Tech: Spider Capo

Subject: Tech: Spider Capo
From: folkyshaun
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 05:57 AM

Has anyone else used one of these? I bought one yesterday £30! It's not very good. Just can't get the pressure even across the strings one string or two will always buzz.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: breezy
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 06:50 AM

Is this your first capo ?

maybe the buzz - if usually on the top strings = is possibly due to the strings being set too low to begin with

If using two capos with one biased towards the top strings cures the buzz problem then I am wrong, but you may find it puts the instrument out of tune with the extra bend on the bottom strings

Is the fret board curved while the spider is flat ? if so the two are incompatible

I have always reverted to the shubb capo but I have used and tried most others

£30 is lot

Go to e bay

The also use the G on occasions

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: breezy
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 06:57 AM

there a gear curved for £1.78 on amazon, didnt know you could still get em . I still have a couple and they still work

The spider looks awful and is far too expensive for its purpose

the G 7th would be a better buy

But the shubb is still my recommendation

btw i do play fairly good guitars e.g a D28, hand made Brook Guitars .

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: banjoman
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 07:02 AM

I have tried one but I think its a bit too expensive for what you get. It does work but I found it a bit too fiddly to alter and that when playing hard the capo had a tendency to work loose causing some weird sounds. Its really just a gimmick and I think that it would be better to learn to tune your guitar in various tunings. I tend to use more than one instrument so one is always in standard tuning.
Good luck
Pete

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 07:07 AM

It's a tuning capo.   

http://www.spidercapo.com/

The first obvious design defect is the lack of a strap or clamp round the back of the guitar neck - those little hooks on the side will soon rip your guitar finish off and they contribute to instability of in-out location.

The second obvious design defect is that unlike almost every other capo the cams that select the strings to fret appear to be unpadded - the Shubb and Kyser have a rubber pad, the Third Hand (which I don't like) uses rubber cams, and teh Scott Tuning Capo (which I do like and would like better still with a few simple mods like more adjustable camber and an arrow to tell you which way the camber is without squinting) can easily be modified with some superglue and some thick rubber bands (like peg loops for frame tents - not the round loops the flat ones) to give some accommodation.

The next disadvantage which is shares with pretty well everything except for the drop D and DADGAD impersonator Shubbs and Kysers is that you can't get at the frets for the strings that pass unfretted under the lateral bar - with a drop D Shubb or Kyser you can get your thumb over to play (say) the F# on the bass string and with the DADGADDY ones you can curl up your first finger and get it onto (say) the C# and F# (top string).

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 07:47 AM

I have 2 which I've used in different neck positions... I have no problems with them on a Gulid flat-top
I believe Old Dude posted a song of mine "Cayusse" here last year where I'm using both...

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: GUEST,Doug Saum
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 01:52 PM

I have used many capos, though not the Spider. The one that works best for me (requires little or no adjustment with string pitch)is the G7. It is a bit pricey. The Shubb is my next successful experience.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: GUEST,PJ
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 03:30 PM

I dunno. I have one of these capos. It accommodates arched fingerboards very well because the "finger" can press down on the string at any height unlike the straight bar kind. It makes it quite flexible.
I had some buzz too, until I realized I wasn't tightening it enough and it was [tiny bit] lifting up when I brought the "finger" down on the string.
Also I took off several fingers to get better access to the fret behind and the fret right underneath-no reason to have all [6] "fingers" on, unless you wanna use as a ful capo.
It works fine now. No problem about no rubber either-actually it allows you to fine tune a little bit because there's no rubber. Very useful when used as a ful capo.

Mainly I love all the different things you can do...any combination-alot to experiment with...

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: folkyshaun
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 06:29 PM

Ive had a few gos with my other guitars. It works better on my Lowden but doesn't like my Martin. I'm just going to stick to cutting bits of Shubbs.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 05:08 PM

if you're getting string buzz, try moving the front of the capo just over the top of the fret. that should work. as for the issue with no backing, the locking mechanism is padded, so I don't see how this would do any damage to the finish

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 04:59 AM

Try getting your hands on a Scott Tuning Capo, I used one for years, brilliant little device and a lot less than £30, the guy who makes/made them hails from Debyshire.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spider Capo
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 06:42 AM

Agreed Raggy. Rubber pads on its feet help, as would a more bent nail.