post alembic preamp mods

[gpilcher2001]

Hi, all just curious if anybody has experience with the post alembic mods. I'm going to try the cap and resistor job this week. My biggest concern is I can't seem to find any positive remarks on tantalum caps. It would seem like they aren't favored in audio circuits on other chat rooms on the net. If they have that reputation then why do you think they used them? I currently have sprauge elytic's caps on the cathode bypass. Would the tantalum caps have a significant tone change over the sprauges?

[oldsmojo]

Nope

[tigerstrat]

I don't think "tone change" is how I would put it, but they feel "tighter"...somehow

[gpilcher2001]

So can I take it that your using them? If you are have you had any noise or reliability issues and are they real sensitive to heat? I.e. Should I use a hemostat when soldering? Thanks Greg....

[waldo041]

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/003914.html

Let me suggest a place to start: First, in addition to changing all of the
caps, you will want to change all of the plate resistors for non-inductive metal
film versions. Also change all of the cathode resistors and use tantalum
capacitors for the bypass caps (I use military grade axial lead versions).
This, especially for steel, will greatly improve the high frequencies yielding
the pure and clearer bell like tones. This is very important. Next, after you
have chosen the tubes (no matter who says what, American made tubes are way, far
the best) you will want to carefully examine the phase inverter / driver
network. This is, as they say, where the rubber-hits-the-road. Finally, the
careful setting of the bias has a lot to do with the good sound. There are a
few other things but this is the main idea.

peace,
waldo

[tigerstrat]

So can I take it that your using them? If you are have you had any noise or reliability issues and are they real sensitive to heat? I.e. Should I use a hemostat when soldering? Thanks Greg....

No noise or reliability issues, never been happier. I never even considered heat-sensitivity as an issue, and soldered w/ no hemostat... (I really need to set up a proper exhaust system but that's a separate issue)

@waldo, yes the highs are more bell-like, but the sense I get is not that there is more treble, but that it's tighter, i.e. the treble keeps its integrity a whole lot more, imparting a sense of sonically "tightening all the bolts"

[gpilcher2001]

Great sounds good. Should have the caps today. Might as well try them out. Thanks for the input.