Marshall 6100 cap job - which brands of caps?

[Setneck]

Hi!

I plan to do "big electrolytics cap job" in my 6100. Here are the values of elements I'm gonna change:

POWER AMP

4 x 220uF 400WV C213-C216 47 x 22
2 x 47uF 450V C208; C231 36 x 24
1 x 22uF 160V C210 21 x 11
1 x 10uF (lying) 100V C209

PREAMP

4 x 33uF 350V C30; C33; C35-36 33 x 17

MAINS

3 x 2200uF 25V C401-403 27 x 17
2 x 220uF 35V C404, C406 16 x 11
2 x 470uF 35V C405, C407 17 x 11

The caps in my poweramp and mains are Nichicons and Philips, preamp ones are Samhwa's. I plan to put Nichicons everywhere it's possible but which other brands You might also recommend here? I need quality caps of course, not the cheap ones.

Also which suplier do You recommend?

Thanks in advance and Best Regards, Andy

[lowell]

Andy I'd just go with whatever's affordable. There's no need to over spend here. There are lots of cap makers out there and I've never had a problem w/ the more affordable ones. Can 'o worms but I'd be impressed if someone could "hear" one cap vs another, especially in a guitar amp power supply. As far as reliability goes I think even the cheap are fine. Just my 2 cents. Tube amp repairs can just be ridiculously more expensive than they need be if one believes all the manufacturer hype. Again 2 cents.

[Gtr_tech]

Hard to go wrong with Nichicons....Panasonics are good as well. I'd just avoid the *really* cheap stuff which could be made with the bad dielectric formula that causes failures. Be sure to measure the diameter and make sure you get replacements that will fit. Mar$hall likes to put them pretty close together.

That amp ain't really old enough to need a cap overhaul. Why are you thinking you need to do this?

[Setneck]

Hi!

Thanks for the replies Guys. My amp was heavily gigged by the two previous owners for nearly 20 years and to my ears it have lost its "flavour" I remember while using my previous 6100 which was almost new when I bought it. My current 6100 for instance has less gain with Gain Boost engaged than my previous 6100 without it. It also hasn't as big headroom as my old amp had and also it doesn't sustain nearly at all.

So, I decided to do full restoration to it, changing all big electrolytics filter caps, some caps and resistors in preamp and poweramp, all pots, op-amps (the weakest part of 6100's) and adding a choke.

I'd like to ask also about two things. Does it matter if a cap is leaded or snap-in? I mean - has it any impact to the tone or reliability?

Another thing - I've read a lot of good things about Nichicon Muse Gold Caps. But those are indicated as "Audio" caps. Can I put them in guitar amp without making it too sterile and too clean sounding?

Regards, Andy

[Gtr_tech]

RAdial or snap in will work fine. Snap ins do require larger thru holes tho, so its really best to stick with the same lead type. Functionally the same otherwise.

As far as those Nichicon Muse caps....I never heard of them. But from a quick poke around they appear to be intended for SS stuff. No higher than 100v listed. I wouldn't bother with any "gourmet" caps anyway. I believe that most of them are just marketing hype with a higher price tag. Just use good quality stuff and yer ok.

[Setneck]

Those Muse Nichocons are here: 2PCS Nichicon MUSE CE KX Audio Capacitor 220uF 400V NEW [KX Audio Capacitor 220uF 400V] - $18.66 : DAC,Audio Amplifier,Hifi Amplifier,Tube Amplifier,Hlly Audio, Hlly Electronics and these are exactly values I need for my amp (220uF 400V). The price is very close to the "regular" Nichicons so I thought about those Muse's as they could give me cleaner filtering (the amp would me quieter maybe?).

Generally I'd like to renovate my amp with a quality components, but I have not the let's say "audiophile gas" (no offence ). I just seek for a good components for the tone. Will not pay double or triple the price only for markings or any other things like that .

Regards, Andy

[Gtr_tech]

I really doubt its got anything to do with the filter caps. They tend to last longer when consistantly used.....keeps the oxide layer fresh. Unless it hums excessively they're likely ok. You may have some cracked solder somewhere or drifting plate load R's.

[Setneck]

Well, the amp seem to lack of response, saturation and sustain. It's fizzy, overbright and "no-balls" there. I seek for the root of the problem. At first I thought about chianging op-amps and electrolytics .

I have also measured the preamp tubes voltages in my 6100. At first I measured them with 1K R58 resistor, later I changed it to 10K. The change seem to give more gain.

R236 6K8 - R58 1K
V1 pin 1 - 214
V1 pin 6 - 204

V2 pin 1 - 147
V2 pin 6 - 216

V3 pin 1 - 192
V3 pin 6 - 274

V4 pin 1 - 212
V4 pin 6 - 303

V5 pin 1 - 173
V5 pin 6 - 303

V6 pin 1 - 185
V6 pin 6 - 303

V7 pin 1 - 265
V7 pin 6 - 259

R236 voltages - 338/444
R58 voltages - 339/325


R236 6K8 - R58 10K
V1 pin 1 - 167
V1 pin 6 - 160

V2 pin 1 - 114
V2 pin 6 - 160

V3 pin 1 - 146
V3 pin 6 - 212

V4 pin 1 - 161
V4 pin 6 - 135

V5 pin 1 - 136
V5 pin 6 - 235

V6 pin 1 - 144
V6 pin 6 - 235

V7 pin 1 - 278
V7 pin 6 - 271

R236 voltages - 357/443
R58 voltages - 357/253


Thanks for the input.

Regards, Andy