I am shopping for a mandolin and was playing some Breedloves at a local music shop. The store could not produce a capo that worked with the radiused neck.
Surely I'm not the only person who uses a capo. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Thanks.
0 Kudo
capo confession
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 srcoffee |
capo confession |
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Parlor
Posts: 4 May 1, 2009 21:11:20 |
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Lawn Jockey |
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Parlor
Posts: 65 May 2, 2009 02:44:31   |
One "should" never mention that he uses a capo on a mandolin. It is considered taboo.....or worse.
With that said.....I use a capo......not only to string my mandolins......but to play with as well. The one brand that I've found that works well is the Kyser Mandolin/Banjo capo. It does work....and works well with radiused or flat fingerboards. I'm Scott....and I use a capo on my mandolin (and used to use it on banjo too). Good luck in your search!!! |
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srcoffee |
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Parlor
Posts: 4 May 2, 2009 08:23:38 |
Thanks Scott. I guess I shouldn't expect many replies to my post!!!
Well, I'm a bit of a newbie, and those first position chords are just too tempting. Plus I'm in a band that plays in every imaginable key. Hey, why am I making excuses? Guitar players used to have the same attitude, and now they use two or three capos at a time. Anyway, I tried my Kyser and it wouldn't reliably cover all four courses. Guess I'll figure out something. |
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Lawn Jockey |
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Parlor
Posts: 65 May 2, 2009 09:34:35 |
srcoffee, I am by no means a pro either. But, I do have (and have had in the past) a Breedlove Quartz...and the same Kyser Mandolin/Banjo capo worked just
splendidly.
Are you placing it as close to the fret as possible? Is it an actual mandolin capo? Is the capo spring compromised (weak)? I can honestly say that I've never experienced what you are describing.....and I do use it often......even recorded with it. |
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MandoSquirrel |
#4 | |||
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Gatekeeper Concert
Posts: 1850 May 2, 2009 09:53:49
Mandolin
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Welcome to the board, srcoffee!
I don't think I've ever used a capo on mandolin, but I do on guitar, though not to avoid keys; rather to use favorable fingerings & sounds. I can accept intellectually that the same could apply for some on mandolin, but there's such a little fretboard to begin with, it seems a waste to cordone off sections of it. Playing in all keys in fifths tuning is almost equally easy. So, anyway, I can't help you with selecting a capo, except to say a guitar capo probably won't work, but some banjo capos supposedly do.
Mandolins;
Breedlove Cascade; Victoria, B&J New York ; Washburn 215 bowl back, cr.1906-07; Flatiron by Gibson pancake(currently untunable, after "repair"attempt ). Guitar: Guild D-25NT. |
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Michael Tognetti |
#5 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1091 May 2, 2009 10:47:23
Gallery & Boutique
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Yes, Welcome and remember that no question is a dumb question no matter what level you believe yourself to be at. I don't use a capo except when changing strings so I am afraid that I won't be of much help either--sorry. As to Scott's comments, well it is good to know that if I ever do use a capo on my mandolin that he has started a 12-step program to help us
out. |
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 Fingerpicker |
#6 | |||
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Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2797 May 2, 2009 10:55:46
Seventh String
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Welcome srcoffee to BGMF! Looks like you are getting some help with your question. I have just in the last two or three months started using a capo on my guits and there is a difference between good ones and not so good ones. "You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." ~ C.S. Lewis |
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Fingerpicker |
Scott I have to say... | #7 | ||
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Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2797 May 2, 2009 10:56:51
Seventh String
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Lawn Jockey wrote: I'm Scott....and I use a capo on my mandolin (and used to use it on banjo too)...."Thanks for the laugh!" Now that is funny. <grin> "You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." ~ C.S. Lewis |
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srcoffee |
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Parlor
Posts: 4 May 2, 2009 12:30:35 |
Thanks for the responses guys. Seems like you have a real nice community here.
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MandoSquirrel |
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Gatekeeper Concert
Posts: 1850 May 2, 2009 15:00:01
Mandolin
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One o' de bestest!
Mandolins;
Breedlove Cascade; Victoria, B&J New York ; Washburn 215 bowl back, cr.1906-07; Flatiron by Gibson pancake(currently untunable, after "repair"attempt ). Guitar: Guild D-25NT. |
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Fingerpicker |
Hey MandoSquirrel... | #10 | ||
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Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2797 May 2, 2009 15:12:49
Seventh String
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...congrats on the 1000th post there buddy! Whooeee! srcoffee you only have 997 to go! <grin>
"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." ~ C.S. Lewis
Last Edited By: Fingerpicker May 2, 2009 15:15:12.
Edited 1 time.
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MandoSquirrel |
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Gatekeeper Concert
Posts: 1850 May 3, 2009 09:03:45
Mandolin
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Tanks, Fing; I hadn't noticed!
Mandolins;
Breedlove Cascade; Victoria, B&J New York ; Washburn 215 bowl back, cr.1906-07; Flatiron by Gibson pancake(currently untunable, after "repair"attempt ). Guitar: Guild D-25NT. |
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Lawn Jockey |
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Parlor
Posts: 65 May 3, 2009 18:50:10 |
Fingerpicker wrote:Ya' like that, huh? I'd use a capo on my Native American flute if given the chance. 
I'm not sure when....or why....I started using a capo (on mandolin) in the first place. I don't particularly need it to play anything we (Lawn Jockey) have done......although I did use it on one song on "Jethro's Revenge".....but I can't remember why. I will say that I remember vividly having hand "culture shock" when going from the 12 string to the mandolin. Leaving an instrument the song before that you could have landed a Piper Cub on.....and transitioning to an instrument with an 1 1/8" nut width was tough on me at times (still is). I'd usually get the feel of the mandolin back just about the time we finished the song. 
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