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I have a fret for the 4 strings, but my 5th string remains untuned.
I am unable to have someone install railway spikes as no one around me does and I'm deathly afraid of messing up my banjo if I try to install it myself. However, I have also heard that 5th string capos are awkward and blocks a lot of movement.
What should I do?
quote:
Originally posted by eagleislandA quick google search showed a number of music stores with repair departments in your area that should be able to handle spike installation. They included Tom Lee Music, Long and McQuade, Tapestry Music and Rufus Guitar Shop. Have you looked into any of them?
I did, but it seems like they will have some issues with the spikes.
quote:
Originally posted by PhillipFquote:
Originally posted by eagleislandA quick google search showed a number of music stores with repair departments in your area that should be able to handle spike installation. They included Tom Lee Music, Long and McQuade, Tapestry Music and Rufus Guitar Shop. Have you looked into any of them?
I did, but it seems like they will have some issues with the spikes.
What sorts of issues?
Phillip, IMNSHumbleO, unless your banjo is a priceless collectible, you're unlikely to "mess it up." Having said that I've only spiked the lower priced of my two quite modestly priced banjos ... but it's fine [however I never use them, so ....?]. Heck, many posts on here have said that plugging spike holes is a relatively simple procedure .... if worse comes to worst, you'll get two for the price of one??
Edited by - Owen on 11/01/2024 07:46:08
If you don't want to chance some store putting spikes on your banjo, you might look at the 5th string capos at Elderly. A little pricey but they work pretty good and you only have to drill 2 holes on the side of the neck. Any luthier in the area should be able to do that. Go here: elderly.com/pages/search-resul...191956032
I had one of those long 5th string capos on an inexpensive banjo and the worked okay. I didn't find they got in the way of my playing at all.
The Banjo Highway capo looks like it would work well. The Strum Hollow capo does a decent job, but it's easy to lose, especially in an outdoor nighttime jam session. Don't ask me how I know that.
The Shubb sliding capo is a good alternative to spikes. It's handy to use but the main drawback I had with it was that it covered the position markers on the binding. Still, you're in good company if you use one. Peter Wernick, Doug Dillard, Gary Waldrep, Allen Shelton, John Hartford, and Eddie Adcock are known to use sliders instead of spikes.
Edited by - Culloden on 11/01/2024 09:41:17
I make brass slip in capos for the 5th string on banjos. Two sizes that slip over the appropriate fret and usually improve the clarity of the string when played due to the mass of the .25" or further up the neck .375" diameter capos. I live on Salt Spring Island. My website is wicklandinstruments.com
cheers Grant
Low cost version of a slip-in fifth string capo.
DIY fifth string capo made from a pen cap.
You can also make a version of the pen cap capo out of a guitar bridge pin. Cut it short, slot it for the string, and you're done. The groove on the underside sits on the fret.
Main drawback as said above is any small removable single-string capo is going to be easy to lose.
Edited by - Old Hickory on 11/03/2024 07:27:43
I understand shipping could be expensive but if yoùre ever in Port Dover Ontario, I can do spikes. For reference I recently redid some spikes for Denis Lepage, He had no complaints.
Funny story, I once gave some spikes to a friend who " had a luthier that could ìnstall them" . She soon brought me her banjo as the "luthier" didn't know how to install them without destroying her neck.
Edited by - Fathand on 11/04/2024 15:59:08
You can try using a guitar bridge pin. Here are some pics I took of mine. Make a string slot, cut the pin short. Make extras in case you lose it.
It's a decent interim measure. I also have an elastic 5th string capo. But now I use spikes on my main banjo, and two types of sliders on the next two.
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