Capos… A discussion

[jimilee]

Lol Jimi.. I've never seen a bass player use a capo.

I've never in my life used a capo. I'm not sure what I'm missing.....is it so you can use open chord shapes in non-open keys? For instance, play a C shape chord in C# (4th fret)?

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I've never seen another bass player do it either, but for on the fly key changes, it works when I don't want to think too hard. Also, to learn covers when the bands tune down. I can tune my bass down a whole step and then use the capo on the first or second fret and not have to re tune for each song. Also Christian artists do it and play in G,C,D. Don't laugh, it's true!

[ch1naski]

Christ Capo.

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[jimilee]

Christ Capo.

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[lincolnic]

I've never seen another bass player do it either, but for on the fly key changes, it works when I don't want to think too hard. Also, to learn covers when the bands tune down. I can tune my bass down a whole step and then use the capo on the first or second fret and not have to re tune for each song. Also Christian artists do it and play in G,C,D. Don't laugh, it's true!

I just finished recording an EP with a band whose bass player used a capo for one song. You're not alone!

[croquet hoop]

Lol Jimi.. I've never seen a bass player use a capo.

Behold! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qUFv_GMmM

[jkokura]

So...

I found my old faithful Shubb after all. Also my Kyser Cut Capo. Awesome.

However, I'm still thinking about looking more at that G7th Newport. Also, I'll be getting a Shubb Cut Capo. I sometimes need more than one capo, and I really want to get away from these Dunlop Trigger types. About the only useful thing I think they're good for is for helping me check the relief when doing a good setup on a guitar.

Speaking of - learn to do your own setups. Saves me tonnes of money now that I have more than 3 guitars.

Jacob

[GermanCdn]

Speaking of - learn to do your own setups. Saves me tonnes of money now that I have more than 3 guitars.

Jacob

That is the truth.  And there's a guy on ebay who sells the calibrated straight edges (like the StewMac ones) with the cutouts for the frets so you can do your neck adjustments without taking the strings off the guitar for a 1/4 the price (I think I paid $80 for a set of four (bass, acoustic, PRS scale, Fender/Gibson scale)).  That plus a setup gauge and a set of good radius gauges will run you about $100 total, and you'll never have to pay for a simple setup again.  That, and invest the money in a proper stop tailpiece recessed adjustment screwdriver - there's nothing worse than the good old Craftsman slotted screw driver skating out of the slot and scratching up your top.

[das234]

I think the choice is obvious...  AMP CAPO!

[jimilee]

Lol Jimi.. I've never seen a bass player use a capo.

Behold! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qUFv_GMmM

love some Opeth!

[aballen]

Keyser capo here.  You know what they say.  If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[timbo_93631]

I don't use them, just lots of barre chords, inversions, and triads/tritons.  Our acoustic players at church heavily rely on them.  But beware of reduced fret life:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Understanding_Frets_and_Fret_Wear

[Clayford]

I have a planet waves NS capo and a Kyser 12string. I like them both, complaint on the NS is that it's weak on the headstock and will fall off. And it looks like Jacob is ok anyway since he uses a Shubb.

There are several great capos on the market that will diminish fret damage and tuning problems, including Planet Waves Dual Action capo and all the various Shubb models. If your capo doesn't offer a tension adjustment, buy one that does. This will save you a ton of money in fretwork.