Capo’d Note Choke

[GSFV]

A music shop recently opened in my area. ONLY place that stocks Guild. It’s absolutely thrilling! And possibly devastating to my “if I buy one I have to sell one” policy regarding guitars.

I picked up a D20 all mahogany. I enjoyed it. But when I put a capo on it I was shocked to find that the notes sounded full and clear and alive. Unlike my guitar at home (different wood/brand, similar shape/size) where the capo leads to dull lifeless sounding notes. All in tune from an adjustable capo. But kind of lifeless and uninspiring. The D20 was amazing sounding no matter where I played it!

Now for my question
Any insight into what might cause a capo note to choke out and be lifeless? Or do Guilds just have the magic sauce?

 

[GAD]

A music shop recently opened in my area. ONLY place that stocks Guild. It’s absolutely thrilling! And possibly devastating to my “if I buy one I have to sell one” policy regarding guitars.

I picked up a D20 all mahogany. I enjoyed it. But when I put a capo on it I was shocked to find that the notes sounded full and clear and alive. Unlike my guitar at home (different wood/brand, similar shape/size) where the capo leads to dull lifeless sounding notes. All in tune from an adjustable capo. But kind of lifeless and uninspiring. The D20 was amazing sounding no matter where I played it!

Now for my question
Any insight into what might cause a capo note to choke out and be lifeless? Or do Guilds just have the magic sauce?

Low or uneven frets could cause a capo to not work well. Not all capos are created equal, either. Some will work better with low frets than others.

Do barre chords sound good on the guitar?

 

[GSFV]

Not as full as open chords do. But it’s better than the capo. I’ve got an adjustable D’Addario capo.

Would action play a role in this?

 

[kostask]

If your action is low enough that any high frets are contacting the strings, then action may be a factor. If the nut slots are a little low, then you may get clearer notes with a capo, or with barre chords. Easiest way to see if that is an issue is to take a small piece of paper, and put it in the nut slot, and then see what happens. It may be one string, or it may be multiple, or even all, the strings. It that works, then you need to decide if you want to have the nut slots filled and re-slotted, or you want to put a thin shim in the nut slot, or have a new nut made. You will need to see a luthier for that, unless you have the ability to do it yourself.

High frets are always a possibility, as GAD pointed out.

 

[chazmo]

It could be your capo. Get a Shubb designed for a 6-string and see if you have the same experience, @GSFV ?

Also, as GAD said, the way the other guitars are fretted from the factory might not be adequate/even.

Anyway, good luck. There should be no difference between when you strike a barre chord or when you use a capo and play the same "open" chord.

 

[davenumber2]

The D20 may have a different fretboard radius that matches better with your capo.

 

[plaidseason]

Most of the ground has been covered here. But I have more than a few songs that I capo at the 7th fret. And at least three that I capo at the 9th . . . which can get really sketchy. Frets, fretboard humps, fretboard radius, even the size of the body, all come into play. My Simon & Patrick used to be my go-to for high capoing, but now there's a strange vibration on the A string that I can't solve. And my parlor is a 12 fret, so you can't play that high up the neck!

So . . .

Sidebar, but not - I finally ordered a used M240e with the hope that it will resonate better at the 9th fret for a song I'm trying to record. That sounds made up . . . but it's true. It was only $300 used. So we'll see.

 

[adorshki]

A music shop recently opened in my area. ONLY place that stocks Guild. It’s absolutely thrilling! And possibly devastating to my “if I buy one I have to sell one” policy regarding guitars.

I picked up a D20 all mahogany. I enjoyed it. But when I put a capo on it I was shocked to find that the notes sounded full and clear and alive. Unlike my guitar at home (different wood/brand, similar shape/size) where the capo leads to dull lifeless sounding notes. All in tune from an adjustable capo. But kind of lifeless and uninspiring. The D20 was amazing sounding no matter where I played it!

Now for my question
Any insight into what might cause a capo note to choke out and be lifeless? Or do Guilds just have the magic sauce?

The notched fret issue Kostas mentioned lit a bulb for me. Probably a safe assumption the D20 was new with practically zero fret wear, giving a nice "sharp" clamp to the strings, whereas your home instrument likely has developed a bit of wear that might explain relatively less "precise" clamping.

