Red caps vs. wax caps....price? honest opinions....

[Chris Keyman]

OK,
I have here a nice B3 in need of some restoration. First order of biz
was getting rid of the wax generator caps and putting in red cap factory
goodalls. (taken off a late 60's A100). They test perfect. I pulled an
all-nighter and almost fell asleep during church. So we have here the
build quality of a '58 B3 with the mylar red caps of the later 60's. In your
fair opinions, how much does the red cap replacement raise the value of said
B3? And if you would like to know, the caps were WAY off tolerance. I checked
them with my meter and yikes. They suck. I will refrain from putting in the
R/C networks unless someone insists. Next order of biz will be mint
keycombs, up and downstop felt followed by electrolytic replacement. This B3 may be
one of the best around when completed. It sounded good but played lousy.
Soon it will sound and play great. The only mod will be perc norm value not
diminishing drawbar volume (maybe the most common mod). It will be
fitted with two 122 Leslie's with Jenson spkrs.
Thanks for your ears.

[johnny b3]

B3's cost so much as is, I don't think the cap replacement will put a dent in the resale price. but maybe it makes it slightly more valuable. Depending on who you ask too, right? to some ppl originality is super important.

[tubetwang]

if you want to sell it...then, i would leave it as is...

gut instinct...i'm no expert!

[Hamman]

Well how does it sound now with the red caps in? I've purchased 2 twg red cap mounting boards with unmolested red caps and plan to transplant them into my 54' C2....been dragging my feet since I know how much dedicated time it will take. I think you were smart in using old red caps from a previous Hammond since the brand new caps would probably add way too much brilliance to the sound. I know I'll get some negative feedback with that comment but as long as all the caps are checked for the proper tolerance then they should work fine! Oh and I picked my 2 twg cap mounting boards for 12.75! Yeah i would finish what you got started since you'll probably keep it anyways! LOL

[dspiffy]

Are you guys transfering just the caps or the filter coils too?

[Hamman]

Caps for me

[handyczech]

Please search this site for StephanV and his perfectly detailed analysis of recapping his M-100.

Properly valued modern capacitors do not change value to the extent that the paper and wax ones did. A 1965 red capped A-100 will likely have much the same timbre today, all other things being equal, than it did when it was sitting on the showroom floor in 1965. A 1960 A-100 would have a sound that has become much duller and muddier than it did in 1960. Some like it that way.

StephanV would concur, though I do not mean to speak for him, but properly valued new capacitors will yield the same results as transplanted red capacitors. Some may even feel that near the end(1974), the Hammond factory was not as fussy about precise quality controls, and recalibrating to today's standards is better. Be well advised, changing out the caps is one thing, RECALIBRATING is a whole 'nother excercise, difficult and painstaking, that StephanV documents better than any I have seen.

[Hamman]

Let you know how it turns out......once I get the motivation to do it. As far as recalibrating....I'm going to see what results I get from switching out the wax caps for the red ones.

[Chris Keyman]

I have tested the red "goodalls" used by Hammond and they are well within tolerance. the wax caps are 100's of times off, overfiltering of course. The results are crisper with a much better abilty distinguish the difference of lets say 8886 vs 8883 etc. You can hear those little drawbar differences so much better. It's not overly bright. It's just CLEARER. If you turn down the tone control on the preamp, it still sounds clearer, but a little more filtered. This is through a stock 122 (V21) speaker. Through an atlas speaker it might be too bright and tinny. Hope this makes sense. I think we are so used to the wax caps we think that's the way it's supposed to sound. Now I can turn down the tone control if I want less leakage noise and key click.

[Chris Keyman]

This is for Hamman: Is your A105 wax or red caps on the generator top? I have the opportunity to p/u a A105 w/red caps for $200. It needs a load of work. Some tones are missing and the dog house is wrecked. It's an ugly reddish colour but the finish is actually quite servicable. Keycombs are tight as heck! But alas, no amp sound. I can hear it through headphones. Heavy enough to kill a man. (and big enough to bury him in it.)