Tell me about capos

Subject: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:48 PM

This is a question for all you Mudcatters who are knowledgeable about guitars and banjos.

I recently had my Martin D15 set up nicely with bone nut and saddle, ebony bridge pins, and better strings. It really sounds great.

When I put the capo on (Shubb), I lose a lot of what I just gained. It seems the rubbe covered clamp on the capo deadens the string to a marked degree. Same thing on my Banjo.

Anyone have thoughts on this. Jeepman

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Justa Picker
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:55 PM

There have been 2 previous threads covering a lot of aspects of Capos.

This one

and

This one.

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:56 PM

Yeah.......You lose the real effect of the nut which is half of what you did. But I'm not talking to you Jeep, so I'll stop.....

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:11 PM

Odd- A capo shouldn't affect tone any more than fingering the string does--it's the fret that stops the string, not the capo. Where do you place the capo with respect to the fret?

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: GUEST,Rhythm Man
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:54 PM

I use Shubb capos on my Stratocaster, Gibson and Takemine Guitars and get great results. Have for years. Placement and the amount of pressure are the real keys to making it work the best.

Rhythm Man

PS - Make sure you're using new strings on the guitar. String life for an acoustic guitar is about six playing hours.

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Melani
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:04 PM

I find that tightening or loosening the screw affects how it sounds. Sometimes too tight deadens the strings, sometimes too loose.

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:41 PM

Spaw, I realy need your knowledgeable input on this. Would different materials for the capo make a difference?

Jeepman

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 11:11 PM

Jeepman, if it's ok I'll throw my two cents in (Spaw's in the loo)

I started repacing the rubbers on my various capos 30 years ago. I probably own more that 60 of the little creatures by now, from antique ones to many of the modern "designer" ones.

I've tried wood, metal, leather, various different kinds of rubber, and even plastic. Although I certainly think that the Shubb is far and away the best 'QUICK' capo, I mostly use Dunlop 'c' clamp capos for most of my instruments. EVERY capo is carefully 'bent' to exactly fit the fingerboard of the instrument I'm using it on. I put it in a vise (without the rubber) and tap it repeatedly with a hammer until the bar is shaped properly. This helps give you more of that 'original' sound of your guitar, although you're still gonna lose sustain (as you do with fingers)

My favourite substance for 'rubber replacement' is 'floor tile'. Don't know exactly which brand, but the consistency of the rubber is perfect.

Also I cut VERY tiny 'v' shaped grooves in the rubber under where the 6th and 5th strings go (cuts down stretching, even further)

It seems like a lot of work, but I'm a fanatic about tuning.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:09 AM

....Spaw enters zipping his fly and singing "Loo-ie, Loo-ie"

Rick has a fantastic system for dealing with capos that he has described several times here before (and above). Its especially important that the radius comes as close as possible and that you use a damping material as hard as possible without damaging the strings. There are some other fine tips in the threads that Justa Picker linked too.

It is inevitable physical law that sound will change as a string shortens. I'm sure you done some things capoed wellup the neck, just for the tonal effect. Consider what I said above also in simple terms about "losing the effect of the nut." This though should not be significant as you seem to describe and I would also ask your repairman to take another look at the saddle to be sure the fit is tight and the bearing surface is adequate without being too wide. Then redo your capo and try this again. I think your repairman will probably have a good look at things like neck relief at the same time, especially if the sound deteriorates worse on the lower frets than the ones from 5 on up.

BTW, since Susan has "made nice" for you Jeepster, I guess we can still be buddies. So on that basis, here's a fun thing to look at. Frank Ford at frets.com (a GREAT repairman/luthier & a fantastic website) has some capo pictures that you'll really enjoy. The first time I saw those pages I laughed myself to death, but you'll see a lot of them out there. I bet Rick, in his capo collection, has most of them. Click Here for Capos (and other torture devices)

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From:
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:15 AM

Spaw is right. But you not only lose the effect of the nut on open strings, the action of the guitar is slso lowered (like replacing the nut by a nut the height of a fret) and this takes away some brilliance from the instrument.

I sometimes use a capo just to lower the action and tension when I accompany myself singing. I tune down a tone and capo the second fret. Since I tend to sing softly (shy, yaknow) and play loud, this helps keep my voice from being drown out.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:20 AM

Everything but "the rolling capo" Spaw. By the time it came out I was married, and Heather doesn't allow me to buy EVERYTHING that interests me.

The Scruggs-Reuben (if you've looked at Frank Ford's page) has morphed into the Dunlop "C" clamp.

The most important bit of information there is "put it verrrry close to the fret if you want to stay in tune. Most don't....and hence go sharp when they're capoed.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:31 AM

And don't forget when singing softly its especially important to have your moustache in tune too, so send today for you "Amish Australian Pitchfork Moustache Tuner"....only $49.95 US plus shipping and handling of $95.00 US (we handle the hell out of them). Get yours today from FLY-BY-NITE INDUSTRIES, Bremen, Ohio.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 09:59 AM

Thanks guys. Jim Refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Boredatwork
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:48 AM

Rick's suggestion about cutting little V's in the rubber is particularly appropriate for 12-strings. With a capo straight out of the package it is almost impossible to keep the 5th and 6th treble strings from buzzing because the thicker bass strings keep the rubber from making adequate contact with them.

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:55 AM

Hey Spaw, don't Radio Hosts (who have theme songs named after Mudcatters) get free Moustache tuners? What the hell ever happened to PAYOLA? I got in too late I guess.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 01:11 PM

You guys are great. Very knowledgeable. Spaw the capo web site is like you said. very amusing and informative.

Mr Fielding can you edpand on the "floor tile" stuff for capos? Thanks to everyone. Jman

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:04 PM

Everyone has been a big help. Rick and Spaw;I took the factory rubber off my Shubb and replaced it with a length of flexible fuel line. This is a type of rubber(can't remember the name) which is hard but not rigid and is made to withstand gasoline.

I filed 2 shallow grooves for the 2 bass strings and it works. 100% better sound. I does not have the muted, choked sound it had before. I think I will be happy until something better comes along. Jeeply

5

Subject: RE: Help: Tell me about capos
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 11 Mar 01 - 10:36 AM

The correct name of the material is Neoprene. Jman