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Topic: Rickenbacher / National Vol and Tone Cap's |
Edward Toro
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2018 7:09 am |
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Do the old Rickenbacher and National Lap Steels from the (30's / 40's) need to have their Vol/Tone pots or capacitores changed? I know this in old Amps the Caps dry out etc. But is this the same for Vol and Tone pots/Caps in these Lap Steels?
Thanks. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2018 7:39 am
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| Not if they work! Okay, that's the smart-aleck answer but basically true. Pots usually just go bad when there is no longer a good connection between the wiper and the carbon wafer. Sometimes all it needs is a little lubricated contact cleaner to fix that. The old paper & wax capacitors often used in those old guitars will have drifted way out of tolerance but if you can still find a sweet area in the sweep of the tone pot where it gradually goes from being muddy to crisp, you probably don't need to change it. |
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Edward Toro
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2018 7:43 am Rickenbacher / National Vol and Tone Cap's
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Ok, thanks.
I don't have any change in tone with my Nation with the "Chimes / Harp and Hawaiian" tone switch so I guess it's something else.
Thanks. |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2018 10:36 am
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| Well, in that case, the caps or the switch may be bad. Could even be the pickup but I wouldn't start there. |
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Edward Toro
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2018 10:43 am Rickenbacher / National Vol and Tone Cap's
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Ok. I will run a check on them.
Thanks. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2018 10:33 am
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Tone caps in guitar circuits and many tone caps in amp circuits are "passive" - they do nothing but shunt progressively more amounts of high frequencies to ground.
They take MUCH less strain than the ones you are thinking of - electrolytic filter capacitors - and many last nearly forever. All can be tested, but generally:
1. Electrolytic filter and bias caps in amps should be changed every 15 years or so. They have a limited service life and if one blows it can damage the amp.
2. passive caps generally need changing only when the control stops working properly.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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