Overall Comments
|
Though used, I am thoroughly impressed with this capo.
I had heard talk of the Elliott capos for quite some time, and had refrained from purchasing one on account of their expense...but I now regret not having purchased one sooner!
Can a metal-frame capo be this good? Yes - when it is made by the skilled hands of Mr. Elliott. A Texas native, Mr. Elliott shows true pride of workmanship that few other capo manufacturers can boast. While there are capos that function similarly, there are NONE that look as good as they operate. The shiny steel frame is particularly attractive, not only because of the impressive sheen, but because it compliments the nickel plating of banjos. Other capos with matte frames don't seem as appealing to me. A small detail perhaps, but one worth mentioning in my opinion, and certainly worth the added expense, if any: it reveals the quality of the workmanship further.
Functionally, here are the high points:
OK, turn knob, use right? Wrong! First of all, the knob itself: it is not too large, not too small. Plus, it is bevelled on the bottom, something I find assists in appearance and function. The diamond-cut grip is tasteful and comfortable. Any adjustment is therefore quick and precise, unlike the miniscule adjustment knobs on other capos.
The bar that touches the strings is another area that is praise-worthy. I was surprised to find how tight the plastic sleeve gripped it. While it makes replacement a little tricky, it improves the tonal quality during capoing. Because the sleeve fits so snugly, there is no loss of tone, and no slipping that might occur with a looser sleeve.
The push-button mechanism is also impressive. The button is large, which means less trying to find how to press it and more rapid adjustment if necessary. Plus, it fits very snugly into it's slot. This increases effective use and tone. The tighter stuff is in my opinion, the less loss of tone there is.
Lastly, the capo, like all metal frame capos, enhances the tone of the banjo in capoed positions. Regular rubber type capos mute the tone of the strings, whereas the steel frame brings life and sustain. When you think about it, a metal fret is acting like the bone nut in keys like A or B. Since the frets are smaller and made of metal, there will be some difference in tone. That is where the metal capo saves the day so-to-speak. The added mass really brightens and strengthens the instrument's sound, yielding greater tonal consistency from position to position.
The only drawback I can think of is the degree that the bar opens on the capo. Fully open, the bar is less than 90 degrees. This makes removal from the banjo neck a little tricky, as the opening is not all that wide to begin with. On other capos, the bar swings well past the neck to around 140 degrees, keeping it away from the neck during removal. However, this is minor since I don't plan on removing the capo frequently - I just enjoy using it too much!
I highly recommend Mr. Elliott's capo. Though expensive, the price is worth it. Nothing beats and American-made capo, built with all the quality and care the musician deserves. Trust me, you won't regret owning one! |
Feeds