Capo question

AuntieDiluvian · #1 08-24-2019, 07:02 PM

I just got a new 12-string that has a VERY thick neck - "baseball bat" style. I grabbed my trusty Shubb to play a few of my stock tunes, and discovered that it will not clamp onto the neck. The neck is so thick that the clamp bar won't go around it, much less clamp on properly.

I've looked at a few other capos in local shops and haven't found anything that would work - nothing. They all seem to be designed around a more standard neck thickness - even the 12-string specific capos all seem to expect a thinner neck.

Has anyone else run into this? If so, what would you suggest? Not using a capo is not an option - and it might actually be a deal-breaker for the guitar (which is not cool to find out after I've already bought it and kept it for the better part of a week.)

Help!

Heroditus · #2 08-24-2019, 07:12 PM

My Thalia capo is like putting the neck of my guitar in a vice grip. Haven't tried it on a 12 string but I'm betting it would serve your needs.

Rosewood99 · #3 08-24-2019, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroditus

My Thalia capo is like putting the neck of my guitar in a vice grip. Haven't tried it on a 12 string but I'm betting it would serve your needs.

I have a Thalia on my 12 string. There is a special fret pad you have to get for it.

AuntieDiluvian · #4 08-24-2019, 07:29 PM

The issue isn't the width of the pressure plate, it's the thickness of the nexk and where the pivot point of the jaw is. I'm not sure I see how the Thalia design is any different - the pivot point looks almost identical to the Shubb, which means that it can't open wide enough to get over the neck, and the lower jaw wouldn't close enough to be over-center (which it has to be to clamp).

Wade Hampton · #5 08-24-2019, 07:43 PM

Auntie, I'd suggest you try a Shubb S3V capo, which is designed specifically for thicker vintage-style necks:

Shubb S3V capo

Sweetwater sells them for under twenty bucks:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...age-thick-neck

Elderly sells them for a couple bucks more:

https://www.elderly.com/products/shu...ra-thick-necks

Hope this helps.

Wade Hampton Miller

AuntieDiluvian · #6 08-24-2019, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Auntie, I'd suggest you try a Shubb S3V capo, which is designed specifically for thicker vintage-style necks:

Thanks for that - my question on that model is whether it is wide enough for the 12-string fretboard....time to do some research on the Shubb site.

Wade Hampton · #7 08-24-2019, 09:07 PM

If not, you can probably get a longer sleeve from Shubb for next to nothing, which would give you a bit more width you can use. Shubb does make 12 string capos, and I think there's enough extra room on the capo to give you the reach you need.

whm

The Bard Rocks · #8 08-24-2019, 09:13 PM

A Bird of Paradise capo works on my National which has a neck like a tree trunk. I don't particularly care for the capo - but it works.

JohnW63 · #9 08-24-2019, 11:57 PM

Auntie,

Could you measure how thick the neck is ? We could see how wide our capos are before suggesting.

AZLiberty · #10 08-25-2019, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW63

Auntie,

Could you measure how thick the neck is ? We could see how wide our capos are before suggesting.

I second this idea.

Tony Burns · #11 08-25-2019, 06:17 AM

Ive got one of these on my '71 Yammie 12 string -it works fine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Auntie, I'd suggest you try a Shubb S3V capo, which is designed specifically for thicker vintage-style necks:

Shubb S3V capo

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...age-thick-neck

Wade Hampton Miller

AuntieDiluvian · #12 08-25-2019, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnW63

Auntie,
Could you measure how thick the neck is ? We could see how wide our capos are before suggesting.

It's about 1 3/16" from the strings to the back of the neck. Width is standard 1 7/8".

Glennwillow · #13 08-25-2019, 08:56 AM

I use a Shubb 12-string capo that I purchased from Elderly Instruments. https://www.elderly.com/products/shu...12-string-capo

I have used this capo on Guild F212 and Guild F512 12-strings. The F512 does have a fairly thick neck and there is a lot of room for adjustment on the Shubb capo. I do not use 6-string capos on a 12-string because they are not wide enough.

Best of luck to you!

- Glenn

lt20dbl · #14 08-25-2019, 09:13 AM

I have used the Shubb standard for 12 string and for classical. They are both plenty wide but not deep enough to go any higher than the 4th or 5th fret on a 1 7/8" V neck. The S3V is the way to go on necks like the 00-28 VS that I have.

AuntieDiluvian · #15 08-25-2019, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lt20dbl

I have used the Shubb standard for 12 string and for classical. They are both plenty wide but not deep enough to go any higher than the 4th or 5th fret on a 1 7/8" V neck. The S3V is the way to go on necks like the 00-28 VS that I have.

Got it - thanks! I think that this answers the question