TONE MAN GUITAR: COLLECTIONS

Guitar Tone Capacitors - PIO & Orange Drop

Audio-grade guitar tone capacitors for Les Paul, Stratocaster, Telecaster, and SG electronics. Shop Centralab Paper-in-Oil (PIO) caps and Sprague/CDE Orange Drop capacitors in .015uF, .022uF, .033uF, and .047uF ratings.

Guitar Tone Capacitors - PIO & Orange Drop

Tone Man Guitar Products in this Collection

Tone Capacitor Types Explained

Your choice of tone capacitor dictates how high frequencies roll off as you turn down your tone knob. Replacing flat ceramic disk caps with audio-grade film or oil capacitors adds warmth, smoothness, and usable taper across the entire pot sweep.

Paper-in-Oil (PIO) vs. Orange Drop

  • Paper-in-Oil (PIO): Vintage-correct construction (Centralab). Delivers organic, buttery high-end attenuation and rich vocal midrange. Preferred for 50s Les Paul and vintage Strat/Tele builds.
  • Orange Drop (225P / CDE): Modern film-and-foil reliability with tight tolerance, offering clean, punchy, and articulate treble roll-off at an affordable price point.

Recommended Values for Pickups

  • .015uF: Ideal for neck humbuckers (prevents muddy bass when rolling back tone).
  • .022uF: Standard value for bridge humbuckers (Les Paul, SG, Explorer) and P-90s.
  • .033uF: Gives a clean, warm tone. Use with humbuckers, P90s and single coils.
  • .047uF: Classic Fender value for Stratocaster and Telecaster single-coil pickups.