Capos?

[Jake The Loafer]

"only problem with the Kyser and the trigger type is when you clip them to your headstock, it leaves little dents in the wood, found this out the hard way with my D-25 I was at a session one time and saw a lady with a Kyser clipped to the headstock of her Martin D-45 I mentioned to her that she might want to re-think that."

Over the years I've watched country I see this. I would never clip my capo on my headstock. I guess they don't care how their instruments look but I do.

John Kidder, do you have the G7 & if so how do you like it & how good is it?

Oh, Kyser makes a 12 string capo for sure.

 

[john_kidder]

I have the G7 and it's my favourite by far.

It has a very clever internal ratchet mechanism that allows you to squeeze it just enough to get good frettting on all strings, it appears to be very easy on the back of the neck with just two points where the rubber meets the neck (I'm not sure it's rubber - given the attention to design everywhere else, I'm sure it won't affect common finish materials), and it releases in an instant with thumb pressure on the little lever. And you can park it on the headstock without damage.

It has a big enough reach that I can use it even on my old jazzer. I know it's sacriligeous, but it's kind of fun.

And a friend pointed out the other day when I turned up with three Guilds and a Guild amp, and pulled the G7 from the pocket in the Guild strap, that perhaps I was going just a bit overboard with musical gear with "G" on it, and that maybe I should from now just play in G all the time to be consistent.

But I do like the capo. Jeff - I got mine on eBay, actually, for $32 US.

 

[Jake The Loafer]

JK, thanks, I may get one some day. I love capos. They make acoustics sing but like you I use them on all my Guilds. I have 2 Kysers & they are ok. Does the G7 get in the way of your hand. The Kyser sort of does, it makes contact with side of hand & bumps capo. How much are they regularly priced? You have ebay link I can get?

 

[Jeff]

I just bought a G7 Capo last week. $39.00+ tax at Guitar Center.

Surprisingly I found the G7 is less in the way than the Keyser & the Shubb. It has some kind of very precision clutches or cams inside, reminds me of climbing gear or fittings I've seen on sailing rigs. Whatever the source of the technology it allows subtle pressure adjustment, Just clamp it on & squeeze gently till the right amount of pressure results.

At first it seemed clumsy to use the release, it takes a while to get used to. but after playing with it a while, opening & closing several dozen times, it becomes instinctive.

Ergonomically it seems to be tapered & mass reduced just where the others get in the way.

I would think it would be less prone to leaving dents in the headstock since you could gently clip it there with just enough pressure to hold the capo.

 

[West R Lee]

John,

I believe you've got me talked into getting one.

West

 

[Graham]

I normally use a Kyser, but today my G7 arrived, Christmas goofy money, anyway, I like it. great looks, low profile nice action easy on / off, not that the kyser isn't.

Does not get in the way of my very clumsy fingers, as much.

 

[HoboKen]

Automatic Modulators.......a/k/a "Capos!"

I pulled out my old '60s Russell Capo for the Hoboken F-212. The rubber has long since given up the ghost, but I've kept it just a momento of days gone bye. Boy have capos come a long way!

Only a screw-down capo like the shubb is bullet-proof. Spring loaded capos are ok, but really are not as good a the other. That's why I like the Subb most.

I've used Shubbs and Kysers and when my arthritis gets the better of me. I tune the Westerly JF-55-12 down a step using the Shubb as my modulated nut, and the Kyser as the floating modulator.

I too have seen those who care little for their guitar's headstock, do nasties with capos applied that do just that. It's got to be a case of more money than brains, or that they are indeed "dain-bramaged."

HoboKen

 

[kentukblue]

Just to let everyone know....Musiansfriend has a sale on the G7th capo right now. I try to buy as much as i can with our local shop, but they dont carry the G7th.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=361630

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

What do you gents think is the best capo for a 12 string? The most important thing to me is that it not mar the finish.

 

[Graham]

I used a Keyser 12 sting capo Darryl. To be honest I never thought about finish problems with it, but I also dod not notice any.

 

[john_kidder]

The G7 works well on my G-312, up as high as about the 8th fret on that wide neck, and on my Ovation 12 all the way up. Good clamping, simple adjustment of pressure for excellent intonation, no neck harm whatsoever, and that easy on/off.

 

[West R Lee]

I have noticed that G7th does make a "Performance" capo specifically designed for 12 strings.

West

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

So a Shubb or a G7 won't mar the peghead? Am I correct in assuming you wouldn't put a Shubb on the peghead, but you would with a G7?

 

[Graham]

I would say that a G7 wouldn't for sure because you control the tension. It isn't spring loaded like a Kyser, it's more geared.

 

[West R Lee]

I really wouldn't know Darryl, that issue was my primary question when starting this thread. John sounds like he feels they are gentle on the back of the neck. I do know that the G7th have only a couple of points which contact the back of the neck.

Graham sounds like you actually adjust the tension.

West

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

West,

I think I'm going to try a G7. I already have a Shubb, and it's good, but I might like the G7 better. I get the feeling the Dunlop might mar the peghead the way a Kyser can. I might like the Dunlop and Kyser, but I'm afraid I'd forget and clamp one on the peghead of one of my near mint guitars.

 

[Jeff]

Bending strings with G7 Capo

I just looked closely at the contact the G7 is making on the neck of my
F 20. [img:300:211]http://www.g7th.com/images/capo1.gif[/img]
The neck on the F 20 is small & delicate, I didn't have the capo on deep enough & only one of the rubber tips was making contact with the neck.
All the tension was concentrated on just one small spot.

It was simple enough to adjust by moving the capo deeper, I just never looked at the back of the neck close enough before to see what was happening.

I noticed yesterday, last night, and again today, if you bend strings close, within 3 or 4 frets, of the G7 , the strings slide sideways under the capo & don't return when pressure is released.

The Shubb seems to work better for this purpose, the Shubb's simple locking lever can be adjusted to exert more pressure. Or perhaps the rubber is different & doesn't allow the strings to slide.


I've been getting a kick out of playing the F 20 capo'd at the 8th fret. Maybe the key of E flat or A flat?? The little beggar has a sweet spot up there, it doesn't sound anything like a big guitar, & if I'm not careful it makes Ukelele noises. Play it right & it rings & chimes in a special way. Doesn't sound like a mandolin either but it'd probably do OK playing some mando parts.

 

[West R Lee]

Well it's been quite sometime since this thread was started and after reading all of the opinions, I decided to go with Mr. Kidder's endorsement and just received my G7th capo. John had asked me to post my opinion of it.

First, I think it's a very nice looking capo, radically different than the rest. It's also much more expensive than any other capo I've run across. Most sellers want $40-$45 for this thing.

It seems easier to me to install from the top side of the neck. On the rubber arm which contacts the strings, there is a groove which runs all the way down the middle, giving two distinct rubber surfaces which contact the strings. I think this makes for very positive contact. It also has two rubber wedges on the bottom side which contact the back of the neck, these wedges are highly compressable, which also helps in ensuring positive contact with the strings.

The G7th is difficult to install, relatively speaking, as you must position it properly, then begin to press the strings which can be done with the left hand. If you experience slight string buzz, you can further compress the capo with the left hand until the buzzing stops. There is a mechanical ratchet inside which holds the amount of compression applied by your hand. In order to release the capo, there is a plastic tab which is fairly convenient to your thumb.

I like it, it will take practice to install it faster, but all in all, I think a good product.

West

 

[Steelpickin']

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/BMFC.htm

A little pricey but, a very nice capo.

 

[West R Lee]

That reminds me of my last capo which I used sparingly, but for 30 years. Almost identical, it was called a Fretspanner.

West