A capo thead.. (Full Version)

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Jon Boyes -> A capo thead.. (Aug. 11 2004 10:46:53)

I've used a Shubb for several years - very nice and clever little design.

http://www.shubb.com/S2.html

However, I've recently been working on material with some chords that had my left hand fingers banging into that metal clamp on the back of the neck.

I'd like to get a capo with no obstruction on the back of the neck, something like this maybe, as it just has a strip of material there:

http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/capos/toggle/index.html

Just wondered what the rest of you are using. Would be interesting to see how many of you use a trad wooden cejilla.

Jon




Escribano -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 11 2004 11:48:53)

I use the Dunlop, as do a lot of guitarists I have seen; especially when practising or just carrying around on their guitar. You can leave it in place and put the guitar into its case, or store it loosely around the head, just behind the nut.

In performances, I see quite a few shubb styles and trad cejillas.




Jamey -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 11 2004 17:20:00)

Long winded but here goes.....

I've never used a Shubb. I have five that I've used. The Dunlop "Toggle" as you've mentioned (http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/capos/index.html), The Dunlop "Trigger" and "C-Four" capos, a traditional one and a Kyser "Quick Change" (http://www.kysermusical.com/classic.htm).

The Dunlop "Toggle" is basically the most convenient, as mentioned it can simply be left on the guitar when you put it away. The only thing with it is you have to watch how you clamp it on as it tends to pull the high E string and B string across the fingerboard as if you're bending the strings. Just a little bit of attention while clamping and sometimes a little bit of string pulling above the capo to retune is all that's really required. It's so simple in it's design as to be a stroke of genius. It seems so obvious in design but nobody before Jim Dunlop thought of if (I'm guessing here). I noticed while in Sevilla that of all the guitarists I watched, most used the Dunlop Toggle capo with just a couple hold-outs using the traditional variety (though the ones that did, seemed to battle it while changing frets).

Dunlop's other designs that I've tried (but neither worked for me), the "Trigger" and the "C-Four" suffer from a lot of issues. The C-Four and it's variations like the C-Clamp (which my father uses on his 12 string) seem to get in the way on the back of the neck with some positions (as mentioned in another post) and I personally found them difficult to release. The Trigger pulls the strings much like the Toggle tends too but worse. It also definitely gets in my way since the handles stick out the back behind the neck. I owned the Trigger first and it drove me in search of something better, hence my owning all of these other styles.

The traditional one for me has been sort of a mixed bag. Esthetically it's the nicest one, but functionally I have trouble with it. My first finger of my left hand, particularly the middle knuckle sometimes pushes against the tension peg when I play adjacent to it. I've seen some where the peg is angled away and I suppose that the idea is to keep it out of the way. I have no experience with that variation on the traditional cejilla. I've had a few traditional cejillas, some ornate and expensive, some just quickly made "cheapo" ones with a bit of poorly inlaid mother of pearl. Some had a clear nylon/rubber tube band that wraps behind the neck. I've seen guitars that have indents on the back of the neck from people over tightening these cheaper ones as the cheaper tension pegs sometimes slip. The one I had with a leather strap was nice but like all of the traditional ones, it used a piece of a G string as the part that winds around the tension peg. This almost always breaks after a while (all four of mine did, save one - the one I didn't use and kept "just to have").

The Kyser Quick Change is the easiest (and as the name implies "quickest") to change frets with but has a downside. It's a big klunky and ugly looking thing that adds a bit of weight to the neck. Sort of looks like you have an old TV antena hanging off of your guitar or perhaps a pair of vice grips clamped onto the neck. Works great, just not much to look at.

My two cents....(which inflation adjusted and currency converted adds up to........uh.....nothing.....).




Guest -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 12 2004 7:12:08)

Sounds like the good old pencil and elastic band still has some mileage in it[:D]

Sean




Jon Boyes -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 12 2004 7:52:56)

Thanks for the input chaps, and for that detail, Jamey. Looks like its the toggle then.

Another advantage is its weight - those shubbs, Kysers and other clamp types can add a fair bit of weight to a flamenco guitar, don't you think? Doesn't feel quite right with one on, the headstock end feels too heavy.

Jon




Jamey -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 12 2004 15:25:43)

Yes, the Kyser and those other Dunlop styles do weigh down the neck noticeably. Particularly so if you're holding the guitar in the tradition style rather than cross legged. My guitar is very light and those capos make it want to fall over like a chopped tree.




Miguel de Maria -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 12 2004 19:08:00)

Allmost everyone around here uses Dunlop--those little ones that are made of a piece of nylon cnnected to a piece of plastic, the other side being connected to a piece of metal with grooves. Not only do they work very well they are cheap and sicne guitarists are always stealing other guitarists' capos. And yes they are light too, and fit easily in a pocket.




Jim Opfer -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 13 2004 16:39:47)

Dunlop, light easy to use and cheep.

Remember, it must hang over the top of the fretboard with the strap going round the bottom to click over pointing up the way.

If you don´t do this you can flick it off while playing. Sure everyone knows this, but Rafael added, that it´s also considered ´bad luck´ not to do it this way round.

One of those superstitions with a grounding in good practice.

Cheers
Jim.




Jon Boyes -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 17 2004 15:06:19)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer
Remember, it must hang over the top of the fretboard with the strap going round the bottom to click over pointing up the way.


hi Jim

I've just bought one.
If I understand you correctly, you are saying the black lever thingy should have its open end pointing towards the ceiling, with the hinge towards the floor, yes?

Jon




Escribano -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 17 2004 15:38:38)

Hinge towards the floor, yes I believe so without looking, as I am at work [:D] You lever upwards for tension.




