Tropical Fish Capacitors

I am currently working my way through four old Audio Development channel strips and generally they are all sounding quite good.

original thread here http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=34150.0

Quick question about older caps like the "tropical fish" caps on these boards. If you can see physical damage (like cracking on the external casing) - should I aim to replace these even if there is no detectable sound /performace issues?

Are they likely to fail or is this external cracking normal with caps of this vintage and construction type?

thanks, Mac...

you should be alright, normally, those leads run all the way to the top of the rectangle.

those caps are very rare and are said to have a certain sound, so if you replace them,

send them to Mike Fuller so he can use them in the Vox remake.

Hey thanks CJ,
Yeah I am in no hurry to sub these out - otherwise I wouldnt have bothered getting these strips up an running in the first place - keen to hear how these pres will fit in amongst the ice cream flavours of my other pre's  ;D

I guess I was keen to learn more about these chaps, as I have stumbled upon a small stash of them, and am keen to use these wisely (where their sonic character will be best utilised)...

Mac

I cut up some TF caps.  They look like standard mylar.
Make sure to check the TF caps for leakage if that matters with the circuit you will use them in.

Perhaps you could spray the cracked ones with a Plastik70-like spray (if they are electrically in a good shape)?

http://www.soselectronic.com/?str=371&artnum=33228