Revisiting banjohangout.org/archive/172088
" ... When the capo is not in use, it seems very close to the open 5th string and sometimes buzzes the string. I’ve opened it as much as possible. This causes it to be very wobbly with a possible inclination to have a metal buzz ... "
Some years ago Shubb made a version of this where the rail extended past the 5th String nut so that you could tighten the arm down onto the nut so it couldn't slide around or buzz. Disappointing that this innovation never made it into production. I e-mailed them recently to ask about this but received no response.
Funny you brought this up as I've been considering doing away with the nails and put one of these on. I had one years ago on my Framus and it was really easy to use. I'm still pondering the idea.
I don't remember the issue you speak of but that was 45 years ago for me.
Hi
I had a Shubb sliding 5th string capo on my primary banjo for 30+ years, and never had a problem with it. I'd still be using one today, but my current banjos came with spikes installed.
Some people seem to fear that the bar will be awkward in use and cause problems when fretting with the thumb, but I found it really unobtrusive.
Concerning the issue of the slider's relative closeness to the string when not in use, again I never found that a problem. Never experienced a buzz. However, I will say that my capo was installed by the luthier who built the banjo for me, and I'm sure that accurate positioning of the bar relative to the plane of the fingerboard is absolutely critical for correct, trouble-free use.
Yeah, that could be, I always installed them myself. They worked perfectly with the extended bar (or in some cases when I hacked the bar at the nut end to permit locking the arm down on the nut).
I had a 5th string slicing capo on an inexpensive banjo. Worked okay but sometimes got in the way of my thumb reaching over to fret the 5th string.
I found that rr spikes are so much better and easier to use and wouldn't go back to a sliding capo.
quote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoI found that rr spikes are so much better and easier to use and wouldn't go back to a sliding capo.
I can't imagine how spikes can be easier than sliding the capo. I've had them both and the only reason I went to spikes was because it seemed like the thing everyone was doing. I plan on going back to the slider.
quote:
Originally posted by banjopicksquote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoI found that rr spikes are so much better and easier to use and wouldn't go back to a sliding capo.
I can't imagine how spikes can be easier than sliding the capo. I've had them both and the only reason I went to spikes was because it seemed like the thing everyone was doing. I plan on going back to the slider.
Whatever works the best for you is what you should use.
I don't want a sliding capo on my Stelling, it would, in my opinion, detract from the looks of it and get in the way.
If I had a Stelling, I probably wouldn't either.
My shubb sliding capo does the sitar thing. Really annoying. I suspect it wasn't installed properly. Been thinking about spiking it.
The one thing I don't like about the Shubbs' is the 'finger' doesn't sit behind the nut. I purchased a Shubb here (quite expensive in NZ $$) with the mind to modify it so that the finger sits behind the nut. I drew it out on paper and to my mind it would work. I was also looking to modify it to a spring loaded lever instead of a thumb screw. This would make it faster to slide and capo the string. That was as far as I got. I may revisit it sometime in the future.
The installation is really critical on those. They have to sit up close to the fingerboard or they will damp the fifth string when not in use. As I found out.
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