Jim Opfer -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 17 2004 21:42:06)

quote:

I've just bought one.
If I understand you correctly, you are saying the black lever thingy should have its open end pointing towards the ceiling, with the hinge towards the floor, yes?


Hi Jon,

No the opposite way, placed to hang over the top side of the fretboard with the open ends hanging down towards the floor, the black plastic lever then closes to point up to the ceiling.

Hope you were not affected by that rain storm? and great to read that you've linked up with Mark, a very nice guy.

Cheers
Jim.




Escribano -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 17 2004 21:58:15)

Jim's right, I had a look at home. Hinge is on the top, leverage up towards the top.




Jon Boyes -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 10:20:02)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer

quote:

I've just bought one.
If I understand you correctly, you are saying the black lever thingy should have its open end pointing towards the ceiling, with the hinge towards the floor, yes?


Hi Jon,

No the opposite way, placed to hang over the top side of the fretboard with the open ends hanging down towards the floor, the black plastic lever then closes to point up to the ceiling.


LOL! I thought that's what I said![:D][:D]

OK, methinks too many possible 'hinges' and 'ends' with this contraption, lets do pictures [;)]:

http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/capos/toggle/index.html

I have my capo on the guitar the same way round as the bottom photo - correct?

Jon

PS Tune in next time folks, when Jon and Jim discuss the correct way to file your nails.

(..now was that front to back, back to front, up and down or simply sideways?....[:D])




Escribano -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 11:35:25)

quote:

I have my capo on the guitar the same way round as the bottom photo - correct?


That's the way I have mine, too.




Ron.M -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 13:49:30)

I'm afraid I've always used this capo the wrong way round, that is with the end of the plastic lever pointing down.
I'm trying it the proper way round now and hoping my luck will change! [:D]

(You know if a "Gato Negro" string ever breaks, you should always turn round three times and spit before replacing it.)

cheers

Ron




Jon Boyes -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 15:07:34)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M
I'm afraid I've always used this capo the wrong way round, that is with the end of the plastic lever pointing down.


A long time ago when I used to skateboard, I had my left foot at the back of the board and my right foot at the front. I was told this was called "Goofy-footed".

Ron, I think you must be Goofy-Capoed [;)]

Jon




Ron.M -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 16:04:57)

LOL! Jon
I've never found it any problem really, except on that crazy 3 finger chord on the first fret that Tomatito (and everyone else now) uses in Bulerias.
Also I seem to suffer from Right/Left dyslexia..
That is, if somebody says to me "Turn Right here" (without pointing) I invariably go to turn Left. (Must have some sort of wiring error in my brain, or a corrupted byte in a memory location).

On the subject of both Luck and choosing the wrong way to do something when there is an apparent 50/50 choice...
Once when I was working on a survey ship, I was coiling up a rope when one of the Seamen ran up to me and pushed me away, accusing me of endangering the ship and those on board.
Apparently I had been coiling the rope anticlockwise and was told sternly that a rope must never be coiled "against the Sun" or bad luck will prevail.
(Jeez! thank goodness I never shot an Albatross or anything.)

Actually the ship did sink a few months later (while we were tied up in Port thankfully!)
Some guy removed the main Sonar tranducer without shutting off the gate valve beforehand.
A lot of us lost our stuff, but I managed to scramble on board and grab my guitar and passport before the water hit the engine room and all the lights went out.
The Company had to reimburse us for our lost stuff.
Quite amazing the number of Rolex watches and Nikon cameras that were claimed for. [:D]

cheers

Ron




Jamey -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 16:05:22)

quote:

A long time ago when I used to skateboard, I had my left foot at the back of the board and my right foot at the front. I was told this was called "Goofy-footed".


What? Used to? tsk tsk....
I still do, 20 years and counting now.

- Jamey
(regular footed)




Jim Opfer -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 16:20:01)

quote:

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer

quote:

I've just bought one.
If I understand you correctly, you are saying the black lever thingy should have its open end pointing towards the ceiling, with the hinge towards the floor, yes?

Hi Jon,

No the opposite way, placed to hang over the top side of the fretboard with the open ends hanging down towards the floor, the black plastic lever then closes to point up to the ceiling.


Mmmm...! I still read the two paragraphs as different, but either way, the picture is correct (if you are right handed and looking at the capo to your left side and your guitar is sort of facing up to the ceiling!)

Don't dare start a post on nails!

Cheers
Jim.




Miguel de Maria -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 18:31:24)

Ron, I have a simple method for determing which way is left and right. Hold up your hands in front of you, the thumb and index fingers making right angles. You will see an 'L' and a backwards 'L.' The direction with the 'L' is left, and the other is right.

Good luck my friend.




duende -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 18:39:41)

well well well!! A fellow skateboarder!!
[:D]

Henrik (regular)




Ron.M -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 20:07:26)

quote:

Ron, I have a simple method for determing which way is left and right. Hold up your hands in front of you, the thumb and index fingers making right angles. You will see an 'L' and a backwards 'L.' The direction with the 'L' is left, and the other is right.


Great idea Mike!
I've never thought of that one before. Easy to remember too!
Just to clarify a point though, should the palms of the hands be facing towards you or away from you?
It's one of those damn 50/50 things for me again. [8|]

cheers

Ron




Miguel de Maria -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 20:55:17)

Palms should be facing away from you. In other words, you should see the hairy part of your hand.




Escribano -> RE: A capo thead.. (Aug. 18 2004 21:36:01)

But Ron has hairs on both sides of his hands [;)] This going into Off-Topic soon!




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