lanarkbanjo - Posted - 05/01/2026:  20:29:10

I would like to know what brand 5th string capo this is. It doesn't seem to have the strength it used to. I am looking for repair advice, such as can I bend it downward to increase its pressure? or can I maybe add a larger diameter plastic sleeve to add to the resistance on the fingerboard?

what brand capo is this

 

HSmith - Posted - 05/01/2026:  23:53:06

Hi Dan

I don't know the manufacturer of this capo, but I'm familiar with the design. While it's an elegantly simple item of kit, these 'spring tension' capos rarely fret the string cleanly in my experience. The tone of the capo-ed 5th never sounds as clearly as the other strings because insufficient pressure is exerted on the string. You could remove the spring slider from the bar by unscrewing one end, then increase the bend in the spring, but I'd be careful if the capo is old as the spring may be brittle and break. If you're happy with a sliding capo, you could measure the distance between the screw holes. You may find you could replace it with a Shubb capo without drilling more holes. I always felt the Shubb to be the best design for a sliding capo, and used one for decades. Finally, you could ditch the capo, have the holes filled and install spikes.

martyjoe - Posted - 05/02/2026:  01:58:36

I think if you get the ball from a ball ended string and cut or file it in half so you have a semicircle. Then place it on top of the first fret underneath the fifth string to raise the plane of the string to the other four could be a good starting point. You then could try capoing directly over the top of each fret instead of behind them. If it doesn’t work nothing has been damaged.

martyjoe - Posted - 05/02/2026:  04:49:47

Another solution that may work is to put a sleeve around the bar where it crosses over the string. Ideally a small piece of hard plastic tubing. A few wraps of electrical tape could get you out of trouble until you find some tubing to fit. The only thing is that you’ll probably have to dismantle it to get the tape on.

I just went back and looked at the picture. There already is some tubing over it, so I would pull it off and put a few thin wraps of tape around it.

Edited by - martyjoe on 05/02/2026 04:55:15

GStump - Posted - 05/02/2026:  05:28:28

If I'm not mistaken, these type capos were labled "Vega - Pittman," or some such.... they were very popular back in the 60's thru the 80's. At some point thereabouts, the spikes kind of took over and became the norm. Of course some folks still like this type of capo. The shubb is similar with the difference being on the vega pittman, there is a spring; on the shubb there is a "lever" that you tighten, which is a bit more adjustable. The other thing I never liked about the capo on the side of the neck, is when fretting the 5th string with the thumb or finger, it makes it just a bit harder "to reach around" the 5th string capo. I think with the passage of time people also decided that it was a very good thing NOT to put holes on the side of the neck, for the screws that holds the capo to the neck. The advantage of the sliding capo is you do have capoing at about 7 frets, - all the way to D. Of course one can have spikes installed anywhere you wish to capo, all the way to the 7th fret / for D. For me - the spikes do very nicely. On the other hand, I think there is simply NO such thing as a perfect 5th string capo!

stanleytone - Posted - 05/02/2026:  08:12:28

Have you considered replacing it with spikes?

The Old Timer - Posted - 05/02/2026:  08:16:00

Yes that's the Vega Pittman 5th string capo from the 1960s. Factory installed by Vega, also sold in the aftermarket. I had two in the 1960s, on my initial RB 100 and later my RB 250. They were about the only choice then. I think they cost around $7 new.

The strength of the spring was always an issue. You can slide the spring right off that bar by removing one screw, and bend that spring fairly severely with a pair of plier and then it will really press down on the 5th string. The steel string will also wear a tiny groove in the spring. Thus the little plastic sleeve. Which will eventually get a groove in it too.

I switched to spikes in the 1970s (I never saw the Shubb until later).

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/02/2026:  16:15:59

To tag onto Martyjoe's suggestion, I think anything you can add to the current hold-down sleeve -- whether plastic or metal -- might get you the extra pressure you're after.

Then again: If the spring is weak, then a thicker hold-down isn't the answer and maybe you need to follow your initial instincts and try to bend some tension into that spring.

Replacement parts are most likely non-existent. You might try using the search tool in the navigation column to see if "repairing a Vega-Pittman sliding fifth string capo" has ever been discussed.

GStump - Posted - 05/02/2026:  19:59:09

These things come up for sale now and then, both used and new. I think I actually have a new old stock in stock right now. I see them go for 20 to 25 bucks or thereabouts. If interested PM me; OR you could always put a want ad on the hangout.

geoB - Posted - 05/03/2026:  03:43:24

I had spikes, then I removed them, filled the holes and went to this brass screw on block that rode the string. It does the trick.

I'm not a really big fan of capo anyway, but sometimes you just gotta...

Never had the rail system, but I have tried other banjos with those, and I found them a bit "in the way."