RobF -> RE: Classical/flamenco guitar scale length reform (Dec. 17 2021 20:36:04)
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It’s difficult to use action as the defining word because so many elements can come into play when discussing it but if we only consider string clearances, the capo is just fretting notes and the string clearances for the frets above the capo’d fret should remain unchanged from how they would be when the note is fretted without the capo. The perception of lower action may exist partially because the nut is taken out of the equation or maybe the shorter distances between frets influences the feel, but the relative clearances won’t change much and the absolute clearances for the frets above a fretted or capo’d note won’t change at all. In that sense, it shouldn’t affect the buzzing. As far as action goes, with regards to clearances it’s just simple geometry. The clearances for each fret relative to the capo is going to be very much the same as the non-capo’d clearances for the same relative frets. For example, if the uncapo’d clearance at the 12th fret is 3mm, it’s still going to be 3mm twelve frets above the capo, no matter where you place the capo. I mean, it may not be dead on due to relief, the nut, etc, but it’s going to be be close. So, the perception of lower action has to be due to other factors besides clearances, such as shorter scale length, change in relative neck profile w.r.t. position, lack of nut, and stuff like that, because the relative clearances don’t really change. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your point. I’ll reread it and modify my response if it turns out I’m missing something. I’m also not sure I’m explaining it very well, but it can be easily confirmed with a guitar, a capo, and a ruler (geez, I better go do this myself, lol). *edit* OK, I think I get your point about the action, where if you’re playing in the area of, say, the tenth to twelfth frets it will be easier to do with a capo on the fifth than with no capo. This is because the capo on the fifth is essentially dropping the clearances at the tenth to twelfth to be the same as that of the uncapo’d fifth to seventh area, but with shorter distances between frets. I still maintain it shouldn’t affect the buzzing, unless other factors are coming into play, as the capo is essentially taken out of the equation for any notes fretted above its placement.
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