Finally! A Use For A Capo! aka Nut Clamp...

[Cagey]

Somebody gave me this capo about 100 years ago as a stocking stuffer, and since I don't play "Puff the Magic Dragon" and sing in a little girl's voice, I've never known what to do with it. Finally figured it out. It's for clamping in freshly glued nuts!

Simply place the nut once you're done cutting/shaping/etc., and clamp the capo on it.

Another view. Who did those frets? My goodness! Those sure are nice!

Beats the snot out of fighting with rubber bands or tape or any of that sort of thing.​

 

[Updown]

They Gold frets  :dontknow: ... they look nice.

Do you think Gold frets (with NO other Gold hardware used) would look good on a Ebony fretboard with a Yellow body finish.
You know .... would it blend in ?

I kind-of think it would.

 

[AutoBat]

It'd blend in just fine (as an abomination).
I bought a capo for my strat because I keep it tuned Eb.  Before I put my second guitar together it wasn't practical to retune just to play some songs. Now I've 1 in Eb, 1 in E

 

[Cagey]

Yes, they're gold. I was talking more about the fantastic dressing work, though <grin>

I know gold frets would look good on an ebony 'board - I have two of them. I don't think you'd have to follow through with gold hardware otherwise if you didn't want to; the gold color is not that pronounced. It's kinda like 10ct. vs. 24ct.

 

[Updown]

Yeah think I'll leave my order as is.

BTW ... I did notice that very nice work on the frets  :icon_thumright:

 

[anorakDan]

Capos. Not just for cheating anymore!

 

[Cagey]

Capos. Not just for cheating anymore!

Hehe! Right. Besides being fast and easy, what's also good about using them as a nut installation clamp is they have a radius to them so you apply a nice even pressure to the nut as the glue cures.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I normally string up and let the string pressure hold the nut while the glue dries.

Next step is filing the nut slots where you need the strings anyway.

 

[Cagey]

I normally shape the nut and file the slots before installation, then work the bottom of the nut to get close to the right height. Once it's installed and strung up, then I'll adjust the slots as needed. 6 of one, half-dozen of the other, I suppose. But, I find it easier to get the slots cut in the right place and at the proper angle while it's still in the vise. There's no neck or headstock in the way of my paws, or finish in the way of my files.

 

[swarfrat]

Capos aren't just cheat tools for people that haven't learned barre chords. You can use em for an instant 'dropped E' tuning, for getting open strings in any key.. When playing with  way too many guitar players, I sometimes will capo up 5 or 7 frets so at least there's some different chord inversions and open strings going on.  And they don't just raise the key either, they're indispensible for dropping the key. Instead of playing GCF in the key of G, you can capo up one and play EAB (FBbC), and voila your vocal parts just went through puberty.

That's a neat trick, there, using it for a clamp.  Just don't disparage capos as cheat tools for beginners. (Not that I even know where mine is at the moment.)

 

[stubhead]

Putting one of the 3rd fret shows you just high the nuts slots are above the 1st fret, putting one on the 1st fret is a nifty tool for gauging neck relief if you need a hand free for magnification or feeler gauges, clamping one as high as it goes is handy when you have to adjust a butt-end truss rod....
if you're playing actual gigs with a cowboy chorder, sometimes you do actually want "that" sound... I thought only jazz guitars need to prove they don't need one? :icon_scratch:

 

[TBurst Std]

Just don't disparage capos as cheat tools for beginners.

\
I concur. I use a capo often on acoustic and somewhat on electric. I try to create new voicings within a song. Barre chords are boring and over done sometimes. Sometimes the new breath needed in a song is a simple revoicing.
A capo can be a tool. Learn how to use it as one and you improve your craftsmanship. Rely on it and you become a slave.
A  fav of mine. If the song is in B, contemplate capo 4 and play as in G.

 

[swarfrat]

Indeed - most people that play mostly barre chords tend two use two shapes over and over - and the predominant recurring theme is root-five. I've been doing a lot of two note voicings lately, and especially using a lot of root-third, third-root intervals and they can definitely add some rudeness to an otherwise boring piece.

 

[AprioriMark]

I do use capos, but not that abomination there.  I do have one that has gathered dust as yours has, and I will absolutely be using it as you have for my next nut install. 

-Mark

 

[Mor Paul]

I do use capos, but not that abomination there.  I do have one that has gathered dust as yours has, and I will absolutely be using it as you have for my next nut install. 

-Mark

You use a proper Schubb capo, right?

 

[thebutcher85]

too cool! Haha, I never use a capo either, I'm pretty sure I have one in the closet somewhere from the same origins as yours: an unwanted stocking-stuffer present lol

ccasion14:

 

[AprioriMark]

I do use capos, but not that abomination there.  I do have one that has gathered dust as yours has, and I will absolutely be using it as you have for my next nut install. 

-Mark

You use a proper Schubb capo, right?

I have quite a few of them, different sizes and radii.  Best.  Stuff.  Ever.

-Mark

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I do use capos, but not that abomination there.  I do have one that has gathered dust as yours has, and I will absolutely be using it as you have for my next nut install. 

-Mark

You use a proper Schubb capo, right?

I have quite a few of them, different sizes and radii.  Best.  Stuff.  Ever.

-Mark

Well - except for G7 capos  :icon_biggrin: :evil4:

 

[ZionWarmoth]

Nice trick!!!!

 

[Soylent]

I do use capos, but not that abomination there.  I do have one that has gathered dust as yours has, and I will absolutely be using it as you have for my next nut install. 

-Mark

You use a proper Schubb capo, right?

I have quite a few of them, different sizes and radii.  Best.  Stuff.  Ever.

-Mark

Well - except for G7 capos  :icon_biggrin: :evil4:

CO-Rect!  :laughing7: