Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:55 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Capo question...
PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 7:07 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Any Ida's as to why a note pressed by finger plats clean, but buzzes with a capo?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 8:01 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:42 am
Posts: 1574
Location: United States
Not sure abut every case, but I only realized a few years ago that proper fretting with the finger is touching the fret, to hold the string down from bouncing or deflecting on the fret. I guess if the capo is in the middle of the gap between frets, the string can bounce or deflect.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 8:47 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 2953
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
What kind of capo are you using when this happens?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 9:32 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
One of the kind that has a threaded rod on the back to adjust tension...then sorta clicks tight like a cam clamp...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2019 9:38 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:47 pm
Posts: 2422
First name: Jay
Last Name: De Rocher
City: Bothell
State: Washington
Capo on too tight causing the string to curve up slightly off the fret as it passes over the fret? Similar to how an incorrectly ramped nut slot can cause buzzing?

Curvature of the capo bar not a good fit to the fretboard radius so that it doesn't press that string down enough?

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 12:47 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
Posts: 2951
Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
City: Lake Forest
State: California
Focus: Build
Another possibility is after a capo is used many times, especially if it is applied tightly, it can develop groves in the rubber or whatever it is that holds the strings down. That can lead to a buss, or so they say (coincidentally the ones that sell replacement rubbers say that)

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 3:21 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:46 pm
Posts: 501
First name: Mark
Last Name: McLean
City: Sydney
State: New South Wales
Zip/Postal Code: 2145
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I am thinking along similar lines, that the capo is not pushing that string down sufficiently to get a clean note. Could be the radius, or the bar cover like Joe said. I have a 12 string which does this on the light gauge (octave) strings because the bar of the capo spans across the heavier strings and the light ones are not getting pressed hard enough. If I crank it down a bit harder the buzzing stops.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:09 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 2953
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
It sounds like a Shubb capo. I have often experienced uneven pressure with mine; adequate on one side, buzzy on the other side. Try twisting the capo concentrically around the neck, putting more pressure on the buzzy side, until it sounds mostly the same on all strings. Then crank the screw just a smidge further.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 9:32 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Thanks, will try a few things...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 9:57 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:59 pm
Posts: 374
First name: Ken
Last Name: Lewis
City: Mt. Pearl
State: NL
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
"Thanks, will try a few things..."

A different capo? :)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:08 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Starting with that, yeah...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:42 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:36 am
Posts: 1595
State: ON
Country: Canada
Status: Professional
After hearing people rave about Elliott capos I decided to give one a try. I figured it would be the last capo I need to buy, and if they were as good as people claim than it is worth the cost.

I'm sold on them. The wrap around design eliminates the uneven pressure issue, but the thumb screw still allows you to control the amount of pressure on the capo. I have virtually no tuning issues due to too much or even pressure, and none of the buzzing issues I would occasionally experience with other designs. Sure it is not as convenient as a spring loaded or snap on design. But the tonal advantages outweigh the convenience factor for me. I know that a lot of capo manufacturers are now offering similar designs at lower cost than Elliot. But the ones I've seen were not close to quality of material or the fit and finish of the Elliot.

https://elliottcapo.com

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com


Last edited by Josh H on Sat May 04, 2019 6:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 5:24 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:52 pm
Posts: 2953
First name: Don
Last Name: Parker
City: Charleston
State: West Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 25314
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I currently use a Shubb Fine Tune, which is working really well for me. I was using the Shubb C Series before that. They were OK, but the Fine Tune is better. It's a stirrup-type capo.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 5:31 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:46 pm
Posts: 501
First name: Mark
Last Name: McLean
City: Sydney
State: New South Wales
Zip/Postal Code: 2145
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
+1 for Elliot
It has become my favourite since I got it.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 9:40 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:43 am
Posts: 1700
May it be that the capo doesn’t match the radius of the fingerboard? It SHOULD be fine, but if there is a big enough difference it could happen I guess


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 11:00 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
That's a good point. I'll try it with a variety of capos around the house to see. It's a setup I did for a local shop, the guitar is set up exactly as 'I' consider perfect, plays clean and easy all over the neck...until it gets capoed then the open strings buzz like bees...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Sun May 05, 2019 4:48 am 
Offline
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
We frequently see this in our shop as a common complaint. Some capos can be bent, intentionally to conform to a radius and they over time loose the radius that they need for that specific neck. Simply bending them back usually by hand and the notes, all of them ring loud and clear again.

_________________
Ann Arbor Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2019 5:49 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:36 am
Posts: 1595
State: ON
Country: Canada
Status: Professional
SnowManSnow wrote:
May it be that the capo doesn’t match the radius of the fingerboard? It SHOULD be fine, but if there is a big enough difference it could happen I guess


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I forgot to mention that this is one of the features I like about Elliot. With Elliot you choose the radius of the capo. So that it is a perfect match to the individual guitar. Since all my guitars are straight 16" FB radius this works well. Not so helpful if you have a compound radius.

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2019 6:31 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:43 am
Posts: 1700
Josh H wrote:
SnowManSnow wrote:
May it be that the capo doesn’t match the radius of the fingerboard? It SHOULD be fine, but if there is a big enough difference it could happen I guess


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I forgot to mention that this is one of the features I like about Elliot. With Elliot you choose the radius of the capo. So that it is a perfect match to the individual guitar. Since all my guitars are straight 16" FB radius this works well. Not so helpful if you have a compound radius.

Tallia (spelling) also offers pads w built in radius. I have had one a few years and it seems to work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Capo question...
PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2019 6:33 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:43 am
Posts: 1700
Josh H wrote:
SnowManSnow wrote:
May it be that the capo doesn’t match the radius of the fingerboard? It SHOULD be fine, but if there is a big enough difference it could happen I guess


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I forgot to mention that this is one of the features I like about Elliot. With Elliot you choose the radius of the capo. So that it is a perfect match to the individual guitar. Since all my guitars are straight 16" FB radius this works well. Not so helpful if you have a compound radius.

Good point ab the compound radius. Hadn’t considered that before as it relates to capos. Makes sense


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ken Nagy and 70 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com