JimInAlabama - Posted - 11/05/2014:  09:33:48

I recently switched to Nylgut Reds (I'm trying to work through some issues with the Reds and may or may not stay with them but if not will switch to original Nylgut or Sands).  My 5th string is on a tall pip.  I would rather not install spikes.  I tried the Bic pen cap thing and couldn't make it work with the tall pip, I'm currently using the Earl's Suspender but don't like it.  I used a Reagan with steel strings and it worked well for me but I'm afraid to try it on the Nylgut.  What are you folks using?

laertes22 - Posted - 11/05/2014:  10:04:30

Would the 5th string break if you just tuned it up to (ex. tune it up to "A" if you capo second fret)?

Jim Yates - Posted - 11/05/2014:  10:56:07

How about one of the sliding capos that screw onto the side of the fingerboard.  Shubb or other makers have them.

ZEPP - Posted - 11/05/2014:  11:13:43

I recommend the Earl's Suspender Capo--gentle on the string and simple to use.

BTW, I no longer have any in stock; try Elderly.

Cheers,

ZEPP

darwinyarwin - Posted - 11/05/2014:  11:16:19

I've been wanting to try this one on my nylon-string parts banjo: sidewindercapo.com/

(I don't have any stock in their company)

Edited by - darwinyarwin on 11/05/2014 11:17:05

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/05/2014:  14:00:47

The Sidewinder looks like a good possibility to me, as it keeps the string above the frets (which I find very important to clawhammer. I want the 5th string to be at more-or-less the same height as the long strings at the 17th fret <which is where my thumb hits the 5th when I do my frailing at the 19th fret>. Spikes and other capos (Including Earl's Suspender)  put the string down on the fingerboard, negating the Pip height.

However some clawers prefer the 5th string lower, and are perfectly with using the 5th fret itself as the nut for the 5th string. Doing this also makes it easier to fret the 5th. This was how I set up my fingerbuster banjo (A Cole-looking pot with a Stewart-looking neck) in the 1970s. I had a number of pieces where I fretted the 5th string.

My reservation, is the size of the capo - it is absolutely right for using - but bad for keeping. I lost my Earl's Suspender Capo the day after it arrived and it still has not reappeared.

Someone should market little snap on fittings that would go inside the pot, on the dowel stick, or the brackets - someplace. And then accessory designers could design their great capo idea to attach directly to the standard physteris that everyone buys! Are you listening Mr. Deering? Mr. Wildwood? Mr. Gibson? Mr. Ome? Mr. Ohm? Mr. Deering's son-in-law Mr. Goodtimes?

Isn't anybody listening?

Anybody at all? 

RV6 - Posted - 11/05/2014:  14:21:13

Jim,  You could rest the 5th string on the 5th fret on the 1st string side of the pip.  Then the pen cap capo will work better.  When I used the pen cap capo, I also stuffed a piece of foam ear plug in the cap that extended to where it just touched the neck.  This prevented a lot of movement and the cap capo didn't fly off.

John Gribble - Posted - 11/05/2014:  14:45:02

quote:

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Originally posted by laertes22

Would the 5th string break if you just tuned it up to (ex. tune it up to "A" if you capo second fret)?

I'm in this camp, too. How high do you need to go? I don't have any problems going two frets higher on my Nylgut-strung instrument. 

I'm not thrilled with the Suspender, either, but it does work pretty good.

If a specific pitch is an issue, I'll use a combination of tunings and capo to get there. 

banjofool469 - Posted - 11/05/2014:  15:11:21

I have used the Reagan with nylgut. No problem. I did have to open the groove a bit. I just took a hack saw blade to it. So far, so good.  Jim

aulddawg - Posted - 11/05/2014:  15:17:27

Jim, I've used the sidewinder with original nylgut with no breakage, but I was pretty slow and careful with hooking it under the screw. I went over the edges of the screw threads with a fine emery beforehand, like you would a tailpiece. Chris Sand nylons also worked fine. Bounces a little if you capo up too far.

Tony, I looked at the sidewinder to see if there was room to glue some velcro on there, but there's not much wasted space with his design. You might try sending the idea to Bob Presley, see if he has any thoughts on an attachment clip. When I sent him a question about lefty models, he reset the tooling and had me one within a week. Not sure how you could use just one attachment for both co-rods or dowelsticks. Hmm, maybe the Snark tuner mount guy...

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/05/2014:  16:05:42

I'm not thinking of having an attachment for each on a single banjo, but some attachment that can be installed on the banjo - like the little bulb for Snarks. 

I have to admit I've never felt the need to have an attachment for the snark - it comes with a spring clamp after all - but little things like a 5th string capo that doesn't make a mess of the banjo or your life, could really use a way of staying WITH the bl**dy banjo, forever.

john bange - Posted - 11/05/2014:  19:11:17

quote:

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Originally posted by RV6

Jim,  You could rest the 5th string on the 5th fret on the 1st string side of the pip. 

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I do this with my sliding bar capo.  the nylon sharpens up an entire step when I capo...goes flat an entire step when I slip the string off the pip...almost never have to retune.

also, my .025 dia. harp 5th string will tune up at least 2 steps