a new Capo rumor

[Kitty]

Hi everyone,

Anybody have a G7th capo? (That's the brand name.)

I've HEARD its "revolutionary new design" keeps your guitar from going out of tune. But it's $40 so I'm not sure I want to experiment without hearing from someone who uses it.

I know there are some electric guitar players in the world who sneer at people who use a capo because they're not talented enough to use barre chords. Hey, I can barre as well as the next guy (provided the next guy isn't really good). It's just that I play with a lot of hammers and pull-offs so I like to capo up to a good position for singing in, say Bb, but fingering in open G. And if I'm backing up another acoustic guitarist, I like to capo up several frets and play in a different voicing so that it doesn't all sound exactly the same.

SO... (blah, blah, blah) I'd be really interested in a capo that doesn't make my guitar go out of tune, even on the 2nd fret. I've used Shubbs, Keysers and Fender capos, even a rolling capo, but they all get me a little bit out of tune. I suppose some of it could be chalked up to the intonation on my fretboard, but it's a Martin so it can't be THAT bad.

Kitty

[Wally]

I use a capo in the same manner that you do - even on electrics :mrgreen:

I have been real happy with Shubb, but the G7th got my interest a few months back as well... I haven't been able to try one, but just looking at the way it is constructed I can't see it being twice as good as a Shubb since it works on the same basic principle. I would like to try one, though.

[MrMike]

I'd have to say the same. The Shubb has worked wonderfully for me, with no tuning hassles and an incredibly simple operation. I can't imagine the G7th being a dramatic improvement.

[SAguitar]

I haven't tried it either, but I can't imagine that it could be that much better. All capos basically have the same inherent problem, too much pressure on the strings and you're pushing the notes sharp. Too little pressure and you're not getting good contact resulting in ugly buzzes n' stuff. For what it's worth, I use a Keyser capo when I have to, but rarely resort to one. I've just had to learn to play further up the neck, and let the key dictate what I can and can't do with the strings. Not a great answer for a real acoustic player, but that has been my solution. Sometimes we'll have two acoustics, so one of us can play further up the neck and just accompany the other (who will have to deal with the tuning/capo struggle).

Shucks, I've had enough problems trying to lighten my grip on some of my electric guitars with taller frets. I used to squeeze them too much and threw notes ugly sharp!

The best thing I've found it to slide the capo as close as possible to the fret in front of it so it can't have all the leverage available when it is further back from the fret.

[MrMike]

That's what I love about the Shubb. You can adjust the tension so that you're not clamping down so hard that the strings go out of tune. Also, since it's not spring-loaded, you can easily avoid the hassles of having it bend the strings sharp before it clamps down, which drove me nuts with the Keyser. It's a brilliant design, and that's why I can't really imagine the G7th being an improvement. However, I would love to be proven wrong.

[Kitty]

I don't know... I went to the web site and their infomation does seem to address the inherent problem with a capo. Maybe I'll be the guinea pig for the forum on this one.

http://www.g7th.com

(I got jazzed about purchsing one directly from them until I realized it was 24.95 in Great British Pounds, not USD.) :-)

[stephen]

It looks to me like it is a ratcheting version of the Shubb. The one added feature is you can store it on your headstock, where this isnt possible witth the Shubb.

Idunno, $40.00 for a capo? Thats a lil outta my league.

[SAguitar]

8-[ :roll: :-s :mad: :???: 8-[

[stephen]

Now I do know this about the Shubb (thats the capo I went with, cause I hold disdain for big bulky capo's, and I like the minimalist idea): They offer different ones for different fret board radius'.

I found out the hard way, that can mean a big difference. I got one for a flatter 12" radius, and my guitar has (I believe) a 9.25 radius. I was definitely out of tune! Well at least my buddy wound up with a nice capo for his acoustic, and I felt good about that!