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Okay, I finally broke down and did the "cap" mod to my reissue Fender reverb
unit. Thanks go to Dick Messick for his excellent tutorial and Dano from The
Nebulas for the 390 pF cap!!
I'm pretty scientific and skeptical about things, so I wanted to put a
switch in there so I could switch between the stock and modded
configurations. Problem was I didn't have a switch laying around, and I hate
those bastards at Radio Shack (why do you need to tell them your address,
phone number, SSN, number of fillings, blood type, height, and weight just
to buy a bag of resistors?). However, long ago I fried my Morley Wah-wah
pedal by plugging in the wrong power adapter into it by accident (it took DC
but I gave it AC! Whoops!). So I opened it up and removed one of the
stomp-box style switches from it.
Despite my general lack of soldering/hardware skills I was up and running in
no time, playing all the Astronauts riffs I knew through my Fender Blues
Deluxe :^)
At first I thought there was no difference. It was very subtle. I had to go
up to 8-8-8 before I started to hear a difference. But then after about 1/2
hour of playing I backed it down to my normal 6-6-6 and could definitely
hear a difference, albeit subtle. The new cap produced more reverb and it
was more natural and lusher. I think that more of my guitar tone was present
with the mod vs. stock. And I also noticed the stock setup took more volume
away.
And then I realized I still had the reverb pan locked.
Okay...with the pan unlocked I could now more clearly hear the difference.
It is still not night and day, and its definitely not something my wife or
other layperson could tell the difference on, but I like the results. Again,
I hear more guitar tone, a little louder volume, and a more importantly a
"rounder, fuller and natural" reverb.
The stomp box switch turned out to be a very useful thing. You can't tell by
just looking at it which position its in. So several times in the middle of
switching it back and forth I forgot where I had it and had to rely on my
ears. I would then have to get my multi-meter out and probe it for
continuity to find what cap I was using.
I'm a believer now. I'm probably going to remove the switch and make it
permanent tomorrow. I've heard the evidence and I like what I hear! :)
Thanks again Dick and Dano!
BN
PS Here's Dicks tutorial:
Yep, caps make a lot of difference.
Thanks to Roland Bettenville to modify a cap on my Farfisa reverb unit,
it sounds so much more surf now!
O.K. it's not a tube driven unit, but the cap mode makes also a
difference on non tube reverb units.
To bad I totally messed up putting my Seymour Duncan Antuiqity I's today
on my Jazzmaster.
I got a bad soldering on the bridge pick up and created a hum....Have to
redo the job tommorow. :-(
But the sound is a lot better then the stock Japanese Jazzmaster
Pick-Ups.(even with my messy soldering work)
Jerry S. from Belgium "The Ohmmen"
Hi Brian!
Glad you're pleased with the results! It is subtle, but noticeable (if
that's not too contradictory!). I guess that's why I describe the A/B
switch set up on my web site. Like you, I only used the A/B switch for a
brief while until I decided I liked the mod well enough to install it on a
permanent basis.
Enjoy!
-Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Neal" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 7:16 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
> Okay, I finally broke down and did the "cap" mod to my reissue Fender
reverb
> unit. Thanks go to Dick Messick for his excellent tutorial and Dano from
The
> Nebulas for the 390 pF cap!!
>
> I'm pretty scientific and skeptical about things, so I wanted to put a
> switch in there so I could switch between the stock and modded
> configurations. Problem was I didn't have a switch laying around, and I
hate
> those bastards at Radio Shack (why do you need to tell them your address,
> phone number, SSN, number of fillings, blood type, height, and weight just
> to buy a bag of resistors?). However, long ago I fried my Morley Wah-wah
> pedal by plugging in the wrong power adapter into it by accident (it took
DC
> but I gave it AC! Whoops!). So I opened it up and removed one of the
> stomp-box style switches from it.
>
> Despite my general lack of soldering/hardware skills I was up and running
in
> no time, playing all the Astronauts riffs I knew through my Fender Blues
> Deluxe :^)
>
> At first I thought there was no difference. It was very subtle. I had to
go
> up to 8-8-8 before I started to hear a difference. But then after about
1/2
> hour of playing I backed it down to my normal 6-6-6 and could definitely
> hear a difference, albeit subtle. The new cap produced more reverb and it
> was more natural and lusher. I think that more of my guitar tone was
present
> with the mod vs. stock. And I also noticed the stock setup took more
volume
> away.
