[morzh]

Craig


This one:

>>>>>>With my first 500-C I just blew through and changed out everything caps wise, due primarily to lack of confidence in my own abilities compounded by internet noise
In my experience, now hindsight, that was a mistake - it altered the character of the amplifier's sound
<<<<<

I'm not sure about validity of this statement. Here's why:

1. From the point of view of the capacitors change, this is the needed procedure: old paper or bumblebee (also paper) caps are leaky as heck, I have yet to see one that isn't.
2. As for changing the amp sound: Sure!!! Changing a leaky cap to non-leaky one will change the characteristics. And, were you there to listen to it when it was first built in whatever 1950-s year? Even if you were, you wouldn't remember, but now you are likely listening to the sound that is probably is very close if not the same as the original, which has change over time as the caps became leaky/dried up and have changed the sound, and not likely in a good way, so you actually might had improved it for all I care.

It is a separate topic whether particular caps should be used and if there is a difference between different brands sound-wise, but changing them for me is not even a question.