• Registered: 2006-12-14
  • Posts: 104

Topic: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Hello, all.


I just tried to capo my Tanglewood TW-28 SNQ,at the third fret, with no success whatsoever. The capo (A Kyser, I might add) is really difficult to use. It's one of those hefty metal clamp type ones- something like this <img src="http://portlandclassicguitar.com/cart/images/Kyser%20Classical%20Capo-small.jpg" border=0 alt="http://portlandclassicguitar.com/cart/images/Kyser%20Classical%20Capo-small.jpg">


This surely isn't normal?


Any reassurance or advice is appreciated.


ShadyW.

[url]www.freerice.com[/url]

ShadyWilbury's Website

  • From: Paisley, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-07-09
  • Posts: 337

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Might be stating the obvious here, and apologies if this is daft, but my capo is also a metal clip type but it doesn't go on in the same manner as the one in the pic. It goes the other way around. It's not anything silly like that is it.....that the flat end goes on the other side??


Aside from that, then I'd say it doesn't sound normal.....dunno if that helps at all  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_rolleyes.gif" border=0 alt="Rolling Eyes">

All I got, is a red guitar, three chords and the truth

bud_wiser's Website

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Try sliding it back from the fret a bit.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • Registered: 2006-12-14
  • Posts: 104

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Thanks, I'll try that. (Is there any possibility of oiling the thing without ending up with "gunk" on my guitar strings?)

[url]www.freerice.com[/url]

ShadyWilbury's Website

  • Kahuna
  • Kahuna
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  • Registered: 2006-07-12
  • Posts: 290

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

No! Don't use any oil!  You shouldn't have to oil the capo to get it to fit the neck.  Have you looked at other brands beside the one you have?  I have the same capo, and never had any problem fitting it on the neck.  Maybe it's too new and you need to break-in the spring? 


<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>ShadyWilbury wrote on Wed, 11 April 2007 22&#58;52</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Thanks, I'll try that. (Is there any possibility of oiling the thing without ending up with "gunk" on my guitar strings?)
</td></tr></table>

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

If I am understanding you right, "When you squeeze the capo to put on your neck the capo is hard to put on"?

If so that's the tension of the spring that is tight and not the guitar neck. Squeeze the lever of the capo with both hands when your just sitting so you start to work the spring.

It will still be tight but you will get two things out of this exercise, a strong hand and the spring tension will ease up a bit.


Bootlegger.

Bootlegger guitars.

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-03-07
  • Posts: 99

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

somebody hasn't been eating their "wheaties" <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing"> I Have a clamp type capo and a strap type.  The spring on mine has always been quite hard to squeeze together (it has to be, so it holds the strings down all the way) mine is 3 years old and still hard to squeeze.  If you can't handle it, I suggest trying a strap capo, it has a plastic thing that slips into groves on the main part.  it looks like this <img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=123&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=123&private=0"> Hope that helps, peace

DJ Cormier
[url=http://www.bigdjindustriez.tk]www.bigdjindustriez.tk[/url]
myspace.com/bigdjindustriez

bigdjindustriez's Website

  • From: Adelaide , Australia
  • Registered: 2006-06-04
  • Posts: 129

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Yep -wrong way around I reckon. Try it the other way first


Ray

A five yr old could understand this. Somebody fetch a five yr old !
Groucho Marx
  • From: Montreal
  • Registered: 2007-03-16
  • Posts: 312

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

It could be that the capo is defective. Try bringing your guitar to the store to try others.

You could use it to help build up your finger strength. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

I may be goin' to hell in a bucket babe
  • upyerkilt
  • upyerkilt
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  • From: Balloch, Scotland, UK, Earth
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 3,290

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

hmmm.

people are saying here that capo is on the wrong way??


I hae the exact same capo and I put mine on that way and it works fine.

This kyser capo isthe best capo I have found to use.