>
> And then I realized I still had the reverb pan locked.
>
> Okay...with the pan unlocked I could now more clearly hear the difference.
> It is still not night and day, and its definitely not something my wife or
> other layperson could tell the difference on, but I like the results.
Again,
> I hear more guitar tone, a little louder volume, and a more importantly a
> "rounder, fuller and natural" reverb.
>
> The stomp box switch turned out to be a very useful thing. You can't tell
by
> just looking at it which position its in. So several times in the middle
of
> switching it back and forth I forgot where I had it and had to rely on my
> ears. I would then have to get my multi-meter out and probe it for
> continuity to find what cap I was using.
>
> I'm a believer now. I'm probably going to remove the switch and make it
> permanent tomorrow. I've heard the evidence and I like what I hear! :)
>
> Thanks again Dick and Dano!
>
> BN
>
> PS Here's Dicks tutorial:
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
>
Hi Dick,
Well I have realized how far I have sunk into this surf-gear madness....I'm
actually modifying my reverb unit!
Do you suppose other genres have their obsessive fans/players as well? Do
the rockabilly guys argue about electric bass vs stand up bass and where to
get a vintage stand up bass and how to maintain it???? Ha-ha.
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dick Messick [mailto:]
> Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 6:36 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
>
>
> Hi Brian!
>
> Glad you're pleased with the results! It is subtle, but noticeable (if
> that's not too contradictory!). I guess that's why I describe the A/B
> switch set up on my web site. Like you, I only used the A/B switch for a
> brief while until I decided I liked the mod well enough to install it on a
> permanent basis.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> -Dick
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Neal" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 7:16 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
>
>
> > Okay, I finally broke down and did the "cap" mod to my reissue Fender
> reverb
> > unit. Thanks go to Dick Messick for his excellent tutorial and Dano from
> The
> > Nebulas for the 390 pF cap!!
> >
> > I'm pretty scientific and skeptical about things, so I wanted to put a
> > switch in there so I could switch between the stock and modded
> > configurations. Problem was I didn't have a switch laying around, and I
> hate
> > those bastards at Radio Shack (why do you need to tell them
> your address,
> > phone number, SSN, number of fillings, blood type, height, and
> weight just
> > to buy a bag of resistors?). However, long ago I fried my Morley Wah-wah
> > pedal by plugging in the wrong power adapter into it by
> accident (it took
> DC
> > but I gave it AC! Whoops!). So I opened it up and removed one of the
> > stomp-box style switches from it.
> >
> > Despite my general lack of soldering/hardware skills I was up
> and running
> in
> > no time, playing all the Astronauts riffs I knew through my Fender Blues
> > Deluxe :^)
> >
> > At first I thought there was no difference. It was very subtle. I had to
> go
> > up to 8-8-8 before I started to hear a difference. But then after about
> 1/2
> > hour of playing I backed it down to my normal 6-6-6 and could definitely
> > hear a difference, albeit subtle. The new cap produced more
> reverb and it
> > was more natural and lusher. I think that more of my guitar tone was
> present
> > with the mod vs. stock. And I also noticed the stock setup took more
> volume
> > away.
> >
> > And then I realized I still had the reverb pan locked.
> >
> > Okay...with the pan unlocked I could now more clearly hear the
> difference.
> > It is still not night and day, and its definitely not something
> my wife or
> > other layperson could tell the difference on, but I like the results.
> Again,
> > I hear more guitar tone, a little louder volume, and a more
> importantly a
> > "rounder, fuller and natural" reverb.
> >
> > The stomp box switch turned out to be a very useful thing. You
> can't tell
> by
> > just looking at it which position its in. So several times in the middle
> of
> > switching it back and forth I forgot where I had it and had to
> rely on my
> > ears. I would then have to get my multi-meter out and probe it for
> > continuity to find what cap I was using.
> >
> > I'm a believer now. I'm probably going to remove the switch and make it
> > permanent tomorrow. I've heard the evidence and I like what I hear! :)
> >
> > Thanks again Dick and Dano!
> >
> > BN
> >
> > PS Here's Dicks tutorial:
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > .
> > Visit for archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
>
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
I think the answer is "yes" . . . . :)
-Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Neal" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 4:11 PM
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
> Hi Dick,
> Well I have realized how far I have sunk into this surf-gear
madness....I'm
> actually modifying my reverb unit!
