Check out my cool new capo...

[Queequeg]

Paul McCartney used to play in the bathroom as a kid because it sounded better. 

We would all sound better if we played in Paul McCartney's bathroom.
I feel a song coming on...

[Silence Dogood]

The frets get closer together as you go up the board, and some things are much easier to play that way.  I play some things capo'd at, say, IV, because the stretches and speed just aren't possible for me sans capo. 

[StringPicker6]

"Sans capo" would be a good name for a band. Almost as good as "Gas Station Sushi".

[Silence Dogood]

"Sans capo" would be a good name for a band. Almost as good as "Gas Station Sushi".

[William2]

I don't know if this was just a regional thing, but when I was a kid starting guitar in Minneapolis, they called capos cheaters LOL.

[Queequeg]

I don't know if this was just a regional thing, but when I was a kid starting guitar in Minneapolis, they called capos cheaters LOL.

I've heard that term for capos.
Kind of derogatory, I've heard electric guitar players use for them.
I never used a capo on electrics and over all, they are far less common on electrics.

We also call reading glasses "cheaters".
😄

[William2]

"We also call reading glasses "cheaters"." LOL!!!!

[Silence Dogood]

As someone who never learned to read music (and still has no desire to learn), knows no theory (and still no desire to learn), etc., I'm happy to cheat.
 

[William2]

I've never owned a capo. I must be an honest man. 

[StringPicker6]

The first hit single from my future punk band Sans Capo will be titled "Cheaters", and I will dedicate it to this forum. 

[Queequeg]

As someone who never learned to read music (and still has no desire to learn), knows no theory (and still no desire to learn), etc., I'm happy to cheat.
 

I didn't know you wore glasses!
 

I've never owned a capo. I must be an honest man. 

I know someone who has been looking for you.
 

[William2]

I didn't know you wore glasses!
  I know someone who has been looking for you.
 

LOL!!!

[Silence Dogood]

I definitely wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can... 


I will say that I used to use a capo a lot more than I do now.  I used to love the higher, more chimey sounds when I was capo'd around IV, V, etc.  But these days I much prefer the more open sound of my guitar when the capo is not in use.  I mostly use one these days when the vox requires it.  And sometimes a more fingerstyle piece seems to sound better when the capo is on. 

[teh]

Thanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.

On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.

While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.

[Silence Dogood]

Thanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.

On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.

While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.

Thanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.

On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.

While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.

I have a Boss Katana 50 that I barely use because I hardly ever play electric, but it's great when the urge strikes.  I never could get the fancy software yo work but just use it as an old-school amp.  It sounds great to me.

[Red Bird]

Hi. Wondering about best capo to use to avoid damaging back of the neck of the guitar.  I've seen several guitars with small impressions/dents that seems to corespond to where a capo is positioned.  Any insights on this?  Best type of capo design to avoid the potential damage?

[StringPicker6]

I think the majority of capos have a small rubber pad to protect the back of the neck. The marks and dents you've seen are probably from someone leaning the guitar against a sharp corner.

[B0WIE]

Hi. Wondering about best capo to use to avoid damaging back of the neck of the guitar.  I've seen several guitars with small impressions/dents that seems to corespond to where a capo is positioned.  Any insights on this?  Best type of capo design to avoid the potential damage?

Taking the capo of after playing is the best way to avoid finish damage. Though, that damage would mostly happen with nitro finished instruments. As mentioned, the capo itself isn't likely to cause damage as they are all padded. Some finished just don't like having rubber contacting them for a long time

[jpmist]

I'm a big fan of Kaiser capo's except the steep price for two pieces of metal, a spring and two pieces of rubber. I have one for each of my harem.

I've gone back and forth on exactly where the pad should be placed on the fretboard. Years ago I would have argued heavily that it should be as close to behind the fret as possible so as to avoid bending the string down to the fretboard, but then someone would point out it might dampen the string energy that way.

I recall seeing James Taylor videos where he placed a different brand at an angle to the fret and recently tried that with good result. But bottom line, the entire goal of finding a capo that you can place and not retune is a hopeless goal, I'm gonna check my tuning before I play, especially if I'm recording, so I've given up hoping.

BUT, mainly here to point out that if your Kyser has too much of a vice grip on your neck, the darn thing is adjustable. Try it! It does work. It's why it's made with aluminum so the beaks can be bent to put less tension on the strings.