If you use it round the other way then it will be the weakest part of the clamp holding down the thickest string (E) and I think this would be wrong!!


as suggsted, try moving it about the fret, closer or farther away from the fret, or with a slight squint on it. Or failing all that, turn it around.

Or as also suggested, might e a faulty capo.

take it to the shop you bought it and ask them to try it out on one of their guitars.


Ken

ye get some that are cut out for the job and others just get by from pretending
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-03-07
  • Posts: 99

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

some capo's such as mine are like this <img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=124&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=124&private=0"> and go on the neck with the handles facing towards the back of the neck.  Maybe the original message had the wrong picture of a capo in it.

DJ Cormier
[url=http://www.bigdjindustriez.tk]www.bigdjindustriez.tk[/url]
myspace.com/bigdjindustriez

bigdjindustriez's Website

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

I found that if my capo clamps the strings right onto the fretboard then it puts the whole thing out of tune. It raises the pitch just a fraction.

Just being picky.

I have the strap kind and find it works best when just tight enough to hold the strings without buzzing but not clamped right down.

Works for me. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_confused.gif" border=0 alt="Confused">

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • Registered: 2006-12-14
  • Posts: 104

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Indeed! That is much more like the capo my guitar sports- when I can get it on there.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

[url]www.freerice.com[/url]

ShadyWilbury's Website

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-03-07
  • Posts: 99

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

I have the out of tune problem with my strap capo as well.  I fixed it by moving the capo a bit further away from the fret.  Give er a try

DJ Cormier
[url=http://www.bigdjindustriez.tk]www.bigdjindustriez.tk[/url]
myspace.com/bigdjindustriez

bigdjindustriez's Website

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

Yeah, BigDJ, that's what I meant. Just you said it better. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_redface.gif" border=0 alt="Embarassed">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-03-07
  • Posts: 99

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

i think I confused you lol...heres what I meant


<img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=126&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=126&private=0">

DJ Cormier
[url=http://www.bigdjindustriez.tk]www.bigdjindustriez.tk[/url]
myspace.com/bigdjindustriez

bigdjindustriez's Website

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 43

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

If non of that works, go out and get a Screw Type Capo , I have one from Planet Waves,NS Capo ,  it is the easiest Capo I ever had..Slip it on and screw till tight, real easy and stays in tune.. Check it out , it is very inexpesive, and does not rely on Springs and straps, etc..

NS CAPO 

The NS Capo is the product of an ongoing collaboration between famed product designer Ned Steinberger and J. D&#8217;Addario & Company. It employs a sleek, ultra-light design for fast and accurate one hand positioning on the guitar&#8217;s neck. Just turn the smooth, tactile dial to eliminate the string buzzing and enjoy perfect, in-tune performance. Lightweight aluminum adds virtually no weight to the guitar&#8217;s neck when in use.

<a href="http://www.planetwaves.com/pgeardetails.aspx?ID=8" target="_blank">http://www.planetwaves.com/pgeardetails.aspx?ID=8</a>


&#8226; Ultra-light aerospace grade aluminum

&#8226; One hand operation

&#8226; Fast micrometerscrew assures perfect pressure for buzz-free, in-tune performance at every fret

&#8226; A patent-pending Ned Steinberger design

&#8226; Designed for 6- or 12- string guitars


Item #

PW-CP-02 (Shown above)

PW-CP-02C (Silver version)

PW-CP-04 (Classical Guitar)

  • From: North Wales
  • Registered: 2007-01-04
  • Posts: 68

Re: Capo too tight to put on my guitar?

if uve got a few more pounds u could try the G7th Capo it has a 5 star rating in some magazines i read but is a bit on the pricey side (£25 around $40) its very simple to use and looks good, im sure if anyone else has used these theyl agree with me that its a great capo.

<a href="http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/guitars/accessories/details/index.asp?eagleID=4592&ProcessType=1" target="_blank"> http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/guitars/accessories/details/in dex.asp?eagleID=4592&ProcessType=1</a>

<img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=127&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=127&private=0">

Royston N Wales