speaker not being able to handle the silkiness of the VRH or CWM

I'm hoping that there is just a small gremlin in my amp and that it be easily resolved by my tech.

What part of my DR would cause anything like this to happen when I turn the volume up?

Thanks SO much for the help everyone!!!

 

[big mike]

Didn't say 'problem' with the V30. you may just be tired of them.
As you age, and damage occurs your hearing can change.

 

[pdf64]

The combination of a heavily overdriven amp and a lightweight coned Celestion can result in cone cry.
To reduce it, don't overdrive the amp so hard and / or connect another speaker.
Pete