5th string capo

Subject: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,rewster
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 09:55 AM

Recommendations for a 5th string capo for my g banjo please. I've been playing capoed above the 5th fret so need to capo up the neck much further than I usually do.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 10:24 AM

Shubb.

Dave H

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,Jerry Crossley
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 05:46 PM

Surely you will need a 5th string capo whichever fret you capo the other four to? Shubb are certainly market leaders here though, and whilst there are cheaper ones around they generally are not up to the job in my experience.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,rewster
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 05:52 PM

Thanks for the info guys, I've bought one ??

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:08 AM

I bought a British made 5th string capo from Ebay UK recently.
It cost around £10.
I think it's a new design. Works on my guitar.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:43 AM

I have a copy shrubb o my Maia , but have home made cheapos on other instruments - Two piecew of stiff wire (heavy duty staples are ideal) and a small elastic band . Contsct me for details if you need !

































9

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,ced2
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 05:32 AM

When I was seriously contemplating playing 5 string banjo a good number of years ago I also wanted to use it to accompany songs and thus I wanted to play in keys where the "G" drone of the 5th string would have been wrong. So I needed a "capo" for the 5th string in addition to that that I used for strings 1 to 4 to play in, say, the key of Bflat. I found such a device and it worked but in order for it to do so I had to screw a bar onto the side of the neck adjacent to the 5th string. There was a small right angled damper that slid along this bar and fretted only the 5th string at the fret of need.
So to play in, say, B flat the main capo went on at the third fret whilst this 5th string device was applied at the 8th fret. In this way the relationship between the strings was maintained.
It worked but the downside were 2 horrible screw holes in the neck of my banjo.
Although it worked I didn't master the techniques of playing banjo well enough. One might say I frailed miserabely!
Good luck

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 10:57 AM

I bought a 5 string a couple of months ago Ced, I'm failing miserably [again ]full stop.

How's the mandolin coming on ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Oct 17 - 05:07 AM

All of my banjos have "Railway spikes" at the 2nd. 5th and 7th fifth string fret positions. Makes life so easy when all you have to do is move the string to one of these pins and if necessary tune up or down one note.
Not easy to fit though and best left to a banjo luthier.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: Acorn4
Date: 10 Oct 17 - 08:33 AM

Saw a nifty little trick once where someone used the top of a biro under the 5th string.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,Ted
Date: 10 Oct 17 - 09:31 AM

I would also recommend the "railway spike" option.

A few small holes on the fretboard are less obtrusive and damaging to the instrument than the "shubb" type that requires drilling into the side of the neck. The rail of the shubb type widens the profile of the neck and can get in the way.   

You do need a luthier to fit them, but that's equally the case for the shubb.

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 03:50 AM

I suppose the old drawing-board clip went out when people started using CAD?

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 01:18 PM

As Banjoman says above "Railway spikes" at the 2nd. 5th and 7th fifth string fret positions."

What's he's talking about are old style HO gauge miniature railroad spikes, which have offset heads to hold down the 5th string (fret it). The new style HO gauge spikes do not work, given that they have round heads!

I have a large supply of the real McCoy railroad spikes and would be happy to mail a dozen out for a dollar, with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Charlie Ipcar, 80 Main St., Richmond, ME 04357. It's a public service. I'm clever with tools. So I install them myself but it's probably safer to have them professionally installed.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: 5th string capo
From: GUEST,rewster
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 03:54 PM

Bought the Shubb and fitted it myself. It works perfectly. Thanks for all the contributions.
Yours frailingly
Rewster