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tmock -> RE: Carved cejillas (Jan. 24 2012 5:09:22)
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Tony's new low profile design was waiting for me when I got home from work today. (One of Tony's pictures is below.) A capo is one of those things I wouldn't expect to be overly obsessed with. I really just want it to work. But it's amazing how, with all of the elaborate designs, so few "just work." This one isn't perfect, but it's really great. So here's way more analysis than you ever knew you needed about a capo. [8D]
First, the high points:
- It retains the core aesthetic of a traditional capo. Wood, a peg (I know, it's wood, too), leather, string. That's it. Not a big hunk of metal. No internal ratcheting mechanism. I like those other capos, but they just don't look right hanging off my flamenco guitar.
- It's light. No matter how light your neck or how precariously balanced your guitar position, you'll never notice this capo. And if you're one of those guys who is convinced you can hear every gram added to your guitar, no sweat.
- The low profile design is perfect. I can play any jammed up first-fret position I want and pivot my fretting hand as far over this capo as I can over the nut. Nice.
- Maintaining the use of a simple string on the bottom also keeps the bottom design low profile. Only this is way better than the fishing line and leather strap on my old cejilla. Why? Four reasons. First, no leather strap. One less piece to situate when you're setting up. Second, the string seems more durable than the fishing line on my old cejilla, which is already distending. Third, the string is braided and soft, so no dents in the back of the neck because you didn't position the leather strap just right. Fourth, and most important, the braided cloth string has a very progressive and secure feel. You can dial in exactly how much tightness you want, and it stays. My old cejilla doesn't have that kind of precision. The fishing line doesn't develop any real friction on the peg or body of the cejilla, so it won't hold it's position unless it's really cranked down. No issue here.
- Tony has redesigned angle of the peg (compare to the earlier picture of this design in this thread), so that the tightening of the string actually pulls the peg into the hole, letting the capo hold your selected tension even more securely.
- The peg is a good bit longer than the one on my old cejilla. Also makes things more secure.
- Oh, and a very fair price for a well-designed, hand-made piece of kit.
Now, I said it isn't perfect, so here are my seriously nitpicky nits:
- The string could stand to be a couple millimeters longer. I don't want a lot of excess string when I'm capo'd at the second fret, but my guitar's got a chunky neck and high action and those seventh and eighth fret capo positions are just a little tricky to get into.
- Although the peg angle is functionally better on this variation, I like the slight soft curve the old design created to the right of the string. It adds an interesting design element and, more importantly, looks like it would guide the string and keep it from sliding over the edge of the capo as your tightening things down. Like I said. Nits.
So, yeah, I know it's "just a capo," but this is a really good capo! Traditional vibe, yet modern design. Simpler and less fussy than even a traditional cejilla, yet more effective than a lot of the more complicated contraptions. So get a Dunlop Professional toggle capo to cut notches in for crazy altered tunings, and use one of Tony's new cejilla's for everything else. Nice work, Tony, and thanks! Until you make an improved version of this one, I've found my capo. [:)]
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