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Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's

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Posted on April 5, 2017 at 14:26:57
DannyV
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: April 4, 2017
 Hi everyone,
I just bought a Sprague Vitamin Q capacitor on eBay. The online photo showed "Sprague" Vitamin Q on the capacitor. The listing title said "Sprague" Vitamin Q. But, what I actually received doesn't say Sprague anywhere on it. It says "CSC" Vitamin Q. I did a little research and found out that "CSC" stands for Commonwealth Sprague Capacitor. I think this might be a name change that occurred after Sprague was bought by another company. In most instances, when a company gets bought out, quality goes out the window in order to make the company more profitable. For example a Fender Twin Reverb amplier that was made before CBS bought them out in 1965, back when the company was called Fender Electric Instruments, is going to sound a lot different after CBS bought them out and changed their name to Fender Musical Instruments.

Does anyone know if a Sprague Vitamin Q sounds/is the exact same thing as a CSC Vitamin Q? I'm doing an upgrade on a very expensive Gretch White Falcon, and I really wanted to put the real deal in there. Maybe CSC IS the real deal? I just don't know.

Thanks for your input!

 

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RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 5, 2017 at 23:14:06
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 I think you're right. The old Sprague plant in North Adams, MA, has been turned into a modern art museum, Mass MOCA. There are a few artifacts from the Sprague era on display. It's a cool museum, but North Adams is basically a ghost town, these days.

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 5, 2017 at 23:26:52
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005






As long as they say 196p,they are the real McCoy. I have lots of the CSC Vitamin Q caps and there are also some other numbers that are paper in oil in this line. Now if they say 118P,that would be a paper and mylar cap. They are fantastic caps but getting expensive.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 00:37:33
DannyV
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: April 4, 2017
 Michael, thank you for your response. Do you think the ones that say CSC were more recently made than the ones that say Sprague?

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 00:39:53
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 I couldn't tell any difference between the CSC Vit Qs and my older 196p Vit Q caps.My favorite Vit Q caps are the ones with the nut on the end where you put your own leads on.Those sound best to me but you have to insulate the cap body that don't have a glass seal at the other end. Maybe the older ones use PCBs but can't be sure.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 00:40:29
DannyV
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Joined: April 4, 2017
 Frihed89, thank you so much for responding. Do you think that the ones that say CSC Vitamin Q and the ones that say Sprague Vitamin Q are the exact same thing?

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 03:53:35
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Made in the 80s
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 11:06:24
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 I don't know. Sorry. But visit the museum if you get the chance!

 

There you go! , posted on April 6, 2017 at 11:08:05
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 Except for the Russian K-40s, I've never used a vintage cap. Silly me.

 

RE: Sprague vs CSC Vitamin Q's, posted on April 6, 2017 at 19:21:33
lovetube
Dealer

Posts: 3008
Location: Melbourne Australia
Joined: June 8, 2003
 Mike.
i have some here but they don't numbers as 196p or 118p but CP05A1KF 224K3 .
what do you know about this ?
Pete

 

RE: There you go! , posted on April 7, 2017 at 07:50:26
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 I love the vintage paper in oil caps except for the Japanese Suzuki paper in oil caps.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

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