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Topic: adjustable capo |
Gil Berry
From:
Westminster, CA, USA
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Posted 4 May 2007 9:16 pm |
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| I was just thinking about using a capo under the strings for some "open string" stuff other than in the chords available open. I know some players have done this. Then I got to thinking about the fact that putting a "capo" bar under the strings would make the top of the strings uneven (defeating the purpose of gauged rollers at the nut). Question: Has anyone ever made a "capo" for the psg that allowed individual height adjustment for each string in addition to a an overall height adjustment so it could fit guitars with different string-to-neck spacing? I have a hunch that might be a good seller...anyway, I'd buy one if it wasn't too expensive. Anyone else think this is a good idea? Shouldn't be too hard to make if you've got the equipment??? |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 5 May 2007 4:24 am No, not a wise investment
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| I'm afraid there would be very little market for it. Not enough interest to justify tooling up for the production. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 5 May 2007 5:39 am
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But an interesting idea....
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 5 May 2007 10:01 am
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If you could design a steel guitar capo, whereby the strings were pressed from the top, then the strings would be nice and flat all the way across.
Lee, from South Texas |
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Gil Berry
From:
Westminster, CA, USA
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Posted 5 May 2007 11:12 am
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| absolutely right, Lee. But the potential problem would be that pressing from the top would mean whatever you were pressing with would be in the way of sliding past your new "zero" fret. But it would surely be simpler than an adjustable from-the-bottom one. What I had visualized was a modified "keyless" type device using the adjustment to raise/lower the individual strings (to set height) with the entire mechanism adjustable in height to fit the gap between the neck and the bottom of the strings. The individual adjustments could be a simple lever with an adjusting screw and the overall height just like a bridge height adjustment on an old acoustic 6-stringer. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 5 May 2007 1:49 pm
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| Then I got to thinking about the fact that putting a "capo" bar under the strings would make the top of the strings uneven (defeating the purpose of gauged rollers at the nut). |
I just don't see this as a big issue. Sure, it's nice to have the strings all percectly level, but I certainly don't consider it a necessity. Players, some of the very best, were using capos on pedal steels for decades before guaged rollers were introduced. In fact, players (myself included) were using them when we didn't even have rollers!
So make (or buy) yourself a little capo to slide under the strings. Even if it ain't "perfect", you'll probably still have a lot of fun with it!  |
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Dennis Wallis
From:
Arkansas
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Posted 6 May 2007 3:30 pm
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| I seem to remember the Sho Bud company selling a capo for steel years ago. There might be one out there somewhere. I have one for a Dobro. One made similar might work. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 6 May 2007 3:37 pm
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I remember Jeff Newman demonstrating a capo when I was at his advanced class in 82. If memory serves me right he stuck it under the strings at the 12 fret and then played some nifty stuff on both sides of the capo.
Very clever, but from a practical point of view it probably only has novelty value --- I can't think of a playing situation where I would use one, in 28 years of playing ha !! |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 6 May 2007 5:26 pm
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Contact Rains Steel Guitars. They have a perfect capo Gary Carpenter made for pedal steel. Fits under the strings just right and does exactly what you guys are talking about.
http://www.rainssteelguitars.com/
I just was talking to Gary and he said to go ahead and call him. I don't think the accessories page is up on the site yet.
Gary Carpenter 817 560 2277
BTW: That's my steel on the front page of the Rains site.
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Bob |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 7 May 2007 10:22 am
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Walter Haynes was the first that I knew who it was to use a capo...many years ago. I think he was working with Hawkshaw Hawkins when I first heard this.It makes for some cool high range pull off stuff.Also Sho-Bud did have one in their fliers at one time.
Maybe Donny will know for sure, or Walter will see this and reply.
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Dan Tyack
From:
Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 7 May 2007 10:43 am
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| I'd really like to have something like that. I was thinking of something like those Steinberg guitars with the moveable nut. However, it seems to me that if you are effectively changing the scale of the instrument, won't the pedals be out of tune, because they are set for the string tension at the 0 fret? |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 7 May 2007 11:07 am
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| How about mounting a regular roller nut with gauged rollers on a metal block that fits under the strings and sits on the neck. You could slide the bar behind it just like at the nut. And it wouldn't affect the pedal stop intonation any more than playing up the neck with the bar does. |
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Dan Tyack
From:
Olympia, WA USA
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Posted 7 May 2007 11:09 am
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| You're right David. I was thinking about a moveable nut (like on the Steinberg guitars) but a roller nut capo wouldn't affect the pedals. I want one! |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 May 2007 1:00 pm
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Get a tube of chapstick and put it where you want it. Works great. 
Phred |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 7 May 2007 1:03 pm
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Dan,
Gary has got them made and for sale. They are not roller nut ones though. His are highly polished stainless steel. They work fine.
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Bob |
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