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Any Ida's as to why a note pressed by finger plats clean, but buzzes with a capo?

Not sure abut every case, but I only realized a few years ago that proper fretting with the finger is touching the fret, to hold the string down from bouncing or deflecting on the fret. I guess if the capo is in the middle of the gap between frets, the string can bounce or deflect.

What kind of capo are you using when this happens?

One of the kind that has a threaded rod on the back to adjust tension...then sorta clicks tight like a cam clamp...

Capo on too tight causing the string to curve up slightly off the fret as it passes over the fret? Similar to how an incorrectly ramped nut slot can cause buzzing?

Curvature of the capo bar not a good fit to the fretboard radius so that it doesn't press that string down enough?

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Another possibility is after a capo is used many times, especially if it is applied tightly, it can develop groves in the rubber or whatever it is that holds the strings down. That can lead to a buss, or so they say (coincidentally the ones that sell replacement rubbers say that)

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I am thinking along similar lines, that the capo is not pushing that string down sufficiently to get a clean note. Could be the radius, or the bar cover like Joe said. I have a 12 string which does this on the light gauge (octave) strings because the bar of the capo spans across the heavier strings and the light ones are not getting pressed hard enough. If I crank it down a bit harder the buzzing stops.

It sounds like a Shubb capo. I have often experienced uneven pressure with mine; adequate on one side, buzzy on the other side. Try twisting the capo concentrically around the neck, putting more pressure on the buzzy side, until it sounds mostly the same on all strings. Then crank the screw just a smidge further.

Thanks, will try a few things...

"Thanks, will try a few things..."

A different capo?

Starting with that, yeah...

After hearing people rave about Elliott capos I decided to give one a try. I figured it would be the last capo I need to buy, and if they were as good as people claim than it is worth the cost.

I'm sold on them. The wrap around design eliminates the uneven pressure issue, but the thumb screw still allows you to control the amount of pressure on the capo. I have virtually no tuning issues due to too much or even pressure, and none of the buzzing issues I would occasionally experience with other designs. Sure it is not as convenient as a spring loaded or snap on design. But the tonal advantages outweigh the convenience factor for me. I know that a lot of capo manufacturers are now offering similar designs at lower cost than Elliot. But the ones I've seen were not close to quality of material or the fit and finish of the Elliot.

https://elliottcapo.com

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I currently use a Shubb Fine Tune, which is working really well for me. I was using the Shubb C Series before that. They were OK, but the Fine Tune is better. It's a stirrup-type capo.

+1 for Elliot
It has become my favourite since I got it.

May it be that the capo doesn’t match the radius of the fingerboard? It SHOULD be fine, but if there is a big enough difference it could happen I guess


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That's a good point. I'll try it with a variety of capos around the house to see. It's a setup I did for a local shop, the guitar is set up exactly as 'I' consider perfect, plays clean and easy all over the neck...until it gets capoed then the open strings buzz like bees...

We frequently see this in our shop as a common complaint. Some capos can be bent, intentionally to conform to a radius and they over time loose the radius that they need for that specific neck. Simply bending them back usually by hand and the notes, all of them ring loud and clear again.

I forgot to mention that this is one of the features I like about Elliot. With Elliot you choose the radius of the capo. So that it is a perfect match to the individual guitar. Since all my guitars are straight 16" FB radius this works well. Not so helpful if you have a compound radius.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Tallia (spelling) also offers pads w built in radius. I have had one a few years and it seems to work


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Good point ab the compound radius. Hadn’t considered that before as it relates to capos. Makes sense


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