Never use capos myself so can't speak to their relative quality but it's been discussed here occasionally and I have to give credence to the principle.

Being a D'A fan I'd expect that adjustable capo to be up to the task, though.

 

[GSFV]

Thanks! I’ve got a shubb I use on my electrics in a case somewhere. I’ll snag that. But at the shop it was the same kind of capo at home. It’s worth a try all the same.

It’s been a while since I had any work done on the acoustic professionally. I have done some stuff at home myself, but maybe it’s time to take it in for a tune up and see what they think. I’ve got a guy in town who is a magician for all things repair and setup.

 

[F30]

My recent purchase used D140 capos extremely well where ever I put it along the fretboard.
Super happy about that.
Oh and I have and still use Shubb capos exclusively, even on electrics and the Mandola

 

[chazmo]

Thanks! I’ve got a shubb I use on my electrics in a case somewhere. I’ll snag that. But at the shop it was the same kind of capo at home. It’s worth a try all the same.

It’s been a while since I had any work done on the acoustic professionally. I have done some stuff at home myself, but maybe it’s time to take it in for a tune up and see what they think. I’ve got a guy in town who is a magician for all things repair and setup.

I'm just going to say that if it sounds muffled to you capoed versus the barred sound then something's wrong with the capo.

 

[Br1ck]

Have you ever gotten a setup that includes a fret level and crown? or a plek job? Likely to solve any issues.

Then there is last year's splurge, a $70 Paige Click capo, the one with six plastic pieces to contact the strings. It's the only capo I've had that retains great tone, and NEVER has to be tuned when you move it. Doesn't need much clamping pressure either. Only problem is I want one for every guitar.

Paige Click ETI. $70 at Sweetwater

 

[GSFV]

Have you ever gotten a setup that includes a fret level and crown? or a plek job? Likely to solve any issues.

I have. But it’s been a few years.

I was able to check the action and it’s measuring about 1.75 - 2mm on all 6 strings. I would think that is plenty of clearance. Right?

 

[GSFV]

My recent purchase used D140 capos extremely well where ever I put it along the fretboard.
Super happy about that.
Oh and I have and still use Shubb capos exclusively, even on electrics and the Mandola

You’re feeding into my fears that the guild acoustics are magic. How could you?

 

[GSFV]

Oh and I have and still use Shubb capos exclusively, even on electrics and the Mandola

Where do you put it when not in use? I have a hard time with where to put my shubb when not in use as it doesn’t easily clip to the headstock.

I have the shubb standard one.

 

[Rocky]

Where do you put it when not in use? I have a hard time with where to put my shubb when not in use as it doesn’t easily clip to the headstock.

I have the shubb standard one.

Pocket, or on to of the subwoofer on my fish-stick.

 

[davismanLV]

I have 3 Shubbs, 1 Kyser, and assorted others. I only use the Shubbs. They reside in a drawer out in the living room OR if too lazy to walk out there, I have a weird little Christmas reindeer (that I think is actually a candle holder? Maybe?) that has antlers that are great for keeping the capos that I toss on there. I usually play in my bedroom.

 

[Rocky]

I have 3 Shubbs, 1 Kyser, and assorted others. I only use the Shubbs. They reside in a drawer out in the living room OR if too lazy to walk out there, I have a weird little Christmas reindeer (that I think is actually a candle holder? Maybe?) that has antlers that are great for keeping the capos that I toss on there. I usually play in my bedroom.

Is that a Hamilton on the left? Horrible devices, even worse than the elastic ones.

I have Shubbs, Kysers and a G7. The Kysers are most convenient for live use, but I always need to confirm I'm covering all of the strings completely

 

[plaidseason]

Is that a Hamilton on the left? Horrible devices, even worse than the elastic ones.

I have Shubbs, Kysers and a G7. The Kysers are most convenient for live use, but I always need to confirm I'm covering all of the strings completely

That's why I use Keysers too. I have like six of them. I have a Shubb that's probably better. But for live performance, I aim for ease of use. No parametric EQs no A/B switches and only capos that are easy to clip on and off.

 

[chazmo]

I've never had good luck with spring-loaded capos, like the Kyser. I would not use one in a performance.