Anyone added a 4nf cap to simulate the sound of older cables?

[telequacktastic]

I've heard about this trick maybe some here are aware of. Has anyone tried it and where do you put it?

 

[Hodgo88]

Interesting. I wouldn't pursue it personally as 4nf (.0004uf) is within the tolerance range of a ceramic .047uf tone cap and could be achieved by just rolling the tone pot back a touch.

 

[Peegoo]

Which older cable?

Get one of these. It's true bypass!

 

[Sconnie]

I'm not sure cables were all that different "back in the day", but maybe you're thinking of long cable runs? Grab yourself a 50ft cable to roll off those highs. Am I understanding this somewhat correctly?

Or yeah, turn the tone knob down to 9-9.5 for effectively the same effect.

Remember, your tone cap is only working when you're not dimed on the tone knob.

 

[LutherBurger]

Has anyone tried it and where do you put it?

If one were so inclined (I'm not), one might put the cap between the output jack's + and - lugs, or between the volume pot's output and ground.

 

[Swirling Snow]

PRS put a "sweet switch" in Santana's guitar when Santana went to a 12" cable and radio transmitter instead of a long cord. It was simply a resistor and inductor on a switch to simulate the long cord's shift of the pickup's resonance.

 

[telequacktastic]

I can see this is more of a strat forum question.

Thanks

 

[Blrfl]

"Vintage cable dealers hate this secret trick."

 

[LowCaster]

Nice idea, but why not use a coil cable? They are still sold, they look cool, quite practical too. The cheap ones are certainly made with high impedance cable. I had a few before the internet told me not to use them.

 

[old_picker]

This will only work if you pull the cap from a 1950's radio at midnight duringthe summer solstice. Winter solstice is ok but not quite as sweet sounding.

 

[Blrfl]

When I build my modeler, there's going to be a Vintage Cable block with a knob to adjust the length.

 

[SPUDCASTER]

PRS put a "sweet switch" in Santana's guitar when Santana went to a 12" cable and radio transmitter instead of a long cord. It was simply a resistor and inductor on a switch to simulate the long cord's shift of the pickup's resonance.

Was it located right next to the Leland Sklar "Producer's switch"?

 

[BB]

I still have an original coily cord I bought in the late 60's....Although I don't use it any longer, it still works as well as when I first bought it.

I have about 15-20 cords (straight) I've procured over the years. Some are 50 years old and still going strong.

A few years ago as I was taking trash to the bin, (condo) and lo and behold, there was a bag with 5 brand new Monster cables from 10 to 20 feet long.

The 'Coily" pedal is brilliant!

 

[Wallaby]

I didn't know replicating cable capacitance was a thing. You learn something new every day!

 

[NoTeleBob]

Nice idea, but why not use a coil cable? They are still sold, they look cool, quite practical too. The cheap ones are certainly made with high impedance cable. I had a few before the internet told me not to use them.

Back in the day, all the cool kids used coily cables. I hated those things. Always pulling you back to the amp. For the larger ones there was also a lot of weight in the cable itself. Added to the problem.

 

[NoTeleBob]

@telequacktastic -i'm with the others on just turning the tone control little bit. It's also going to be a very subtle change. If you have a switch and the capacitor, just temporarily set it up at the output jack so you can flip it on and off and hear the effect to decide if it's worth it.

If I was doing it permanently, I'd probably put it in line where the output jack lead is soldered. Cut the leads fairly short. Solder one into the hot bleed out. Sorry the other end the switch where it is now.I'd put piece of shrink wrap over the resistor and solder joint where it attaches to the output cable.