> Do you suppose other genres have their obsessive fans/players as well? Do
> the rockabilly guys argue about electric bass vs stand up bass and where
to
> get a vintage stand up bass and how to maintain it???? Ha-ha.
>
> BN
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dick Messick [mailto:]
> > Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 6:36 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
> >
> >
> > Hi Brian!
> >
> > Glad you're pleased with the results! It is subtle, but noticeable (if
> > that's not too contradictory!). I guess that's why I describe the A/B
> > switch set up on my web site. Like you, I only used the A/B switch for
a
> > brief while until I decided I liked the mod well enough to install it on
a
> > permanent basis.
> >
> > Enjoy!
> >
> > -Dick
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Brian Neal" <>
> > To: <>
> > Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 7:16 PM
> > Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Another Cap Mod Testimonial
> >
> >
> > > Okay, I finally broke down and did the "cap" mod to my reissue Fender
> > reverb
> > > unit. Thanks go to Dick Messick for his excellent tutorial and Dano
from
> > The
> > > Nebulas for the 390 pF cap!!
> > >
> > > I'm pretty scientific and skeptical about things, so I wanted to put a
> > > switch in there so I could switch between the stock and modded
> > > configurations. Problem was I didn't have a switch laying around, and
I
> > hate
> > > those bastards at Radio Shack (why do you need to tell them
> > your address,
> > > phone number, SSN, number of fillings, blood type, height, and
> > weight just
> > > to buy a bag of resistors?). However, long ago I fried my Morley
Wah-wah
> > > pedal by plugging in the wrong power adapter into it by
> > accident (it took
> > DC
> > > but I gave it AC! Whoops!). So I opened it up and removed one of the
> > > stomp-box style switches from it.
> > >
> > > Despite my general lack of soldering/hardware skills I was up
> > and running
> > in
> > > no time, playing all the Astronauts riffs I knew through my Fender
Blues
> > > Deluxe :^)
> > >
> > > At first I thought there was no difference. It was very subtle. I had
to
> > go
> > > up to 8-8-8 before I started to hear a difference. But then after
about
> > 1/2
> > > hour of playing I backed it down to my normal 6-6-6 and could
definitely
> > > hear a difference, albeit subtle. The new cap produced more
> > reverb and it
> > > was more natural and lusher. I think that more of my guitar tone was
> > present
> > > with the mod vs. stock. And I also noticed the stock setup took more
> > volume
> > > away.
> > >
> > > And then I realized I still had the reverb pan locked.
> > >
> > > Okay...with the pan unlocked I could now more clearly hear the
> > difference.
> > > It is still not night and day, and its definitely not something
> > my wife or
> > > other layperson could tell the difference on, but I like the results.
> > Again,
> > > I hear more guitar tone, a little louder volume, and a more
> > importantly a
> > > "rounder, fuller and natural" reverb.
> > >
> > > The stomp box switch turned out to be a very useful thing. You
> > can't tell
> > by
> > > just looking at it which position its in. So several times in the
middle
> > of
> > > switching it back and forth I forgot where I had it and had to
> > rely on my
> > > ears. I would then have to get my multi-meter out and probe it for
> > > continuity to find what cap I was using.
> > >
> > > I'm a believer now. I'm probably going to remove the switch and make
it
> > > permanent tomorrow. I've heard the evidence and I like what I hear! :)
> > >
> > > Thanks again Dick and Dano!
> > >
> > > BN
> > >
> > > PS Here's Dicks tutorial:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > .
> > > Visit for archived
messages,
> > bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
Um.....yes. Check out
Not only is electric bass taboo for rockabilly, but it also matters what
kind of upright bass...
Phil
> Do
> the rockabilly guys argue about electric bass vs stand up bass and where to
> get a vintage stand up bass and how to maintain it???? Ha-ha.
>
> BN
>
Oh, and don't get them started on the whole Gut verses Steel string
debate....
> Um.....yes. Check out
>
> Not only is electric bass taboo for rockabilly, but it also matters what
> kind of upright bass...
>
> Phil
>
>
>> Do
>> the rockabilly guys argue about electric bass vs stand up bass and where to
>> get a vintage stand up bass and how to maintain it???? Ha-ha.
>>
>> BN
>>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
