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capos for electric and acoustic ?

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2/26/2004 10:14 PM

capos for electric and acoustic ?

I've noticed a few electric players(EC notably) using the cheap bungee type of capo on electric. Anyone doing this? Any brands or things to look for?

For acoustic, I've got three I hate. I almost like the Kyser one-hand design, but the spring tension is too heavy, imo. It pulls sharp, even with medium strings. Is there something similar with less tension? I don't really like the looks of the Shubb type thing with the thumbscrew.

2/27/2004 6:27 AM

quote:
"I almost like the Kyser one-hand design, but the spring tension is too heavy, imo. It pulls sharp, even with medium strings."

I'm OK with the tension of the Kysers, myself, and I find those stretch ones dangerous. I always found the screw-on type too finicky about getting mounted just so (but might be good if you wanted the capo semi-permanently installed!).

Most any capo will pull sharp less and intonate better if you back off from the fret. Assuming you have healthy frets, that is...

2/27/2004 6:50 AM

jaysg:

I don't really like the looks of the Shubb type thing with the thumbscrew.

    There was a really nice one that they used to make which was somewhat similar to the Shubb but it was made of square aluminum stock and had two "guides" to help you center it on the fretboard. There was a thumbscrew on the bottom piece to set the pressure and when you got it right it would hold the strings down firmly without raising the pitch.

    Only problem is that the two rubber pieces on the top bar (which is what would touch the strings) deteriorated after maybe 10 years so its been worthless ever since. I have thinking about replacing the rubber parts with something like clear latex tubing and silicone.

    It seems like most of the capos that they sell these days are just junk, but IMO the Shubb is the best of the lot.

Steve Ahola

3/19/2004 9:00 PM

Steve, that was probably a Sabine capo, one of their first inventions.

I got a pair of NOS replacement plastic pieces about 10 years ago and they are deteriorated again. These plastic pieces are key because they have the curvature of the fretboard molded in.

Other than that I have never seen or heard another capo which was capable of being clamped on any type of guitar and still be true to pitch, especially on electric guitars with lighter strings.

Unfortunately, they tooled up for this themselves in the '70's and it seemed economical at the time because they were using an antique milling machine, when that wore out it was just plain uneconomical to re-tool.

Mike

3/21/2004 11:02 PM

Mike:

Steve, that was probably a Sabine capo, one of their first inventions.

    Yes, that name does sound familiar...

Other than that I have never seen or heard another capo which was capable of being clamped on any type of guitar and still be true to pitch, especially on electric guitars with lighter strings.

    Yes... it was fretting the strings with your fingers.

Unfortunately, they tooled up for this themselves in the '70's and it seemed economical at the time because they were using an antique milling machine, when that wore out it was just plain uneconomical to re-tool.

    Well, I'd pay $30 to $40 for another capo like that. Maybe one of the companies specializing in reissued products would buy up the rights and start manufacturing them again.

I got a pair of NOS replacement plastic pieces about 10 years ago and they are deteriorated again. These plastic pieces are key because they have the curvature of the fretboard molded in.

    So did they have different models for different neck radii? Probably the same metal frame but different plastic inserts...

--Thanks!

Steve Ahola

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